I'd like to report a murder

I've always thought this was an odd turn of phrase. I'm sure nobody really "likes" to report a murder, or any crime, come to think if it. But anyway, I'm already getting off the subject and I haven't even begun yet.

What I'd like to talk about is venery. You may not have heard the word* but I'm sure you've heard its use. I am referring to collective nouns. For example, a "flock" of birds or a "pride" of lions. These are fairly common so we don't really think about them very much but I was searching online for confirmation of a term I'd heard many years ago, a "murder" of crows.




I was pleased to find it was correct. However, I came across a number of other terms I'd never heard before, some of which had me laughing at the mental image that accompanied them. For your pleasure, I'd like to share a number of them here. Enjoy.

A parcel of birds
A blush of boys
A rabble of butterflies
A drunkenship of cobblers
A hastiness of cooks
A kettle of hawks
A siege of herons
An observance of hermits
A smack of jellyfish
A cartload of monkeys
A scourge of mosquitoes
A superfluity of nuns
A parliament of owls
A bouquet of pheasants
A poverty of pipers
An unkindness of ravens
A rout of snails
A clutter of spiders
An ambush of tigers
A gang of turkeys


*Bird is the word.

Sharing is caring

Thank you.

That was for everybody that read, liked and commented on my last post. It has since become my most viewed post to date. I believe this was due, in part, to the fact that my wife, amongst others, shared it on Facebook, etc.




This blog is almost a diary of my depression, how I cope with it and how it is being treated, by professionals and friends, alike. Because mental health issues are being more publicly addressed (#TimeToChange), I ask you all to share these posts online, via Facebook, Twitter or the social network of your choice.

It only takes a click of your mouse or a tap on your smartphone but it's a moment taken out of your day that is greatly appreciated. If you won't do it for me, do it for someone you know.



Thank you.

Day 98: Definition of a mental breakdown

This isn't my personal definition of a mental breakdown but it made a lot of sense when it was told to me recently.

"It's the realisation that the life you thought you were going to have isn't the life that you're living."

I heard this from someone who had suffered from depression at some point in his life. It's quite surprising, once you open up and admit that you have a problem, how many other people have had similar problems in their lives.

If you're keeping your depression, or any mental illness, to yourself, may I suggest that you share your problem with someone. It won't halve it but it does lighten the load ever so slightly.