1st September

A A Milne got it right today in 1919 with his comment on chess. He said 'It is impossible to win gracefully at chess. No one has yet said "Mate!" in a voice which failed to sound to his opponent bitter, boastful and malicious." How much better it would be to say 'Chum', 'Pal', 'Me Ol' Mucker'.

In other news ... the first supermarket in Britain opened today in 1951. It was called the Premier and it ushered in a whole raft of phrases in the English language that hadn't been heard before e.g. 'This is a colleague announcement'; 'on special offer today we have' and 'spillage in Aisle 14'.

9th June

My avid reader will have noticed that there was no Blog [yesterday/today?]. That's because it was St Maxwell's Day. Who he? I hear you cry. The original Maxwell was a sailor my grandfather knew, who had so many things that he wanted to do ... you know the rest. Or perhaps you don't. It's by AA Milne - I'd look it up for you, but I don't do anything on St Maxwell's Day ...