08 Oct 2024

It’s All Fun And Games Until Someone Loses A Cat

Q. Malaphor? Guilty. That is: mistakenly jumbling two folk sayings, or idioms. The result? Undeniable nonsense meets knowing nods. What are some oft heard malaphors? . A. The malaphor: ‘Slipped through the radar’ Its broken parts: ‘Slipped through the cracks’ + ‘Under the radar’ • The malaphor: ‘I stuck my

06 Oct 2024

The Annunciation In Art

Q. In Luke 1:26 we find the moment when ‘the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth’ to tell Mary that she has found favour with God … ‘And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call

04 Oct 2024

Victor Victoria

Q. Congratulations to Victoria which, once again, has been named top Small non-US City in the World by the 2024 readers of Condé Nast Travel Magazine. Living just a hop, skip and a ferry/seaplane from this capital of British Columbia, we are delighted at the news. ‘The most British city

02 Oct 2024

Out Damn Past

Q. Macbeth: Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? It might have happened to you. Not the murderous schemes of Macbeth and his Lady, but the stumbling out of a situation that made you feel unclean, dirty, tainted, ashamed. You might have been nothing more

29 Sep 2024

Good Morning Chair, Good Morning Sweet Coffee Scenting The Air

Q. Happy National Coffee Day! Where does coffee rate in your – and others’ – ratings of favourite home smells? . A. Well, according to a 72 Point Poll of 1,000 adults, the sweet perfume of morning coffee sits atop our most beloved household aromatics. . The best smells to

26 Sep 2024

Let’s Ask Her

Q. “Can you tell me the time?” “Do you have change for a five?’ ‘Will you take a picture of me with my cat?” Are you that person who strangers always stop to perform random tasks? Do they somehow find their way to you no matter how big the crowd?

24 Sep 2024

What Say You, Sigbert?

Q. Fictional Eloises are not here to dot your i’s and cross your t’s. There is young Eloise of the Plaza – ‘I am a nuisance in the lobby. Mr. Salomone said so. He is the Manager.’ Add eleven years and we have Eloise Bridgerton – ‘If I’m forced to

21 Sep 2024

Mr. Whippy Chippy Dunkaroo

Q. Think back to your middle school lunches or after-school snacks. You’re negotiating trades at the lunch table. You’re dashing en masse to the corner store. Which snacks are worth your hard-earned allowance money? Which snacks – whether available today or not – elicit the most nostalgia? . A. Nostalgia-inducing snacks

18 Sep 2024

Dial A Couplet

Q. Flash nostalgia is a curious thing. Suddenly, out of nowhere, the mind is abuzz: “remember when we used to…” Today’s random nostalgic nudge: the world of ‘Dial A.’  How many of us remember sneaking to the phone as kids to test out the much advertised Dial A services? Dial

16 Sep 2024

Deep Into The Spider-Verse

Q. Well, look who finally made their way Into the Spider-Verse. Wow. I get the nominations and the hype. The use of character, art, music; the seamless melding between comic book and film animation – it’s brilliant. Just how passionate are people about their favourite superheroes? It depends, of course,