In the News
Who or what are the following, and why have they been in the news?
1. Lord Feldman
2. Tim Peake
3. Time
4. Tumblr
5. Emmelie de Forest
6. Neville Neville
7. Joe Farman
8. Forget Me Not Garden
9. Julian Stevenson
10. Encke
11. Kenton Cool
12. Bolt
13. Michael Wilshaw
14. Sir David Nicholson
15. Tim Cook
16. Eddie Braben
17. Dominique Venner
18. Bradley Davies
19. Lydia Davis
20. Eric Joyce
21. John Anthony Downey
22. Francisco Schettino
23. Michael Adebolajo – Michael Adebowale
24. Ingrid Loyau-Kennett
25. H7N9
26. South Lakes Wild Animal Park – Dalton in Furness
In Other News
1. What unwanted distinction is held by the inhabitants of Elbridge in South West London?
2. Which team did Arsenal defeat to take the 4th slot in next season’s Champions League?
3. An incident with a pig’s head made the news in which football club
4. Who played his last ever game for Liverpool FC?
5. Who took 7 wickets for England in the 2nd innings of the First Test v. New Zealand?
6. What was the score in the play off to earn a spot in The Championship?
7. Who won the World Matchplay in Golf
8. What was the score in the Heineken Cup Final?
9. Who is the European Rugby Player of the Year
10. Who was booed when accepting a Milestone Award?
11. Which film prop was found in a car boot sale?
12. A gas blast destroyed a house in which Nottinghamshire town?
13. Where did the Ark Royal set sail to in order to be scrapped?
14. Who was named as being far more successful than any other performer, living or dead, last week?
15. Which club did Jose Mourinho leave last week?
16. Who is to play Super Mario on film?
17. Name the Oklahoma town at the centre of last week’s tornado tragedy
18. Last week Pope Francis performed his first public what as pope?
19. Which team did Tony Pulis leave last week?
20. What was banned in golf from 1/1/2016?
21. Name the two cabinet ministers who voted against the Marriage ( Same Sex Couple) Bill
22. Which TV presenter said that he had actually heard senior Conservatives using the phrase “Swivel eyed loons”?
23. The world’s tallest what was unveiled in Xinghzi China last week?
24. What was the Azerbaijan voting scandal all about last week?
25. Who is returning to tennis in time for the French Open?
26. Which former professional wrestler passed away at the age of 85 last week?
27. Which former Man Utd. FA Cup winning player passed away aged 60 last week?
28. Who became the first woman to win the Gerschwin Prize for Song?
29. Which company are recalling 800,000 cars?
30. Which prominent French politician is facing fraud charges concerning tycoon Bernard Tapie?
31. Sergio Garcia was widely condemned for a remark he made about Tiger Woods, concerning which foodstuff?
32. Who was fined a reported £15,000 for a tweet about Lord McAlpine?
33. Where was the destination of the British Airways Airbus A319 which had to return after a cowling blew off one of its engines?
34. Which organization has voted to allow gay members?
Answers
Who or what Are the Following and Why have they been in the news?
1. Conservative Party Chairman who denied calling party activists ‘swivel eyed loons’
2. Britain’s next astronaut
3. Rod Stewart’s Number 1 album
4. Blogging website bought by Yahoo
5. She won the Eurovision Song Contest for Denmark with the song Only Teardrops
6. Father of footballers gary and Philip Neville facing alleged sexual assault charges
7. Scientist who discovered the hole in the ozone layer – passed away
8. Charity garden Prince Harry heavily involved with in Chelsea Flower show
9. Killed his young sons in the South of France
10. The St. Leger winner which has tested positive for steroids
11. 1st person to scale the three peaks of Everest and 2 sister peaks in one climb
12. Belgian racing pigeon sold for £264,000
13. Head of Ofsted who warned that performance related pay will result in higher class sizes
14. NHS Chief Executive who resigned last week
15. Apple CEO who defended his company’s tax arrangements in the USA
16. Writer of classic BBC1 Morecambe and Wise shows, passed away
17. Far right historian who killed himself in Notre Dame cathedral in Paris
18. Announced as captain of Wales RFU tour to Japan
19. Won the Mann Booker International
20. MP arrested over a fracas at Edinburgh airport
21. Man accused of the 1982 Hyde Park bombing
22. Captain of the Costa Concordia – to be tried for manslaughter
23. Arrested over the Woolwich killing
24. Cub leader praised for speaking calmly to the killers while police were on the way
25. New bird flu virus which can be transmitted through the air
26. Woman keeper was mauled to death in the tiger enclosure
In Other news
1. They have the highest average income tax bills in the UK
2. Newcastle United
3. Stoke City
4. Jamie Carragher
5. Stuart Broad – 7 for 44
6. Yeovil 2 – Brentford 1
7. Graeme McDowell
8. Toulon 16 – Clermont Auvergne 15
9. Johnny Wilkinson
10. Justin Beiber ( quote “I’m an artist and should be taken seriously”)
11. The Geiger counter watch from “Thunderball”
12. Newark
13. Izmir
14. Michael Jackson
15. Real Madrid
16. Antonio Banderas
17. Moore
18. An exorcism
19. Stoke City
20. Belly Putter
21. David Jones and Owen Patterson
22. Jeremy Paxman
23. Buddha statue
24. IN the Eurovision Russia came second in the phone poll in Azerbaijan, yet they gave no points to Russia
25. Heather Watson
26. Mick McManus
27. Brian Greenhof
28. Carole King
29. Nissan (Micra)
30. Christine Lagarde
31. Fried Chicken
32. Sally Bercow
33. Oslo
34. The Boy Scouts of America
Friday, 31 May 2013
Monday, 27 May 2013
Only Connect Round One Match 3 - Francophiles v. Festival Fans
Francophiles v. Festival Fans
The policy of first round matches being contested by teams whose names both start with the same initial continued tonight. The Francophiles were Ian Clark , Sam Goodyear, and captain Mark Walton. Would that be the same Ian Clark who reached the grand final of Brain of Britain 2012, I wonder? Good quizzer if so. Their opposition, the Festival Fans, were Ed Dovey, Stewart McCartney and captain Marianne Fairthorne. Let's get on with the show.
