Peter Tong. There's nothing left.

That light bulb moment.

Out of the fog of confusion and ignorance comes the blinding light of a revelation.

For most of us this epiphany may centre on the most mundane of daily things. It is only for a rare few that their awakening and realisation has implications, hopefully beneficial, for all of mankind.

Before the invention of light bulbs it was a "Eureka" moment and in prehistoric times it may just have been expressed as "ugh,ugh, ugh, ughitty-ugh".

A recent radio show encouraged listeners to share the experiences of their own particular emergence from long held beliefs, firmly entrenched and wholly believed misunderstandings and where their perception of life and all things has been challenged by the penny dropping. This can be discovered by yourself which can be done quietly and any backtracking can be graceful. It is a different matter where such things are exposed by family, friends and strangers.

Here is a selection of the many testimonies given.

I suspect, having listened to the broadcast first hand that many of those sending e mails or tweeting did not give their real names for fear of inevitable ridicule and shame. The radio show was music based and so a few do have a pop and rock theme.

"I only recently realised that.................

Unless it is nightime, it is always a beautiful sunny day above the clouds.

The teams competing on University Challenge do not actually sit one on top of the other.

Thank You is made up of two words.

Fast Trains does not mean extra speed of movement but fewer stops on a particular route.

Ceefax refers to See Facts.

You cannot buy a pre-heated oven.

The actual saying is "Full Kit and Caboodle" and not "Full kitten caboodle".

Ray Bans refer to sunglasses which 'ban rays' and not the name of their inventor.

A fine toothed comb is not a splendid bit of kit for your pearly whites.

A Tigress is not a female lion.

Midnight is am and noon is pm. No wonder my clients were confused about appointments.

If it is still mineral water what other thing could it possibly be?

The band INXS means in excess.

A room of number 412 does not mean there are 412 rooms just room 4 on the 12th floor.

In the sport of boxing "seconds out" is not a countdown but time for trainers to leave the ring.

Rob da Bank, the DJ. That is not his real name.

Sandie Shaw, the female singer, is a pun.

AMEX means American Express.

There is malt in Maltesers

It is common or garden and not communal garden.

Aladdin Sane by David Bowie means a lad insane.

Ron Bacardi did not invent the famous drink. Ron is Spanish for rum.

Cotton Wool is made from cotton

The Beatles is a pun on musical beats and not an insect


and so on if you are brave enough to admit to this type of misapprehension.