Lord Dawdle writes: “We take the written word for granted so much these days, it’s worth taking time to find out where it came from and indeed ponder on where it’s going. This book by penman extraordinaire Ewan Clayton – handwriting dunce turned master calligrapher – explores the history of our most vital communication tool from ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics through to the latest computer fonts. A modern classic and must for anyone who works with words. It will surprise and amaze. As my dear wife put it “most illuminating!”  Take a look in the Library

As we rev up and roar through 2014 we here at Dawdle Hall will be pausing briefly in the diary to cheer on some of the more unusual achievements that take our fancy in our new Hats Off To section.

 

Hats off to: Wiry Finlay Wild who ran the entire length of the British Alps – The very spiky and exposed 12 km long Cuillin Ridge on the Isle of Skye – in under three hours; 

Boffins at Oxford University who came up with a nanoscale train set powered by microscopic motors and powered by DNA – yes really!;

Pioneering Phyllis Pearsall who came up with the original London A-Z back in the 1930’s after getting lost on her way to a party one rainy night thanks to an out of date map. Despite putting in 18 hour days walking the 3,000 miles of London’s 23,000 roads no one wanted to publish it, so she did it herself. Hurrah!;

The eggheads in America who have created the most waterproof material ever, inspired by ridges on nasturtium leaves and the wings of butterflies;

And finally the French cafe in Nice which got fed up with surly customers. If you say “please” you get money off your coffee and if you say “hello” as well the price is even less. This should now be adopted by all food and drink emporiums with immediate effect.