Round One – What’s The Connection?
The Francs kicked off with Lion. Behind this one they found Hirst’s ‘Cupric Nitrate’ - Mr. Tumble’s Bag – Pudsey’s bandage – Twister Mat. I’ll be honest, I didn’t get it until the last clue, as did the Francs, who now saw that these were all spotted. The Fans chose eye of Horus, which gave an early airing to the music set. From the first three clues the Fans could see that the artists are all titled Mr. something. I don’t know whether to be pleased or disappointed that the eponymous Mr. Blobby was not part of the set. The Francs picked Horned Viper, and again I was pleased to see Mark voicing the second vowel of Horned. Just adds a little class to the show, I think. Aglaia, Euphrosyne and Thalia came first. The 3 Graces? I wondered. Peep-Bo , Pitti Sing and Yum-Yumnext. 3 little maids from school, I considered, ransacking my feeble stock of Gilbert and Sullivan knowledge. Olga, Masha and Irina were, I knew, Chekhov’s Three Sisters, so I guessed that groups of three sisters was exactly what we had. The Francs didn’t use the word sisters, or the idea, despite being given another bite at the cherry, allowing the Fans to see the last set – Regan, Goneril and Cordelia. That brought them a bonus. For their second set they picked Two Reeds. This brought up Wiccan Initiation – hmmm – Assets become Long Term – Hmm hmm – Legal limit for murder pre 1996 hmm hmm hmm and The length of the Owl and the Pussycat’s journey. Well, I knew that they sailed away for a year and a day. Which turned out to be the right answer, since they all take ( at least ) a year and a day. Twisted Flax gave the Francs pictures. Now, they were in very quickly after seeing a still from the Man Who Shot Liberty Vallence, and a picture of the longer lasting Pop Stars group Liberty X, to give the connection as Liberty. Good shout that. Left with Water the Fans had a small one horse carriage – Anglo-Indian very good – Former Finnish currency and that was enough to give them words ending with kka. Chukka from polo would have completed it. A good round for the Fans that, then, and they led by 6 to the Francs’ 4.
Round Two – What Comes Fourth?
The Francs again went first, and this time elected to open the Eye of Horus. Given New and Crescent they knew that they were dealing with Moon Phases. They elected to take the third, which was first quarter, but their answer of half was wrong. The Fans couldn’t take it, but I had heard the Francs earlier mention then throw away the correct answer – gibbous. Hard lines there. The Fans courted disaster when Marianne chose not to voice the second vowel of Horned Viper – but then each to their own. This revealed Donaghy, Buena, Buchanan – and here Stewart recognized these as members of the Sugababes. He’s a better man than I am. Buena, Buchanan, Range followed, which seemed to confirm the hypothesis. Buchanan, Range, Berrabah was the third, then Stewart came to the conclusion that the original line up had reformed, so offered Donaghy, Buena and Buchanan. Good thinking, but not the answer. The Francs couldn’t get it either. The correct answer was Range, Berrabah and Ewen. The point being that none of the original members remained by the time of this line up. You pays yer money . . . The Francs took the Twisted Flax and kicked off with 3125. Now this was followed by 256.The third was 27, which made the Francs think in terms of cube numbers , and go for 8. Incorrect. The Fans came in with 4, and scooped the bonus. We were dealing with numbers to the power of themselves – 5 to the power of 5, 4 to the power of 4, and so on down. Fiendish but gettable. Not having chosen Lion up to this point that’s exactly what the Fans did next. Lanzarote suggested Canary Islands in increasing or decreasing order of size.Gran Canaria followed, then Fuerteventura. I bet the Francs were sorry that they hadn’t picked up this relatively gentle set, since the Fans could easily see that Tenerife completed the set. They picked two reeds for their own last set, and this opened up with 2200: Candidate Master. They had chess right from the start, but took the next – 2300: FIDE Grand Master, which led them to go for the logical 2500: Grand Master. Quite right. Left with only Water the Fans had pictures, and we saw someone with big ears, and then someone looking through a magnifying glass, giving her big eyes and a big nose. Little Red Riding Hood? - I wondered – which would end with big teeth. The third picture showed someone with ridiculously distorted big hands. The Fans missed it, but the Francs had it, same as I did. That rather helped the Francs, since now the Fans led by just 1 point, with 9 to the Francs’ 8.
