Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Wadi

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Wadi: noun - a rocky watercourse, dry except during the rainy season; the stream occasionally running through such a watercourse.

'Dazzling sun blinding him, Abdul staggered into the wadi and fell face down amongst the dust and stones, wishing with all his heart that it was the rainy season.'

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Downstream or upstream?

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Downstream or upstream?

Downstream: adverb - in the direction in which the water flows in a stream or river.

Upstream: adverb - contrary to the direction of flow of a river or stream, further up or along a moving body of water.

If you have trouble remembering these two, just use the analogy of stairs. Water always flows down, never up. So: as you climb up the stairs, so you go 'upstream', toward the source of the river in the hills.

'It's much easier to swim or paddle a boat downstream, as you follow the flow toward the sea.'

'If you intend to drink from a stream, it's probably best to make sure there isn't a dead sheep lying in the current upstream.'