Month: September 2026

Wordy Wednesday

~ my word (s) ~ 7 Comments

In the online writing group I’m part of we have a virtual common room. This is used to post news, share information and writing successes. Recently, I asked if any of the group members would like to share a word for Wordy Wednesday. The word could be in any language.

I was delighted to receive a wonderful word, with meaning, from Susan. This is what she says:

“Thanks for  the invitation to bring a word to your Wordy Wednesday.  As you were talking about drizzle, I’ll give you our local Basque word for that same dreary rain: “txirimiri” (pronounced chirimiri).  I like the word – not so happy about the rain, though.”

Thank you Susan and what a fabulous word. It’s great to have a word I’ve never heard before. I listened to the pronunciation and love how it sounds.

Next time it’s drizzling I’ll think of the word
txirimiri and smile

Sum up Sunday

~ my word (s) ~ 3 Comments

Have you had a good week? Busy, chaotic or relaxed , I’d love to hear about it in 25 words or less. Here’s my sum-up:

Bus trips

Bearded Badger Books – Derby

Check library venue for author visit – Stapleford

Sense and Sensibility – Nottingham

Plus writing and writing group

Mowed the lawn

Flaunt it Friday

~ my word (s) ~ 7 Comments

This week I have focused on contacting the libraries in my region to ask them to consider stocking my book. Nottingham and Nottinghamshire libraries are already stocking it and I thought I’d spread the net a bit wider. I am delighted to have already had one positive response from Derbyshire Library Service. They’re going to order a few to see what the take up is like and then consider ordering more. It’s very exciting to imagine my book on the shelves in libraries waiting for children to pick it up and take it home.

My Books

Libraries are a great resource and a gateway to reading for many children

Wordy Wednesday

~ my word (s) ~ 11 Comments

A few Sundays back, I went to The Garage in Chilwell where they hold food and craft markets every weekend. I was keen to find Dukki Gifts’ stall as I’d started following them on Instagram. They’re an independent online gift shop and use a lot of Notts / East Midlands words and sayings such as, “ayup me duck”.

I was looking at a tea towel of Nottingham phrases, with translations, when I came across knobby greens. I’d never heard that expression. It means Brussels sprouts and I imagine many a Nottingham child has been told to eat up your knobby greens. What a cracking phrase. I love it.

Here’s a link to Dukki Gifts. Great products at really good prices.

https://dukkigifts.co.uk

Does anyone remember that Christmas on The Vicar of Dibley with Dawn French?

Sum up Sunday

~ my word (s) ~ 5 Comments

I hope you’ve all had a good week? Let’s sum up in 25 words or less.

Volunteer x 2

Fantastic film

Write, write, write

Lunch with friends

Brilliant Carlton Brass Band

Harrogate Flower Show

Whirlwind week

Went to our wonderful independent cinema to see Pressure

Flaunt it Friday

~ my word (s) ~ 7 Comments

How’s your week been? I’ve had an industrious week writing-wise. As well as continuing with the editing of my second children’s book, I’ve started work on two other short pieces.

One is for TenX9 Nottingham, where nine true-life pieces of no more than ten minutes are read. The theme for the next one is waiting.

My second piece is for Let’s Write, an online writing group I attend. This month we had a choice of three prompts. I spent some time deciding which prompt to use and made a start on my piece.

I’m feeling satisfied.

What are you pleased or satisfied with this week?

Ticking off writing tasks

Wordy Wednesday

~ my word (s) ~ 9 Comments

This week, I decided to see what the last word beginning with Q was in my Oxford English Dictionary. With that in mind, my word for today is qwerty.

I might have guessed that this would be the last Q word in the dictionary, due to its lack of U after Q. The word denotes the standard layout on English language typewriters and keyboards; you’ll even see it on your smartphone ‘keyboard’. It is a delightfully easy word to type, given that the letters appear one after the other from the left.

I can remember my mum, who was an incredibly fast typist, referring to her qwerty keys. Later, as computers took over, she complained they were too slow because they couldn’t keep up with her!

Most of us don’t use typewriters anymore but the qwerty keyboard lives on …

Flaunt it Friday

~ my word (s) ~ 9 Comments

What are you pleased with yourself about this week? Go ahead, flaunt it.

I’m feeling very satisfied to have continued to ask independent bookshops across the UK to stock The Clocker, my children’s book. My Books

I decided that I would physically post some of these, including the information from the publisher and one of my bookmarks. I’m gradually lengthening my list of bookshops to contact, including a number specialist children’s bookshops. I made an effort to include something I had noted from their websites, to make it more personal.

As I popped them into the postbox down the road, I felt a great sense of achievement.

Putting letters into envelopes

Wordy Wednesday

~ my word (s) ~ 7 Comments

Another week has passed and it’s Wordy Wednesday again. My word for today is flabbergasted, for no other reason than I like it.

According to my Oxford English Dictionary, the word comes from the late 18th century; of unknown origin. Its meaning is to surprise (someone) greatly. An example of usage might be I was utterly flabbergasted to win the prize.

Comedian Frankie Howerd was known for mixing the word up – never has my flabber been so gasted.

I was flabbergasted to see my name up on a large screen when I went to do my first library event My Books