This is the practice of attempting something whose outcome can be beautiful but potential for calamity is large. The etymology is obvious: the glass harmonica, it is said, produces some of the purest tones ever heard by the human ear, but at least 80% of those who have tried to play it have met with untimely death.

A friend once asked me if I'd mind buttering her muffin tin. I think this might be illegal in some places. Could you advise?

I would have accepted immediately - never turn down an offer like that! She was referring to I can't give precise details on what, after all, is a family oriented web site. Your presumption that it is illegal in some places is correct. It is against the law to do it around the armpits.

Whilst on holiday in the midlands I once heard someone refer to a Kidderminster Whelk. Can anyone advise?

This is a reference to an unfortunate result of Buttering a Muffin Tin, in which the sufferer has a strange, bow-legged gait, which may persist for 10-14 days, until fully healed. Personally, I have always wondered what licking the icing meant, as when I heard it, we were nowhere near a kitchen and no confectionary was being prepared.

Was it just me, or did face pyjamas used to mean "things that sound like a euphemism but have no obvious connotation"? When presented with something like 'licking the icing', I'm afraid I have all to literal a picture in mind... involving whipped cream and... fades into mental haze

Ah ha! the Campaign for real Face Pyjamas continues!

[snorgle] I think you misheard licking the icing. The term is linking the ricepudding and refers to the fundamental Christian practice of mixing savoury and sweet dishes in a blender (originally operated by donkey). This is in order to create a "bland dish worthy of the lord" (Deliah Ch2 vv7). This explains a lot as most schools, hospitals and meals on wheels services are run by Seventh Day Adventists.

But what is a folly bucket?