Round Three – The Connecting Walls
The Fans had to go into bat first and they plumped for water. They isolated a set of magic words quite logically, these being Shazam – Expelliarmus – Sim Sala Bim and Abracadabra. I could see a set of Bette Midler films there, but the Fans isolated Eve – Izanami – Embla and Pandora next. These were all women in creation myths. Good shout that one. They froze the wall with three incorrect attempts. When it was resolved at first they couldn’t see that Beaches – Hocus Pocus – Stella and The Rose were all Bette Midler films. Not fans of the Divine Miss M, I guess, but they squeezed the answer out right at the death. They did know that Angry Birds – Vine – Instagram and Fruit Ninja are all mobile popular apps. 6 points altogether.
The Francs had the Water Wall, and quickly isolated a set of mythical birds – not as easy as it looks since there were too many of them. They took out Garuda – Roc – Harpy and Thunderbird. I saw a set of acting families there. The Francs could see actors, but it took them a moment or two to get the family connection – with Wilson – Phoenix – Arquette and Baldwin. From Mark’s reaction the resolution of the wall they managed soon after came as something of a surprise. Who cares – they all count. The third set – Phantom – Interceptor – Dignity and Equus they didn’t get. All of them are luxury cars. The final set I’d worked out as things you can burn – calories – bridges – CDs and Rubber. They just couldn’t see it, I’m afraid. This meant that they earned 6 points too. So we were all set for a grandstand finish in the final round.
Round Four – Missing Vowels
The first category of seats fell to the Fans by 2 – 1, with neither team recognising pillion. The second category was female tennis players, and with the Francs winning this set 3 – 1 we were all square in the match. Top 20 Great British Designs was a terrific category to follow, and this fell to the Francs by 2 – 1. For the first time since the very first set, the Francs were actually in the lead. The last category – films about nuns – gave them another 3 points to the Fans’ 1, and that was enough to see them win by 23 – 20. It's fair to say that this one was another show that vindicates the decision to give each of the teams more than one match this year. Well played both.
The policy of first round matches being contested by teams whose names both start with the same initial continued tonight. The Francophiles were Ian Clark , Sam Goodyear, and captain Mark Walton. Would that be the same Ian Clark who reached the grand final of Brain of Britain 2012, I wonder? Good quizzer if so. Their opposition, the Festival Fans, were Ed Dovey, Stewart McCartney and captain Marianne Fairthorne. Let's get on with the show.
Round One – What’s The Connection?
The Francs kicked off with Lion. Behind this one they found Hirst’s ‘Cupric Nitrate’ - Mr. Tumble’s Bag – Pudsey’s bandage – Twister Mat. I’ll be honest, I didn’t get it until the last clue, as did the Francs, who now saw that these were all spotted. The Fans chose eye of Horus, which gave an early airing to the music set. From the first three clues the Fans could see that the artists are all titled Mr. something. I don’t know whether to be pleased or disappointed that the eponymous Mr. Blobby was not part of the set. The Francs picked Horned Viper, and again I was pleased to see Mark voicing the second vowel of Horned. Just adds a little class to the show, I think. Aglaia, Euphrosyne and Thalia came first. The 3 Graces? I wondered. Peep-Bo , Pitti Sing and Yum-Yumnext. 3 little maids from school, I considered, ransacking my feeble stock of Gilbert and Sullivan knowledge. Olga, Masha and Irina were, I knew, Chekhov’s Three Sisters, so I guessed that groups of three sisters was exactly what we had. The Francs didn’t use the word sisters, or the idea, despite being given another bite at the cherry, allowing the Fans to see the last set – Regan, Goneril and Cordelia. That brought them a bonus. For their second set they picked Two Reeds. This brought up Wiccan Initiation – hmmm – Assets become Long Term – Hmm hmm – Legal limit for murder pre 1996 hmm hmm hmm and The length of the Owl and the Pussycat’s journey. Well, I knew that they sailed away for a year and a day. Which turned out to be the right answer, since they all take ( at least ) a year and a day. Twisted Flax gave the Francs pictures. Now, they were in very quickly after seeing a still from the Man Who Shot Liberty Vallence, and a picture of the longer lasting Pop Stars group Liberty X, to give the connection as Liberty. Good shout that. Left with Water the Fans had a small one horse carriage – Anglo-Indian very good – Former Finnish currency and that was enough to give them words ending with kka. Chukka from polo would have completed it. A good round for the Fans that, then, and they led by 6 to the Francs’ 4.
