Dive in, splash around, skim and dip and spout about the latest quotations, metaphors, words and, of course, triologisms. You’ll feel better for it!
In praise of idiosyncratic spelling
Those were the days, when you spelled, or spelt, or spellt, a word as you saw fit. Then the spelling police took charge and we all fell in line....
Nonsense daubers
Folly, speaking from her light-hearted pulpit, lays into another bunch of self-serious fools, those who write books, or as she puts it, 'daub pure...
Unexpected ignorance, unexpected knowledge
Maggie Tulliver is a girl whose brightness and spirit are constantly curtailed and nearly crushed. Throughout her childhood she is...
Today’s diary entry
Always curious about the habits of journal writing and the choices people make in the materials they use, I liked the detailed...
Love bade me…
One of the most beautiful English poems, of great simplicity and generosity, by George Herbert. Much of his poetry is religious but his...
The history of books
An idea so intrinsic to reading books, particularly those you love and remember, that I had never consciously thought of it. Here,...
A quote to note
Drawing on thousands of sparkling, moving and inspiring quotations amassed during decades of attentive reading. To delight your mind and spirit and improve your presentations beyond belief.
Two points of view
Very important to keep an open mind and allow yourself the possibility of having more than one view point. How better to do so than by having both a...
Of humbug and hypocrisy
George Eliot makes a bold statement about wealthy Mr. Glegg's goodness of heart, until you get to the closing clause. She has many such subtle ways...
Changed identity – II
Again, Rory Stewart's guide-bodyguard, Qasim, resorts to invention in presenting his ward to people they meet on their hike across Afghanistan. In...
Changed identity – I
Rory Stewart's hike across remote areas of Afghanistan began with a couple of bodyguards assigned to him whether he wanted them or not. The senior...
Metaphorically speaking
More marvelous metaphors on Mondays … Monday, metaphor day.
Wrung from the soul
Maggie Tulliver is a deep-feeling woman of painful sincerity, and here words are wrung from her, with a wrenching simile. 'These words were rung...
An unmapped river
A marvelous image for human destinies, usually well hidden no matter the efforts we make to discern them. Since this engaging classic revolves...
The garment of silence
The hum of insects, bees buzzing about the flowers, can be one of the most soothing of sounds and George Eliot has a beautiful way to describe this...
My head’s alive
Like an old cheese ... a surprising and original way to describe a lively mind, writhing with ideas and plans. Hope you have moments like this, when...
Triologisms
Bringing you pithy, evocative imagery in the form of three-legged microcosms of meaning. Updated on Tuesdays … Tuesday, triologism day! You’ll never see this day of the week in the same way again.
Ash-covered Vulcan
Lady Folly blithely explains why it is better to be merry Bacchus (or Dionysius) than any of the more serious gods, including in her summary...
Folly’s pedigree
Erasmus' timeless Praise of Folly has the foolish lady up in the pulpit, mocking all comers with humour and charm, and praising herself to the hilt....
Foam-flecked sea
A fine rhythm to this triologism, and a vivid image. This is Lady Folly speaking, in praise of herself and all the bountiful things she brings to...
Wonder-working juice
A Greek myth concerning a wonder-working juice which confers immortality. However, when asking that Tithonus be granted eternal life...
Well-lubricated gods
Wise, merry Folly laughs off the boozy behaviour of tanked-up gods, treating them like so many party-animal adolescents. From Erasmus'...
Seneca the Stoic
Erasmus' triologism to describe Seneca as a dyed in the wool Stoic. I prefer the alliteration of 'double-dyed'. 'Seneca, that...
Words
Sharing words that sparkle, appeal, intrigue or otherwise grab me, including those in other languages. And adoring alliteration, new words will be added on Wednesdays… Wednesday, word day. See you back here then.
Imp
Before reading Drury's splendid biography of the poet George Herbert, I knew 'imp' only as a small being of occasional mischievousness.But it is...
A threatening of …
What would you associate with 'a threatening'? Clouds? Storms? Thugs loitering on street corners, or skulking in doorways and dark alleys?No,...
Cumbrian sheep counting
Rory Stewart came across these numerals, apparently still used to count sheep by Cumbrian farmers. They trot off the tongue like spring...
Of farsang places
A measure of distance which has an echo of 'farflung', though no direct connection. It means one day's walk or journey, or a day's...
Dang useful
Dang handy for walkabout, this is a Punjabi word for 'walking stick or staff'. Rory Stewart carried one as he strode through India,...
Syzygy
This astronomical word has always fascinated me, not so much for its meaning as its consonants and repetition. My handwriting includes...
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