Tag: Humour

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Snowdrop-aholics in the news

Close up of snowdrops with many others behind them
Snowdrops look alluring in a mass planting

Snowdrops are so hyped up this year that the clickbait on the BBC News website’s most viewed article on Saturday morning was Are you suffering from galanthomania?. Anything that sounds like an ailment evidently has the whole of Britain (minus those aware that a galanthus is a snowdrop) clicking away to find out if they have the symptoms. Well, it is winter.

I have recorded my personal pangs here, but wouldn’t go so far as to call it a mania. Muddy knees, sometimes; mania, nope.

Snowdrops with large bergenia leaves in a winter garden
Red branches and bergenia leaves make a lovely backdrop for snowdrops

But I won’t try to deny that snowdrops cast spells on us.  Continue reading “Snowdrop-aholics in the news”

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A Good Match: Courgette Flaunting in a Post-Truth World

I’ve read several articles where people complain about social media types like us (WordPress does count as social, doesn’t it?) flaunting our riches.

You know, bragging about our crazy lifestyles, celebrity friends and expensive belongings. Everyone I read mainly does that.*

So, in light of the Europe-wide, 2017 courgette (zucchini) shortage, take a look at this:

Pizza with grilled peppers and courgettes

I challenge anyone to come up with a more decadent pizza topping. Before you judge me, remember it isn’t bragging if it’s true.  Continue reading “A Good Match: Courgette Flaunting in a Post-Truth World”

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On Being Distractingly Sexy

An eminent scientist, Sir Tim Hunt, speaking at a conference in Korea about his ‘trouble with girls’ observed: “Three things happen when they are in the lab: you fall in love with them, they fall in love with you, and when you criticise them they cry.” 

The scientific community has been responding on Twitter under the hashtag #distractinglysexy. It’s a lot of fun and the perfect way to show us a glimpse into their working lives. I’ll let these ladies speak for themselves:
Continue reading “On Being Distractingly Sexy”

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Tips for Americans visiting England: Eating out

Some of you may be aware that my sweetheart hails from Mississippi. Over the years, we’ve compiled some tips to help ease the way of people from the Southern States when travelling to the North of England. It seems only right to pass a few of them on.

A Few Warnings

  • Gravy will be brown and we don’t put it on our biscuits.
  • You want sweet tea? It’s not good for you, you know! Drink some before you set out.
  • We strictly ration ice cubes and condiments in public places. Expect the former to be offered one cube at a time and the latter to be presented in tiny sachets. You may like to buy a bottle of ketchup as soon as you arrive and keep it with you at all times.
  • British people only eat corn three ways: sweet corn, cornflakes and popcorn. Don’t expect grits, your type of biscuits or cornbread.
  • If you want to alarm the wait staff, assure them you only ate yours to be polite.

Continue reading “Tips for Americans visiting England: Eating out”