New hope for the New Year

28th Dec 2020

New Year’s Eve is traditionally when we fix our gaze firmly forward in hope, having cast a backward glance at the year just ended. Which, despite the negatives, saw a healthy increase in good-neighbourliness and kindness as demonstrated, for instance, by caremongering. I feel hopeful that… Read More

Spanish word of the week: chimenea

23rd Dec 2020

This week’s Spanish word of the week is  la chimenea NOUN chimney; fireplace Una chimenea can mean either a chimney or a fireplace. The context will generally show which meaning is intended: Sale humo por la chimenea. There’s smoke coming out of the chimney. una hermosa perspectiva de tejados… Read More

Food for thought this Christmas

21st Dec 2020

I don’t know about you, but I’m already salivating at the prospect of Christmas food. The first pangs start early in December with the nostalgia rush I get upon spotting dinky net bags of mixed nuts for sale. Perhaps folk are deterred by the faff of cracking them open to… Read More

Spanish word of the week: contento

16th Dec 2020

This week’s Spanish word of the week is contento ADJECTIVE happy; pleased When you are happy or pleased about something, contento is the word you need. It sounds like the English adjective content, but unlike the English is not formal. Remember that you use it with estar, and not… Read More

Eight Gaelic words from the Collins English Dictionary

14th Dec 2020

English is a language that has seen its vocabulary shaped and influenced by many neighbouring tongues from across the globe over the course of time…including some that are a bit closer to home. There are several native Celtic languages spoken in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man that have… Read More

Spanish word of the week: venta

9th Dec 2020

This week’s Spanish word of the week is venta NOUN sale Venta is the noun from the verb vender, to sell, and refers to any action of selling something: Yo no tuve nada que ver en la venta del terreno. I had nothing to do with the sale of the land. Han… Read More

International Volunteer Day

5th Dec 2020

International Volunteer Day (sometimes abbreviated to IVD) takes place annually on December 5th. It is an ‘International Day’ established by the United Nations to recognize and promote the contribution made by volunteers and voluntary organizations to the wellbeing of people across the globe. And, as it… Read More

11 words and phrases from Nottingham

3rd Dec 2020

Eh up, me duck! Here are a few words and phrases you might hear in Nottingham and the surrounding areas: 1. Eh up! Eh up is a friendly way of greeting someone: Eh up, Sam. Where are you off to? 2. cob A cob is a… Read More

Spanish word of the week: fuerte

2nd Dec 2020

This week’s Spanish word of the week is fuerte ADJECTIVE strong; loud; intense Fuerte is very common in Spanish. The commonest words in any language tend to have very many meanings, and fuerte is no exception. Today we’re looking at three of its major meanings, strong, loud and… Read More