Round Two – What Comes Fourth?
The Francs again went first, and this time elected to open the Eye of Horus. Given New and Crescent they knew that they were dealing with Moon Phases. They elected to take the third, which was first quarter, but their answer of half was wrong. The Fans couldn’t take it, but I had heard the Francs earlier mention then throw away the correct answer – gibbous. Hard lines there. The Fans courted disaster when Marianne chose not to voice the second vowel of Horned Viper – but then each to their own. This revealed Donaghy, Buena, Buchanan – and here Stewart recognized these as members of the Sugababes. He’s a better man than I am. Buena, Buchanan, Range followed, which seemed to confirm the hypothesis. Buchanan, Range, Berrabah was the third, then Stewart came to the conclusion that the original line up had reformed, so offered Donaghy, Buena and Buchanan. Good thinking, but not the answer. The Francs couldn’t get it either. The correct answer was Range, Berrabah and Ewen. The point being that none of the original members remained by the time of this line up. You pays yer money . . . The Francs took the Twisted Flax and kicked off with 3125. Now this was followed by 256.The third was 27, which made the Francs think in terms of cube numbers , and go for 8. Incorrect. The Fans came in with 4, and scooped the bonus. We were dealing with numbers to the power of themselves – 5 to the power of 5, 4 to the power of 4, and so on down. Fiendish but gettable. Not having chosen Lion up to this point that’s exactly what the Fans did next. Lanzarote suggested Canary Islands in increasing or decreasing order of size.Gran Canaria followed, then Fuerteventura. I bet the Francs were sorry that they hadn’t picked up this relatively gentle set, since the Fans could easily see that Tenerife completed the set. They picked two reeds for their own last set, and this opened up with 2200: Candidate Master. They had chess right from the start, but took the next – 2300: FIDE Grand Master, which led them to go for the logical 2500: Grand Master. Quite right. Left with only Water the Fans had pictures, and we saw someone with big ears, and then someone looking through a magnifying glass, giving her big eyes and a big nose. Little Red Riding Hood? - I wondered – which would end with big teeth. The third picture showed someone with ridiculously distorted big hands. The Fans missed it, but the Francs had it, same as I did. That rather helped the Francs, since now the Fans led by just 1 point, with 9 to the Francs’ 8.
Round Three – The Connecting Walls
The Fans had to go into bat first and they plumped for water. They isolated a set of magic words quite logically, these being Shazam – Expelliarmus – Sim Sala Bim and Abracadabra. I could see a set of Bette Midler films there, but the Fans isolated Eve – Izanami – Embla and Pandora next. These were all women in creation myths. Good shout that one. They froze the wall with three incorrect attempts. When it was resolved at first they couldn’t see that Beaches – Hocus Pocus – Stella and The Rose were all Bette Midler films. Not fans of the Divine Miss M, I guess, but they squeezed the answer out right at the death. They did know that Angry Birds – Vine – Instagram and Fruit Ninja are all mobile popular apps. 6 points altogether.
The Francs had the Water Wall, and quickly isolated a set of mythical birds – not as easy as it looks since there were too many of them. They took out Garuda – Roc – Harpy and Thunderbird. I saw a set of acting families there. The Francs could see actors, but it took them a moment or two to get the family connection – with Wilson – Phoenix – Arquette and Baldwin. From Mark’s reaction the resolution of the wall they managed soon after came as something of a surprise. Who cares – they all count. The third set – Phantom – Interceptor – Dignity and Equus they didn’t get. All of them are luxury cars. The final set I’d worked out as things you can burn – calories – bridges – CDs and Rubber. They just couldn’t see it, I’m afraid. This meant that they earned 6 points too. So we were all set for a grandstand finish in the final round.
Round Four – Missing Vowels
The first category of seats fell to the Fans by 2 – 1, with neither team recognising pillion. The second category was female tennis players, and with the Francs winning this set 3 – 1 we were all square in the match. Top 20 Great British Designs was a terrific category to follow, and this fell to the Francs by 2 – 1. For the first time since the very first set, the Francs were actually in the lead. The last category – films about nuns – gave them another 3 points to the Fans’ 1, and that was enough to see them win by 23 – 20. It's fair to say that this one was another show that vindicates the decision to give each of the teams more than one match this year. Well played both.
Sunday, 26 May 2013
New Posts and Lucky Pens
Maybe last week didn’t quite live up to the highs of the previous one quiz-wise, but it made up for it in other ways, and even in narrow quiz terms it certainly wasn’t lacking in interest.
