My grandfather Eric (middle) atop Mont Blanc in 1937 The improbable prospect of Simon Cowell being a father has come to pass. And he and girflfriend Lauren Silverman have welcomed a bouncing boy… called Eric.The name was chosen after Cowell’s late father. Aaah.Though there have been some mutters – it’s not a name for a […]
Schadenfreude and shoe names
I once bought some nail varnish just because of its name. Schadenfreude. How could it fail? It didn’t matter what it looked like, it was nail paint with attitude. The jar is long dried-up and thrown away and I can’t even remember the shade was apart from it being vaguely purple. Yet, I remember the name. When […]
Sounds that need a name of their own…
This sound has a name, it’s Boy Three Ping, pop, growl and rumble. Tinkle, roar and bang. Scream. English is packed with excellent words for different kinds of noises. Yet, I’ve noticed there are some sounds so distinctive they deserve a word of their own. The fizzle a hot pan makes when the only place […]
The names that got away
Birthday Dude. Ten years ago this week I was getting to know my extraordinarily beautiful second son, Boy Two.Even though I knew I shouldn’t, I sat up through the night, held my warm bundle and watched foxes scurry through the bushes by the hospital car park.He fitted the name we had finally agreed on. As […]
Be adventurous with your child’s name – it’ll make all the difference
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buW66mgTXTY?rel=0] Do you imagine great things for your children? Of course you do. Your little darling is going to make history, be famous and probably save the planet. How about if they were brave and heroic adventurers? Marvellous. But unless you have given them the right name, you’ve blown it already. You see, this […]