bitful

To discipline by dragging under the keel of a ship. To rebuke harshly.

To gather (grain) left behind by reapers. To collect bit by bit.

Today I went to have a key cut.
It was a very ordinary, common and widespread house key, so I did not shop around for the cheapest rates. I had noticed a little cobbler-locksmith unit inside Oxford Circus tube station where I change trains to and from work, so on the way home I handed the [...]

To put down forcibly; suppress: Police quelled the riot. To pacify; quiet.

A meal or the food eaten or provided at a meal. To eat or feast.

Last Christmas Dr B. gave me a Sony Ericsson K700i. I had been unlucky with my choice of mobile phones in the past (read: could not afford anything produced this century) and it was the perfect present.
Unfortunately, the joystick got stuck pretty soon, Dr B. demanded a replacement and got a refusal, I took out [...]

A case of leather or similar material into which a pistol fits snugly and which attaches to a belt, strap, or saddle so that it may be carried or transported. A belt with loops or slots for carrying small tools or other equipment.

The other day when I wrote about getting a new job, I also mentioned that I spent a long time and a lot of effort to prepare for the interview.
I knew I had to compensate for a lack of experience in certain business techniques with very clear views and strong ideas on how to approach [...]

To intimidate or subjugate by an overbearing manner or domineering speech; bully.

Tending to cause death or serious injury; deadly: a pernicious virus. Causing great harm; destructive.

Not disclosing one's true ideology, affiliations, or positions.

I went for an interview last week and I was offered the job yesterday afternoon: I am probably going to be working just a few desks away from where I sit now, but I will take on a different role, and this is something that I have been after for a couple of months now.
I [...]

Overbearing pride or presumption; arrogance.

After monitoring Yahoo! Mail's spam filter for months in case it wrongly flagged mail as unwanted items, and failing to receive only one genuine message (that I know of), this morning I took the plunge and ticked the box that says 'I don't want to receive any messages that SpamGuard thinks are spam'.
Up until now, [...]

Tropical shrub having clusters of white or violet or yellow flowers.

Today I have received this text message from Dr B.:
'I'm proud to announce that as of 12.37 we became the Legal Guardians of our very own little black baby. At 12.47 the baby was formally handed over to us after the final bit of paperwork was completed. (They stamped "RECEIVED" on the receipt.) Father and [...]

To cause to make a harsh discordant sound. To have an irritating effect.

I was listening to The Best of Depeche Mode, vol. 1 (not bad at all, now that I've cleansed myself for a few years after sharing a flat with a friend who was slightly obsessed with the St. Albans lot) when Dr B. sang along 'Reach out and touch me', to which I said 'No, [...]

To walk or move along haltingly or with difficulty; limp.

Something enormous in size or power.

To stir up and feed (a fire or furnace).

A watertight cylindrical vessel, open at the top and fitted with a handle; a bucket. The amount that a pail can hold.

An ill-tempered person full of resentment and stubborn notions.

A raised platform, as in a lecture hall, for speakers or honored guests.

A visual signaling apparatus with flags, lights, or mechanically moving arms, as one used on a railroad

The form of government of a nation, state, church, or organization

Swede, Swedish turnip.

To touch or end at one end or side; lie adjacent. To border upon or end at; be next to.

My entire sympathy goes to all the people who every day take the decision do get fit(ter) and step into a gym for the first time. The machinery is daunting, some of the people are scary, you will ache like crazy but if you stick with it you will love it, and love yourself for [...]

Barely sufficient or adequate. Insufficient, as in extent or degree.