
It’s half term
And the little girl in the charity shop
Says we have the best toys.
Reassuring rheumatologist
And snowdrops at Calke.


It’s half term
And the little girl in the charity shop
Says we have the best toys.
Reassuring rheumatologist
And snowdrops at Calke.

On a Tuesday morning, my partner volunteers in one of our local charity shops and often messages me to come and buy a few things. I never know what they might be but tea towels are a regular favourite – she’s a collector extraordinaire. This time, there were three items; a tea towel in a tin, a tin with teapots on it and a jigsaw.
When I got home, I studied the jigsaw and became fascinated by the word ‘Hygge’ on the front. As well as some information on the box, I headed to the visit Denmark website. Here it describes the fullness of its meaning. Hygge – pronounced hoo-gah – is about creating a warm atmosphere, enjoying the best of life with other people. They give some examples, such as the cosy glow of candlelight.
If you enjoy doing jigsaws, you probably get a sense of Hygge and the design on this one demonstrates that sense perfectly too. I think we all need more Hygge in our lives. Thank you Denmark.


Here’s my week summed up. I’d love to hear your ‘sum ups’ – in 25 words or less.
Volunteer, go to physio,
Cat to the vet.
Results of biopsy
(Must it always rain
When I go to the hospital?)
Time to write.

Do you have a word for Wordy Wednesday? I’d love to hear your favourite word or the one that best sums up how you feel today.
In the past few weeks I’ve had many medical appointments and I’m left feeling discombobulated. Confused, a bit off kilter and out of balance perfectly describes my experience.
Said to have first been recorded in the early 1800s in the form discomboberate, it might not be a great feeling but it’s still a grand word.

Busy charity shop day
B12 jab, happy birthday me
Write, write, write.
Feet, a scan and biopsy
Cats and a day out.


It’s Wordy Wednesday again and, today, I bring you a word whose origin lies in Scotland. It’s been used in proverbs and poems, including by the famous Scottish bard, Robert Burns. It’s also, I believe, one of those words that sounds like its meaning somehow.
Crabbit – out of humour or in a bad temper. It’s a word, given my Scottish heritage, that I often heard during our many visits to Scotland when I was a child.

She’s awfy crabbit the day!
Exhausted from physio
Snip, snip salon
Lunch with friends
Let’s write, write and write.
Vet with our little wanderer
And so the week ends.

Having previously shared some words from the 16th and 18th century, today I bring a much more modern word. It is a blend of two words and became popular from around 2019.
Have you ever found yourself accidentally eating more snacks than you intended? Maybe you were anxious or simply distracted, only to find you’d eaten a large bag of crisps, or rather more biscuits than you meant to. If you have, then you’ve had a snaccident. What a brilliant word.
Look out for my next word on Wordy Wednesday and please do send me any of your favourite or discovered words.

I’ve set myself the challenge of summing up my week in 25 words or less. If you’d like to have a go too, I’d be pleased to see your ‘sum ups’.
Here goes:
I volunteer
And I write
Rain, rain, more rain
And more
Hospital appointments x 2
See family
And relax –
With the cats.

I credit Susie Dent, lexicographer extraordinaire, for introducing me to this word via instagram. I’d been searching for something that would describe my current state of ennui, a sense of not being able to get on with anything or satisfactorily complete a task.
Mubble-fubbles perfectly sums up this feeling and is a 16th century expression for a fit of low spirits. I also read yesterday that January is the month for hibernation and rest. Perhaps, if I do just that, the mubble-fubbles will have passed by February.

In the still quiet of winter, rest and hibernate mind and body.