Word of the Day - Puttee

I went to bed the other night having learnt a new word which I hadn't know at the start of the day!
Showing my ignorance, I'd never heard of the word puttee before. Now I know it is a covering for the lower leg, consisting of a long narrow piece of cloth wound spirally, and fastened by a tape. For infantrymen the winding commences at the ankle, but mounted men reverse the process as the rubbing against the khorse causes the tape to come undone. Worn by most armies except the Germans in 1918, they have gradually disappeared form use. The name is adapted from the Hindu patti, meaning 'strip of cloth.' [with thanks to Encylopaedia Britannica]

Giving Blood

It's that time again. I have made an appointment to give blood again next week, one of the few good and charitable things I do. Back when I first started giving it was twice a year, the needles were as big as straws and you were given a cup of tea afterwards for your troubles. You still get the cup of tea, but the needles have shrunk and so has the time between donations.

If you don't yet give, do consider it. You'll feel good having done so and someone, somewhere, will be truly grateful that you did.

Once - by Morris Gleitzman

I bought this book for a friend's child and over the course of a couple of hours late last night and this morning I read it myself.

I agree with the readers comments on Amazon.co.uk that this is a riveting read for adults. Gleitzman manages to convey so much meaning (to adults, who know what the book is about) in so few words. I am a bit nervous of the effect it will have on children because it isn't light-hearted subject matter, but I suspect it is a very good way to educate a child about this part of our relatively recent history.

If you get the chance to read the book, please do. It doesn't take long, but it will leave lingering thoughts in your mind for a long time.