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180315 For the Aspiring Prestidigitator

One of MisterMac's books, for he is an aspiring "prestidigitator": 'A person who practises sleight of hand or legerdemain; a conjuror; a juggler. Also in extended use.’ (OED) Day #77 of the second 365 project, where the daily pic is…
Del
March 18, 2015
zBlog Archives

170315 Irish Agra

St Patrick's Day, so it's an Irish word today - "Agra" meaning: 'As a term of endearment: ‘my love’; ‘dear’', (OED). East London showed little evidence of the Guinness-drinking shenanigans that one finds in the centre of town and so…
Del
March 17, 2015
zBlog Archives

160315 A Good Day to Busk

"Busk" can mean: 'To go searching or seeking for something; to go from place to place. Chiefly with adverb or prepositional phrase. Now rare (colloq. in later use)', (OED). So I went busking around E7 looking for the unusual and…
Del
March 16, 2015
zBlog Archives

150315 A Daymare

I dreamt that it was supposed to be spring, but it was unseasonably cold and the rain was hammering on the roof. And then I realised I wasn't dreaming, I was wide awake and just having a "Daymare" ('A fearful…
Del
March 15, 2015
zBlog Archives

140315 Zummerzet Jobson

A "Jobson" is: 'A country person; a yokel, a peasant', (OED) and the word is obsolete. I felt it appropriate, therefore, that the subject should also be obsolete. And I'm just guessing that he was a jobson - he might…
Del
March 14, 2015
zBlog Archives

130315 Companage

The eggs and butter in the background comprise the "companage", which means: 'Any food eaten as an accompaniment to bread, esp. as part of an allowance to a worker, tenant, etc.', (OED). The foreground was my choice of accompaniment, although…
Del
March 13, 2015
zBlog Archives

120315 Nuque

Although the day warmed up, it started off feeling rather wintry and so there were limited opportunities for "nuque" ('The nape of the neck', OED) spotting, as most of the nuques were hidden under collars, hats and scarves. A lucky…
Del
March 12, 2015
zBlog Archives

110315 Jeunesse Dorée

The current fashion for the "jeunesse dorée": 'Originally: the group of fashionable counter-revolutionaries formed in France after the fall of Robespierre. Later more generally: young people of wealth, privilege, or fashion', (OED). Day #70 of the second 365 project, where…
Del
March 11, 2015
zBlog Archives

100315 Nice Nelly

I wasn't in the same orbit as a "Nice Nelly" ('A person who is excessively concerned with maintaining an appearance of propriety or respectability; a prudish or fastidious person', OED) today, but I feel that this sculpture might have been…
Del
March 10, 2015
Bleeding London

E6 Long Train Running

Having been north, south and west, I thought it only fitting that the penultimate day of my blog week should see me in the east. The eastern parts of London are quite remarkable in terms of the changes that have…
Del
March 10, 2015
zBlog Archives

090315 Peculation

"Peculation" is: The appropriation of money or property held in trust for another by a servant, employee, or official; esp. the embezzlement of public funds belonging to a ruler, state, or government. Also: an instance of this', (OED). I wondered…
Del
March 9, 2015
zBlog Archives

080315 Murano?

I think this is from Murano so it fits today's word, which is, well, "Murano" meaning: 'Designating or relating to the glass-making industry of Murano, or the Venetian glass made there', (OED). I've added the masks for authenticity in case…
Del
March 8, 2015
zBlog Archives

070315 Leftover from the Church Ale

One of the empties from the "Church ale": 'A festivity during which ale is drunk, held by or in connection with a church esp. to raise money for church repair, the poor, etc. Also: the ale drunk at such a…
Del
March 7, 2015
Bleeding London

SW17 If Paradise is Half as Nice

My gap-filling quest for Bleeding London took me to Tooting today. And what better place to start than Amen Corner. Even though it has nothing to do with the 60’s band of the same name, it is nonetheless photographically impressive…
Del
March 7, 2015
zBlog Archives

060315 Phalarica

Hmm, this was tough. "Phalarica" means: 'A javelin or dart wrapped in tow and pitch, set on fire, and projected as an incendiary weapon by hand or from a catapult', (OED). But I think arrows count - I'm sure I've…
Del
March 6, 2015
zBlog Archives

050315 Oxpecker

My Natural History photography ability knows no bounds … and so today's word was a cakewalk. An "oxpecker" is: 'Either of two African birds which habitually cling to the backs of cattle and other large mammals to feed on ticks…
Del
March 5, 2015
zBlog Archives

040315 Oppugn

You can't beat a bit of religion if you're trying to find something to represent "oppugn", which means: 'To attack or oppose with words, action, influence, etc.; esp. to call into question, controvert, or dispute the truth or validity of…
Del
March 4, 2015
zBlog Archives

030315 Ex-Planation

"Planation" is: 'The levelling of a landscape by erosion; (occas.) an instance of this', (OED). As the incinerator is on the banks of the Donaukanal (a spur of the Danube), there's a chance that it sits on the results of…
Del
March 3, 2015
Bleeding London

SW7 Modern Life is Rubbish

I am obsessed with rubbish. IMHO rubbish can tell us so much about an area and its inhabitants. And although I didn’t have much photography time today, I did manage to acquire a few more pix for my own rubbish…
Del
March 3, 2015
zBlog Archives

020315 Macarize Me!

"Macarize" means: 'To account or call (a person, etc.) happy or blessed', (OED). I'm back in my spiritual home, so you can macarize me all you like. Day #61 of the second 365 project, where the daily pic is informed…
Del
March 2, 2015