Half term week is now upon us, and I won’t say that I’m extremely sorry about that. My year group for this academic year is Year 11. It’s always a strange time, preparing to say goodbye to a group of children you’ve worked with really closely for four years, and in the last few weeks we’ve had all of the excitement of preparing for their leaving the school, organizing revision sessions, etc. etc. It’s been a busy time. Then, rather out of the blue, during the last week the Head came and asked me to take over as Head of English from the coming September. Given the choice I would have preferred that it hadn’t come about in the circumstances that it has, and it’s really not my place to go into any detail about them, but if I said that I’m not very happy to be taking the job on, and relinquishing my Head of Year post, then I’d be lying. The Governors happened to be meeting later that day, and the appointment was ratified before I went home that evening. I’m sure it’s going to be a steep learning curve, but I’m already really looking forward to it.
Well, that’s all outside of quizzing anyway. As for quizzing, well, I only played in a couple of quizzes last week. On Sunday in the Dyffryn Arms the landlord introduced a sound round to the quiz, with 10 speaking voices to identify. I’m afraid that I’m a bit pants at this sort of thing, and so when that round played out it ended our chances of a win. Oh well, can’t win ‘em all. I won’t be winning it tonight either since it’s my turn to be question master tonight.
On Monday night we were back in the Pill Harriers. When you get out of the habit of going to a quiz like this one you can easily forget what a terrific quiz it actually is. Maybe I’m mellowing in my old age, but even though we didn’t manage to win this time, the fact is that I really enjoyed the quiz. We might have won, but we covered ourselves in shame on the handout. There’s normally between 50 and 60 points available on the list handout, and I’m afraid that we were rubbish on the list of films that won the Oscar for Best Picture which begin with the letter A. OK – we messed it up, but you’ve got to admit, it’s a pretty good question to put in a handout, isn’t it.
As for Thursday, well, since neither Brian nor I was question master we had what passes for a full team. Lemurs, the strongest team in the club, were missing two members, and this gave us our second win in a row – and this is a rare occurrence for us. Alwyn, the QM, used a four part question to end each round, and I’m guessing that this probably exaggerated the margin of victory. What is more worthy of note is that we won the picture quiz. I say worthy of note, because we never win the picture quiz. In fact we never outscore Lemurs in the picture quiz. So I have to make the most of it, because it will probably never happen again.
-------------------------------------------------
Do you have a lucky pen? I’ve had a lucky shirt for several years now, but never really a lucky pen. I’d better explain this.
If you’re a regular you’ll know how important Mastermind is to me. Well, three or four weeks ago I saw on eBay (LAM would like to remind you that other internet auction sites are available) that a production assistant who worked on the show in the mid 80s was selling a couple of items she’d picked up during her time working on the show. One of them was a pen. It’s a black ballpoint, which has the BBC logo, and the word Mastermind in the font they used for the titles in the mid 80s. On the cap is a wee silhouette of the chair. I bought the lot, and when it all arrived I bought a new refill, and put it in the pen. I’ve used it for every quiz I’ve played in since, winning 5, drawing 1 and losing 3. Is that enough to qualify it as a lucky pen? Probably not. I’m not quite so sad that I keep a strict record of my wins, losses and draws, but I wouldn’t be that surprised if these results are broadly in line with my results from the pre-pen era. Still, if it does turn out that the pen actually lacks the power to materially influence the results in a quiz, then there’s always the power of the shirt to fall back on . . .
Half term week is now upon us, and I won’t say that I’m extremely sorry about that. My year group for this academic year is Year 11. It’s always a strange time, preparing to say goodbye to a group of children you’ve worked with really closely for four years, and in the last few weeks we’ve had all of the excitement of preparing for their leaving the school, organizing revision sessions, etc. etc. It’s been a busy time. Then, rather out of the blue, during the last week the Head came and asked me to take over as Head of English from the coming September. Given the choice I would have preferred that it hadn’t come about in the circumstances that it has, and it’s really not my place to go into any detail about them, but if I said that I’m not very happy to be taking the job on, and relinquishing my Head of Year post, then I’d be lying. The Governors happened to be meeting later that day, and the appointment was ratified before I went home that evening. I’m sure it’s going to be a steep learning curve, but I’m already really looking forward to it.
Well, that’s all outside of quizzing anyway. As for quizzing, well, I only played in a couple of quizzes last week. On Sunday in the Dyffryn Arms the landlord introduced a sound round to the quiz, with 10 speaking voices to identify. I’m afraid that I’m a bit pants at this sort of thing, and so when that round played out it ended our chances of a win. Oh well, can’t win ‘em all. I won’t be winning it tonight either since it’s my turn to be question master tonight.
On Monday night we were back in the Pill Harriers. When you get out of the habit of going to a quiz like this one you can easily forget what a terrific quiz it actually is. Maybe I’m mellowing in my old age, but even though we didn’t manage to win this time, the fact is that I really enjoyed the quiz. We might have won, but we covered ourselves in shame on the handout. There’s normally between 50 and 60 points available on the list handout, and I’m afraid that we were rubbish on the list of films that won the Oscar for Best Picture which begin with the letter A. OK – we messed it up, but you’ve got to admit, it’s a pretty good question to put in a handout, isn’t it.
