• You may remember,some twenty years ago, that Edwina Curry got the sack for telling pensioners to wrap up warm, put on another cardigan and wear a hat. Well, of course she was right and it was just an excuse t ridicule her and get rid of her for telling us not to eat eggs – that’s another story.

    This morning the BBC TV News had a correspondant in Scotland telling us that it was currently -14 where she was – AND SHE WASN’T WEARING A HAT! What is the matter with people? We are so used to taking antibiotics to sort out illnesses, we have completely forgotten to wrap up warm and prevent the diseases getting in in the first place.

    In this world of health and safety madness, when it really matters and the worker should be wearing protective clothing, no on seems to care.

    As we all know too well already – the world has gone mad!

  • I came upon this word while investigating timorous and temerity. It means reckless or rash.
    So, next time your friend walks out into oncoming traffic, pull them back and tell them to stop being so temerarious. They will be so nonplussed, they will heel and walk quietly on the pavement.

    Learn a new word every day.
    Repeat it and remind yourself what it means at least three times in a day.
    Try to use the word in conversation or writing today.
    Get a dictionary and look words up.

  • Temerity is the possession of boldness and confidence – quite the opposite of Timorous. It sounds like a positive attribute but can so easily made negative with a statement like:

    “You have the temerity to come round here and ask me a question like that?!

    Learn a new word every day.
    Repeat it and remind yourself what it means at least three times in a day.
    Try to use the word in conversation or writing today.
    Get a dictionary and look words up.