Judy Parkinson - Böcker

How on earth did 'with bells on' come to express enthusiasm? What do chips on shoulders have to do with inferiority complexes? ... And who is the face that launched a thousand ships? Spilling the Beans on the Cat's Pyjamas provides us with the meanings of these well-worn and much-loved phrases by putting these linguistic quirks in context, and explaining how and why they were first used. For example, did you know that 'the rule of thumb' refers to the use of the thumb to make measurements, as the first joint of the average adult thumb measures one inch?Absorbing, diverting and fascinating - as far as gift books go, Spilling the Beans really is the bee's knees!

A Sunday Times top-ten title in 2007 and a bestseller ever since, I Before E (Except after C) has continued to inform and entertain its many readers.Offering reminders from our youth and containing countless more memory aids to help us in adult life, this handy collection contains all the useful facts you’ll ever need to know: from well-known rhymes, mnemonics and memorable sayings to a selection of more modern methods of boosting your memory power. From spelling rules and calendar quirks to numbers, sequences, and everyday facts, this handy collection is packed with those small but essential details we all find ourselves second-guessing.Thoughtfully updated and beautifully re-packaged, this refreshed edition offers even more ways to boost recall while celebrating the charm of traditional memory aids. Perfect as a thoughtful gift, or a treat for yourself, this title will ensure you never again hesitate over whether '30 days hath September' or if the clocks spring forward or fall back.

'Claiming there are only 150 key things you really need to know that have shaped in the story of Britain, this book delivers them in easy to swallow, bite-sized chunks' - Best of British____________________A bestseller in 2008, Remember Remember has continued to enlighten and entertain readers wanting to brush up on their history. Lively, exciting, full of great stories and humorous asides, this book looks at the key events in British history, covering all the important dates, people and events. Each subject is presented in short, self-contained 'articles', designed to be dipped into on the readers whim. Concise and authoritative, Remember, Remember makes history interesting and accessible for everyone once again.

A Sunday Times top-ten title in 2007 and a bestseller ever since, I Before E (Except after C) has continued to inform and entertain its many readers. Offering reminders of mnemonics from our youth and containing countless more to help us in adult life, this handy collection contains all the memory aids you'll ever need to know: from well-known rhymes, mnemonics, and memorable sayings to a selection of more modern methods of boosting one's failing memory. I Before E (Except after C) will ensure you'll never struggle to remember names, dates, facts, figures and events ever again!