As for Thursday, well, since neither Brian nor I was question master we had what passes for a full team. Lemurs, the strongest team in the club, were missing two members, and this gave us our second win in a row – and this is a rare occurrence for us. Alwyn, the QM, used a four part question to end each round, and I’m guessing that this probably exaggerated the margin of victory. What is more worthy of note is that we won the picture quiz. I say worthy of note, because we never win the picture quiz. In fact we never outscore Lemurs in the picture quiz. So I have to make the most of it, because it will probably never happen again.
-------------------------------------------------
Do you have a lucky pen? I’ve had a lucky shirt for several years now, but never really a lucky pen. I’d better explain this.
If you’re a regular you’ll know how important Mastermind is to me. Well, three or four weeks ago I saw on eBay (LAM would like to remind you that other internet auction sites are available) that a production assistant who worked on the show in the mid 80s was selling a couple of items she’d picked up during her time working on the show. One of them was a pen. It’s a black ballpoint, which has the BBC logo, and the word Mastermind in the font they used for the titles in the mid 80s. On the cap is a wee silhouette of the chair. I bought the lot, and when it all arrived I bought a new refill, and put it in the pen. I’ve used it for every quiz I’ve played in since, winning 5, drawing 1 and losing 3. Is that enough to qualify it as a lucky pen? Probably not. I’m not quite so sad that I keep a strict record of my wins, losses and draws, but I wouldn’t be that surprised if these results are broadly in line with my results from the pre-pen era. Still, if it does turn out that the pen actually lacks the power to materially influence the results in a quiz, then there’s always the power of the shirt to fall back on . . .
Only Connect - Round One Match 2 - Celts v. Cartophiles
Only Connect Round One Match 2 – The Cartophiles v. The Celts
You know, back in the day when Gary, Lisa and I were originally applying for the 3rd series of OC, we originally thought we’d make Celtic roots our connection. Then we couldn’t make the auditions, Lisa couldn’t make the 4th series, so we recruited Neil and we dropped the Celtic thing. So it was nice to see another team picking up the idea and running with it. The Celts were University of Wales graduates Beverley Downes, Huw Pritchard and David Pritchard. As for their opponents, the Cartophiles, they were Colin Kidd, Mark Cooper and Josh Mandel. Colin is a Masterminder, so has some TV pedigree. Victoria reminded us that it will be au revoir rather than goodbye to both teams at the end of the show, since everyone gets to play again, and even teams that lose their first game can still make it to the semi finals, and then we were off.
Round One – What’s the Connection?
The Celts elected to take the first set behind two reeds. This was a picture set – showing the Alhambra, which means the red one in Arabic – The Red Fort – then the Moulin Rouge, and at this they had the connection that they were all called the Red something. The last would have been Red Square. Good start. The Carts picked Twisted Flax, and saw Mariah Carey +11, Princess Anne +5, Sam Taylor-Johnson +23, and this was the giveaway for me as well as the Carts. These represented the difference between these ladies’ ages and that of their spouses. The Celts picked Lion, which gave us Music. We heard Blue Velvet – Boogie Nights – and we both had the answer at the same time. The songs share their titles with films. A relatively gentle one that, but only if you knew the names of the songs. Water gave the Carts - His physiognomy is so grammatical – O, he will dissolve my mystery – He is the very pine-apple of politeness – and here I was thinking of Mrs. Malaprop – and so it turned out were the Carts. A good round for both teams so far. The Celts picked Horned Viper for ‘Civilization V’ – Chicken Wire – Graphite Crystal and Blockbusters Board. The last one made it clear that they were all hexagonal. One point which proved that it can often be worthwhile keeping your heads until the last clue is revealed. The Eye of Horus gave Puyi – Wilhelm II – which were clearly last Emperors of China and Germany respectively. Both of the teams had showed knowledge and tactical awareness, with neither team throwing away points by wading in too early, or by being too cautious. It was looking like a good match, and at this stage the Carts led with 7 to 6. Good round.
Round Two – what comes fourth?
The Celts began with Eye of Horus. This was 4: Freedom from Unreasonable searches. Then we had 3: Protection from quartering of troops. 2: The right to bear arms. They had it figured out that we were dealing with the US Bill of rights, and gave 1: Freedom of Speech . Good enough. The Carts followed this by opting for Two reeds. This was a picture set, and showed us the National Gallery. - Not "You’re the tops", again, surely? I wondered. No, the second was The British Museum – the third the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art , which made this the list of the world’s most visited Art Museums, and so the Louvre completed the set for a Celts bonus. For their own next set they opted for water. Alberto Contador led me to think about taking a flyer with Bradley Wiggins. The second , Andy Shleck looked good. If the third was Cadel Evans, then I was in the money. It was, and I had my best answer of the day. The Celts had it off two, and were looking very good value for this round. Lion gave the Carts some pictures. We saw a set of what it transpired were teletubies aerials! Kudos to the setter for that one! It beat both teams, but I’ll guess not a lot of people at home. The Celts chose twisted flax, and saw Receptacle – Ovary – Style. Hmm, I’ll admit that I was struggling here. The Celts had no idea. The Carts knew it was central parts of a flower, but they zigged with stamen when they should have zagged with stamen. Very bad luck, that one. To finish the round the Carts had horned viper. 0=Green – 1=Red made me think roulette wheel , which would mean 3= red. I was right! So were the Carts, who took the full set and this confirmed the answer for them. Even so this just meant that they had narrowed the Celts’ lead slightly, as they now led by 12 – 9.
