Plug it in

So Christmas is over and doubtless everyone has received at least one new electronic gadget that requires to be plugged into the mains to work. I am no exception. However in recent years the number of electronic gadgets has increased somewhat. Apparently most British people say that they don't have enough sockets in their house. Nowadays new homes must be built with 38 sockets. Which isn't much comfort for those living in Britain's Victorian and Edwardian homes.

Hence the need for extension boards.

Bermuda Triangle

On this day in 1948 an airliner vanished en route from Peurto Rico to Miami. I remain a little sceptical about the alleged mystery of the Bermuda Triangle. However I was surprised to learn that it has a long history. Among the earliest reports of strange activity in the area is one from Christopher Columbus, although this is disputed. Interestingly the marine insurer Lloyd's of London does not view the area of ocean in the Bermuda Triangle as any more dangerous than any other area of ocean. It would seem that the mystery of the Triangle is a myth.

Benazir Bhutto

In light of today's events I was curious to learn more about Benazir Bhutto and why she would be assassinated. Like her father she was a politician. Her father, Zulfikar Bhutto was prime minister of Pakistan and his government was one of the few not controlled by the military. Benazir Bhutto was twice prime minister of Pakistan and both times was dismissed by the President on charges of corruption. Most of these charges were levelled at her husband. She returned to Pakistan in 2007 and was seen as a strong contender for power.

Oh the romance

I always find that family secrets emerge at Christmas. Usually on Boxing Day. This year has been no exception. My dear mother let slip that father never actually proposed to her. She had gone shopping with some friends for clothes. While out shopping she bought a cream dress and later on when speaking to my father she said jokingly that she had bought the dress she would get married in. To which my father replied that he supposed they had better get married then. There was no romantic proposal, no elaborate scheme or such like. As it turns out my mother did get married in that dress she bought. Almost thirty years and two children later she is still waiting for a proposal.

I can only wonder what would have happened had my mother not gone shopping that day.

La Befana

As we all know last night Santa Claus was flying around the world in his sleigh delivering presents. Although he does go by different names in different places. Take Italy for example. Italian children expect a visit from a woman called La Befana. She is an old lady who flies a broomstick and enters the house via the chimney. She leaves sweets and gifts for the good children but lumps of coal for the bad children. All children receive a lump of "coal" which is actually a sweet fashioned to look like coal.

I'd rather have a chocolate orange, thanks. Merry Christmas, Happy holidays, bah humbug and so on.

All these years I've been saying it wrong

When I first came to university there were lots of student clubs and organisations attempting to woo us Freshers into joining. A girl at my halls of residence was quite keen to see the cheerleaders' sales pitch. She did not want to go along so persuaded me to tag along with her. Within minutes I knew that it was just not my thing. The dancing, the perkiness, the fake hair and, most of all the pom-poms. However today I have learnt that the correct term is actually pom-pons. While pom-poms is perfectly acceptable when referring to clothing or decorations, within cheerleading pom-pon is used exclusively.

I can't help but wonder if anyone can actually hear the difference as the two words sound very similar.

Home

Today I flew home to Northern Ireland for Christmas. I have not been home since June and out of curiosity I decided to sit down and work out how many days it had been since I had been at home. Turns out it was 188 days. I was quite shocked. This afternoon I went for a wee wander around my home city (although it will always be my home town to me) to see what had changed. Well building work on a newish development had stopped yet on the other side of town there was a new development of houses being built. The makeover of one of the city's parks, Castle Gardens, continues and for the first time in years you can get access to this park. Part of the site is closed off but I imagine by the next time I return home it should be finished.

Although I hope it won't be quite such a long gap until I am home again!