Sitting here, waiting patiently for the bank holiday weekend to arrive... 💭

Sponsor our new recruit Jasper today, to give freedom and independence to someone living with sight loss 👉 bit.ly/3yG3hOU

Word of the day is ‘absquatulate’ (19th century): to leave in a hurry.

Let’s share a bit of sympathy for the people with a book out tomorrow.

Anyway, the paperback of Kay’s Incredible Inventions is available tomorrow from penguin.co.uk/books/445989/k… or your local bookshop!

Etymology of the day: 'explode' is the poor relative of 'applaud'; it comes from the Latin for slow hand-clapping an inadequate performer off the stage.

The Old English sóna, 'soon', meant ‘at once; immediately’, and 'sooner' and 'soonest' didn't exist. As human nature kicked in, 'soon' took on the meaning of 'in a bit'.

Word of the day is ‘whiffler’ (17th century): one who ‘whiffles’, i.e. blows this way and that and never holds a consistent position.

A reminder that the adjective ‘nod-crafty’, from the 17th century, describes someone with the knack of nodding their head with an air of great understanding, when in reality they tuned out ages ago.

I continue to love #buyastrangerabook day.

Here’s a chance to nab a unique piece of art, modelled on our wonderful guide dogs.  Click on the link to the online auction below to see the sculptures available and, if you’re able, please consider bidding to raise funds for an incredible charity Guide Dogs.

Word of the Day is ‘cunctator’ (17th century): a delayer; the person who always gets to a task just as it’s being finished.

Very much looking forward to this conversation. The Hay Festival is always among my favourite events of the year.

hayfestival.com/p-21999-susie-…

This is a lovely thing. youtu.be/gEOv5inkLN8

Word of the day is ‘beek’ (13th century): to bask in pleasurable warmth.

The word 'travel' is an offshoot of 'travail', meaning 'trouble' or 'torment'. Both are descendants of the Latin 'trepalium', which was an instrument of torture. Travel in the Middle Ages (and beyond) was often arduous and long.

A short piece on names in the dictionary, from Quentin Tarantino to Jack the Lad: inews.co.uk/opinion/eyonce…

Yes, for that we have the Italian ‘sprezzatura’: a casual nonchalance that hides the effort going on behind the scenes.

A snapshot of my current list of situations and emotions that we surely need a word for (I’d welcome your suggestions too): greatbigstory.com/susie-dents-to…

Word of the day is ‘fudgel’ (18th century): to make a big show of working hard whilst actually doing very little.