A Daily Thing

Christian calls it ‘your little trick’, and I always nod emphatically to that with a big smile.  Before I showed him ‘my little trick’ he had never seen or heard of it – which makes me feel quite smug.

It’s something I was taught very long ago (I don’t even remember by who), it’s quick and it always works.

What is my little trick?  Well, if you’ve ever tried to remember if a month has 30 or 31 days, instead of going to a calendar you can use your hands instead – and this is how.

Ready?  Make a fist with one hand, and place your finger on your index knuckle.  That’s January – it’s a bump, so 31 days.  Now move your finger left, between your knuckles: that’s February – it’s a dip, so it’s a short month.  Left again: March!  Bump!  31 days!  Keep going: April, dip, 30 days.

When you reach your little finger’s knuckle you should be at July (bump, 31 days).

Then return to the starting point – your index knuckle – that’s now August (bump, 31 days!).  Go left again until you reach December, which will fall on your wedding finger’s knuckle.  Et voilà – my little trick, as demonstrated by my pasty hands.

At least this is not contentious like finger counting at our house.