Round Three – The Connecting Walls
The Carts went first, and given the choice they opted for Lion. I saw a set of named weapons at first. The Carts could see parts of a ship, and musical terms. The chip parts unraveled first, then they saw the weapons and took them out of the game as well. With some careful working out they unraveled the last two sets on the first go. Good work that. So they knew that Bilge – Hold – Galley and Wardroom were parts of a ship. The weapons were Mjöllnir, Sting, Hrunting and Excalibur. Victoria really wanted Magical weapons but she gave them it – quite right too. Cadenza – Coda – Bridge and Movement they knew were parts of a piece of music. This left Half-pass – Flying change – Passage and Piaffe. I’ll b e honest, I didn’t think it was quite ballet, which the Carts offered, but I didn’t have dressage movements either. Still, a good 7 points for the Carts meant that the Celts needed to do well on their own wall.
Given the Water wall to solve the Celts saw several categories fairly quickly. However they took a while to unravel their first set – Wallace – Burton-Race – Hollywood and Leith – all TV cookery judges. Then Portobello – Morningside – Jopp and Davidson’s Mains, which are all places in Edinburgh. Oyster – Black trumpet – Beefsteak and Blewit fell almost immediately, a set of edible fungi. This left Home – Lost – Everything –Haven’t Met You Yet which are obviously Michael Bublé singles. The Celts, then were obviously more than equal to the challenge. Their lead was now extended to 6 points, 22 to the Carts’ 16.
Round Four – Missing Vowels
The first set was Nuts and Seeds. The Carts took two to the Celts’ one, but they also lost a point for an incorrect buzz. Films starring Audrey Hepburn fell 2 apiece. Ten letter occupations went 2 – 1 to the Carts. Poisonous substances went the other way – 2 -1 to the Celts. The Carts took another two points on religious movements, but it wasn’t enough, as the Celts won 28 – 22. This was a good show between two quality sides, and it makes you glad that both will get another chance later on in the series.
You know, back in the day when Gary, Lisa and I were originally applying for the 3rd series of OC, we originally thought we’d make Celtic roots our connection. Then we couldn’t make the auditions, Lisa couldn’t make the 4th series, so we recruited Neil and we dropped the Celtic thing. So it was nice to see another team picking up the idea and running with it. The Celts were University of Wales graduates Beverley Downes, Huw Pritchard and David Pritchard. As for their opponents, the Cartophiles, they were Colin Kidd, Mark Cooper and Josh Mandel. Colin is a Masterminder, so has some TV pedigree. Victoria reminded us that it will be au revoir rather than goodbye to both teams at the end of the show, since everyone gets to play again, and even teams that lose their first game can still make it to the semi finals, and then we were off.
Round One – What’s the Connection?
The Celts elected to take the first set behind two reeds. This was a picture set – showing the Alhambra, which means the red one in Arabic – The Red Fort – then the Moulin Rouge, and at this they had the connection that they were all called the Red something. The last would have been Red Square. Good start. The Carts picked Twisted Flax, and saw Mariah Carey +11, Princess Anne +5, Sam Taylor-Johnson +23, and this was the giveaway for me as well as the Carts. These represented the difference between these ladies’ ages and that of their spouses. The Celts picked Lion, which gave us Music. We heard Blue Velvet – Boogie Nights – and we both had the answer at the same time. The songs share their titles with films. A relatively gentle one that, but only if you knew the names of the songs. Water gave the Carts - His physiognomy is so grammatical – O, he will dissolve my mystery – He is the very pine-apple of politeness – and here I was thinking of Mrs. Malaprop – and so it turned out were the Carts. A good round for both teams so far. The Celts picked Horned Viper for ‘Civilization V’ – Chicken Wire – Graphite Crystal and Blockbusters Board. The last one made it clear that they were all hexagonal. One point which proved that it can often be worthwhile keeping your heads until the last clue is revealed. The Eye of Horus gave Puyi – Wilhelm II – which were clearly last Emperors of China and Germany respectively. Both of the teams had showed knowledge and tactical awareness, with neither team throwing away points by wading in too early, or by being too cautious. It was looking like a good match, and at this stage the Carts led with 7 to 6. Good round.
