It’s not a new book or even a new idea, but my own little book: Glossary is a diversion, hopefully not a contraflow. It’s available on Amazon, and briefly, it is a collection of Gloucestershire place names given new meanings by me.

I am publishing some selected pages here over the next few weeks. If you would like a copy of the entire collection, you can find it right here on Amazon.

I suppose this is my version of sharing a joke. For the uninitiated, it is a great pastime when travelling: to give new meanings to place names. Try it!

Avening
A large expanse of country house lawn where absolutely no weeds exist at all. Any sign of weeds within said lawn is treated with horror by the owners and with ‘suspicion of weedkiller’ by purist gardening visitors to the mansion. This is always refuted by the head gardener, but he’s likely to have his fingers crossed.

Babdown A knotty area of duvet that cannot be located when disassembled. Keep the receipt.

Bagpath
The argument that ensues when a female passenger disagrees with a related driver on the right direction to a place to which they have both driven separately before. Arguments usually start at a roundabout where they choose entirely opposite routes.

Bamfurlong
The way a woman drives which triggers a Bagpath.

Birdlip
The sound of someone who can whistle really really loudly using a lot of fingers in their mouth. Used to control sheepdogs when swearing at them no longer works. Sheep can hear a Birdlip from half a mile away. More effective as a bird scarer. Rare these days, but when heard is unmistakable. Danger to eardrums.