180-year-old phrasebook helped English tourists converse with Welsh
And other stories from the stranger side of life
A 180-year-old phrasebook has been discovered which sets out to teach English tourists how to speak to Welsh “peasants”. First printed in London in 1838, The Welsh Interpreter says it is: “Adapted for Tourists, who may wish to make themselves understood by the peasantry during their rambles through Wales.” It adds that is it “convenient” to ask “useful and necessary questions” while travelling in “obscure and remote districts”.
Angry man leaves mess on restaurant floor
Police have made an arrest after an Ontario man allegedly defecated on the floor of a restaurant. The man had arrived in the Georgian Bluffs restaurant shortly after 6am, before it opened for business. When asked by to leave he dropped his trousers and defecated on the restaurant floor while issuing threats against an employee.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Canadian drivers told to not let moose lick cars
Authorities in a Canadian town are posting signs that advise local drivers: “Do not let moose lick your car.” The signs, posted in Jasper, Alberta, are intended to ensure the animals don't develop a taste for the road salt that coats the sides of cars that drive through the alpine town. Officials want to prevent the animals from losing their fear of cars.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Chas Newkey-Burden has been part of The Week Digital team for more than a decade and a journalist for 25 years, starting out on the irreverent football weekly 90 Minutes, before moving to lifestyle magazines Loaded and Attitude. He was a columnist for The Big Issue and landed a world exclusive with David Beckham that became the weekly magazine’s bestselling issue. He now writes regularly for The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Independent, Metro, FourFourTwo and the i new site. He is also the author of a number of non-fiction books.
-
7 beautiful towns to visit in Switzerland during the holidays
The Week Recommends Find bliss in these charming Swiss locales that blend the traditional with the modern
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Werewolf bill
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
'This needs to be a bigger deal'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Zoos offer cockroach naming and hippo poo candles
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
NHS tells Scots to walk like penguins
Tall Tales Walk like penguins in the snow, says NHS
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Experts discover why dogs wag their tails
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Peruvian 'aliens' aren't really aliens
Tall Tales And other stories from stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Woman accidentally puts nan in washing machine
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
'Angel' visits woman before lottery win
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Teenager becomes first Tetris victor
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Twins born in separate years
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published