Did You Know ?

The weekend is here, and I thought let's have a 'Did You Know' post - as the word weekend has seven letters - here are seven (random) did you know facts!

1. The Bagheera kiplingi spider was discovered in the 1800s and is the only species of spider that has been classified as vegetarian.

Yes, the world's only vegetarian spider, is called Bagheera kiplingi. Instead of spinning webs to trap prey, it jumps around acacia trees, stealing the protein-rich Beltian bodies that ants protect.

2. Adult cats only meow at humans, not other cats. Kittens meow to their mother, but once they get a little older, cats no longer meow to other cats.

Cats tend to meow mostly when they are around humans, but does this mean that they only meow at humans? A cat will meow a lot toward their owner, but adult cats do not normally meow at each other to communicate. During lactation, a mother cat can meow at her kittens, and the kittens also meow to their mom. More to read here

3. Standing around burns calories. On average, a 150-pound person burns 114 calories per hour while standing and doing nothing.

Well, that is standing but did you know, that although you might not relish the idea of doing household chores, research claims that dusting, vacuuming and mopping with gusto are as good for you as any session at the gym.

So if you don't have time to pump weights at the gym or attend Pilates classes, then substitute them with everyday household tasks or jobs in the garden. They will stretch and tone your muscles, and you'll burn up to 315 calories an hour - that's more than twice as many as you would sitting in front of the television. More to read here

4. Researchers have found that flossing your teeth can help your memory. Flossing prevents gum disease, which prevents stiff blood vessels, which cause memory issues.

Read more about this here, and happy flossing!

5. More tornadoes occur in the United Kingdom per square mile than in any other country in the world.

When people think of tornadoes, they often picture the towering, destructive twisters that sweep across the central United States. While the US is indeed home to some of the most powerful tornadoes on Earth, the UK is no stranger to these swirling columns of air. In fact, the UK experiences more tornadoes per square kilometer than the US, making it an unexpected hotspot for these dramatic weather events.

Read more here

6.The Guinness World Record for the longest time spent searching for the Loch Ness Monster is held by Steve Feltham, who camped at Loch Ness for 25 years.

The legend of the Loch Ness Monster (Nessie) dates back to the Middle Ages when Irish monk St Columba is said to have encountered a creature in the Ness, a river that flows from Loch Ness.

Steve Feltham has dedicated his life to solving the mystery of the Loch Ness Monster. He gave up his job and sold his home in Dorset to move to Dores on the shores of the loch in 1991. Mr Feltham made his first sighting of something unexplained within his first year of his search, and had hoped to make further sightings soon after. . .

Have you ever wondered about this legend? Does Nessie exist?

More to read here

7. Santa Claus was issued a pilot’s license by the U.S. government in 1927. They also gave him airway maps and promised to keep the runway lights on.

Yes back in 1927 Santa Claus received an aeroplane pilot's license from the Assistant Secretary of Commerce. The old saint called at the Commerce Department in Washington, US where he received an aeroplane pilot's license from Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Aeronautics William P. MacCracken.

More to read here  

I believe it's possible to follow Santa's journey around the world once he starts his journey on Christmas Eve, watch it here

Reduce your Christmas stress, think RUDOLPH!

More to read here

I hope you enjoyed these seven facts - did you know any of them?
Do please share your thoughts in the comments.

xx ~ ooo ~ xx

This blog is presented in a magazine style and you will find a variety of articles, studies, thoughts, funnies, photographs, music and recipes!

However, not all the recipe ideas featured in this blog may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e., use your meter. If you have any concerns about your health, it is always advisable to consult your doctor or health care team.

All the best Jan