Wordy Wednesday

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It’s Wordy Wednesday again and I have a Dutch word for you today. Last week I went to Bruges for five days, also hopping over the border to Sluis in The Netherlands. While perusing the menu in the windmill restaurant, a word caught my attention.

Slagroom?

I guessed this menu option was something sweet, knowing what a madeleine is; also guessing ‘met een’ was likely to be ‘with’. But what did ‘slagroom’ mean? This is what I find so fascinating about words and language. On looking it up, I was right about the madeleines and with; the sentence translated into English means “madeleines with a dollop of whipped cream”. Slagroom means cream in English. It is, of course, not pronounced slag room, more slaackroam.

What a great word. Do you have an unusual, quirky or favourite word to share? I’d love to hear from you.

Cream!

Sum up Sunday

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Here’s my Sunday sum up. What have you been doing this week? Share in 25 words or less.

Sluis – Netherlands

Bruges, Ghent, Sluis, Ostend

Colourful, vibrant and warm

Unexpected in all the best ways

Fresh fish, shrimp croquettes and frites

Little Easter eggs with tea.

Tea comes with little cakes, biscuits or Easter eggs

Flaunt it Friday

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I’m feeling jolly pleased with myself this week. We hadn’t been abroad since 2017 when we went to Florence for the 25th wedding anniversary of my partner’s cousin. Travelling abroad had become difficult and stressful, Brexit notwithstanding. (Apologies for using the B word!) Insurance for two people with existing medical conditions is outrageous, and waiting for ‘assisted travel’ at airports somewhat like being in a holding pen with no idea when you’ll escape.

We decided to take our holidays in the UK, covering the South West of England to The Highlands of Scotland. We’ve had some amazing times with no regrets but, having had some challenging times in 2025, we decided to try a coach holiday to Belgium; a place we’d never been.

It’s been wonderful, such a beautiful country. Bruges is vibrant and pretty. We also visited Ghent, Ostend and hopped over the border to Sluis in The Netherlands, which was a delight. We’d settled on a five-day break to see how it went and it all went well. So … where next?

Beautiful Bruges

Wordy Wednesday

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I really enjoy reading a book series and have especially liked the gentle flow of Harriet Steel’s Inspector de Silva stories. Set in Sri Lanka in the 1930s, and in the imaginary town of Nuala, Inspector de Silva (often with his wife, Jane’s, help) solves the many murders and mysteries.

It was exciting to discover a new book in the series: A Curse in Nuala. I was happily reading when I came upon a word that was new to me. In describing a room, we’re told; “the colour was echoed in the drugget carpet …”

I quickly looked up ‘drugget’ and discovered that it’s a word from the 16th century. It comes from the French, ‘droguet’ meaning poor quality article.

To discover the wonderful book series visit https://harrietsteel.comhttps://harrietsteel.com

Do you enjoy reading books in a series? What’s your favourite?

Sum up Sunday

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Bench made from old skateboards

Quirky Nottingham skateboard bench,

Dummy run to check coach stop,

Brain tangle from new challenges,

Rested by volunteer shifts.

Can you sum up your week in 25 words or less?

Does anyone else do ‘dummy runs‘?

Flaunt it Friday

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What are you pleased with yourself about this week?

I’ve been working through a long list of tasks in advance of my middle-grade children’s book, The Clocker, being published on 28th April 2026. I’ve approved the ebook, ordered some bookmarks, updated my website, had various conversations in relation to promoting the book … The list goes on.

It can be hard to do things you haven’t done before, as well as remind yourself of things you’ve not done for a while. I’m plodding on, taking it step by step and getting there.

You can pre-order my book and see more at:

https://troubador.co.uk/bookshop/middle-grade/the-clocker

Ticking things off my list is very satisfying

Wordy Wednesday

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I came across the word ‘bimble’ in an Instagram post from sconepalnatalie and was keen to find out more about its meaning and origin.

Its meaning is to walk or stroll at a leisurely pace, possibly coming from the word, ‘bumble’. I love the idea of going for a morning bimble along the beach or through the park. That’s my kind of pace.

Please share any words you’ve come across; I’d love to hear from you in the comments box.

I’m off for my morning bimble through the park

Sum up Sunday

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Driveway blasted clean.

An instruction lost in translation

Left my bin on the doorstep.

Let’s Write group,

Lunch with friends …

I had to laugh at this. The delivery instruction was leave behind bin if out 🤣

Can you sum up your week in 25 words or less? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.

Flaunt it Friday

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It’s been a busy week for me, one of new challenges as I prepare for the publication of my children’s book, The Clocker. As writers, we spend hours plotting stories, bringing characters to life, writing, revising and editing until we’re happy with the result.

Even with the backup of a publisher, there’s still more to do, as an author, and this involves heading into an unknown land. Pushing myself out there, getting help from others, speaking to strangers doesn’t come easily to me. I might be writing Flaunt it Friday but it all feels a bit alien and uncomfortable.

It has been wonderful to receive positive and helpful support not only from friends and family but my writing community at The Writer’s Bureau Let’s Write group.

https://www.writersbureaucourse.com/courses/let-us-write

There’s lots more to do but I’ve made a start. If you’ve achieved something this week, however big or small, let me know in the comments section below.

Lots to think about

Find The Clocker at:

https://troubador.co.uk/bookshop/middle-grade/the-clocker

https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-clocker/liz-mackenzie/9781806341719

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Clocker-Liz-Mackenzie/dp/1806341719?dplnkId=95fae17e-4ddd-4c6e-a3b3-3cd1c146eb8a&nodl=1

Wordy Wednesday

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It’s Wordy Wednesday and I have a great word for you today.

According to Collins English Dictionary, Gubbins refers to an object of little value; a small gadget; odds and ends, or a silly person. It goes back as far as the 16th century and is derived from the obsolete word, gobbon – likely related to gobbet, meaning a small piece of food.

It’s an excellent word for describing all manner of bits and pieces there’s no other suitable word for. An example might be, “All the computer gubbins is in the drawer”.

I invite you to share your favourite, obsolete, funny or otherwise entertaining words with me.

Please share your own words in comments