Round Two – what comes fourth?
The Celts began with Eye of Horus. This was 4: Freedom from Unreasonable searches. Then we had 3: Protection from quartering of troops. 2: The right to bear arms. They had it figured out that we were dealing with the US Bill of rights, and gave 1: Freedom of Speech . Good enough. The Carts followed this by opting for Two reeds. This was a picture set, and showed us the National Gallery. - Not "You’re the tops", again, surely? I wondered. No, the second was The British Museum – the third the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art , which made this the list of the world’s most visited Art Museums, and so the Louvre completed the set for a Celts bonus. For their own next set they opted for water. Alberto Contador led me to think about taking a flyer with Bradley Wiggins. The second , Andy Shleck looked good. If the third was Cadel Evans, then I was in the money. It was, and I had my best answer of the day. The Celts had it off two, and were looking very good value for this round. Lion gave the Carts some pictures. We saw a set of what it transpired were teletubies aerials! Kudos to the setter for that one! It beat both teams, but I’ll guess not a lot of people at home. The Celts chose twisted flax, and saw Receptacle – Ovary – Style. Hmm, I’ll admit that I was struggling here. The Celts had no idea. The Carts knew it was central parts of a flower, but they zigged with stamen when they should have zagged with stamen. Very bad luck, that one. To finish the round the Carts had horned viper. 0=Green – 1=Red made me think roulette wheel , which would mean 3= red. I was right! So were the Carts, who took the full set and this confirmed the answer for them. Even so this just meant that they had narrowed the Celts’ lead slightly, as they now led by 12 – 9.
Round Three – The Connecting Walls
The Carts went first, and given the choice they opted for Lion. I saw a set of named weapons at first. The Carts could see parts of a ship, and musical terms. The chip parts unraveled first, then they saw the weapons and took them out of the game as well. With some careful working out they unraveled the last two sets on the first go. Good work that. So they knew that Bilge – Hold – Galley and Wardroom were parts of a ship. The weapons were Mjöllnir, Sting, Hrunting and Excalibur. Victoria really wanted Magical weapons but she gave them it – quite right too. Cadenza – Coda – Bridge and Movement they knew were parts of a piece of music. This left Half-pass – Flying change – Passage and Piaffe. I’ll b e honest, I didn’t think it was quite ballet, which the Carts offered, but I didn’t have dressage movements either. Still, a good 7 points for the Carts meant that the Celts needed to do well on their own wall.
Given the Water wall to solve the Celts saw several categories fairly quickly. However they took a while to unravel their first set – Wallace – Burton-Race – Hollywood and Leith – all TV cookery judges. Then Portobello – Morningside – Jopp and Davidson’s Mains, which are all places in Edinburgh. Oyster – Black trumpet – Beefsteak and Blewit fell almost immediately, a set of edible fungi. This left Home – Lost – Everything –Haven’t Met You Yet which are obviously Michael Bublé singles. The Celts, then were obviously more than equal to the challenge. Their lead was now extended to 6 points, 22 to the Carts’ 16.
Round Four – Missing Vowels
The first set was Nuts and Seeds. The Carts took two to the Celts’ one, but they also lost a point for an incorrect buzz. Films starring Audrey Hepburn fell 2 apiece. Ten letter occupations went 2 – 1 to the Carts. Poisonous substances went the other way – 2 -1 to the Celts. The Carts took another two points on religious movements, but it wasn’t enough, as the Celts won 28 – 22. This was a good show between two quality sides, and it makes you glad that both will get another chance later on in the series.
Saturday, 25 May 2013
Only Connect - New Series - Match One - Corpuscles v. Cat Lovers
Right – I’m sorry that I’m so late with my review of the first show of the new series. There is an explanation, but let’s get on with the show for the moment. Episode One then, pitted the Corpuscles – Paul Taylor – Seb Page and captain Sam Kay against the Cat Lovers – Roger Johnson – Jean Upton and Captain Jim Crozier. Now, a word about Sam Kay. he is none other than the Sam Kay who was the unwitting cause of all the controversy in the 2008-9 series of University Challenge. Sam was a team mate of Gail Trimble in the magnificent Corpus Christi team who were disqualified after the grand final because Sam had in fact finished his studies and moved on ( I think ) by the time that the Final was played. Well, I said my views about this at the time. Why I bring it up is to say that Sam at least had quiz show pedigree going into the show.
Right, so what’s new? Well, carrying on with the UC theme, our Jeremy often mentions the labyrinthine, if it were not to say Byzantine complexity of the rules of qualification for the semi finals. Actually they really aren’t that complicated. Well, the good people at OC have taken a leaf out of their book. Basically a loss in round one does not mean automatic elimination. As I understand it you have to win twice in order to qualify for the semis. Lose twice, and you’re out of there. Or something like that. Anyway, it means that all of the teams in the first round will get to play again. Let’s get on with the show.
Round One – What’s the Connection?
The Corpuscles were put into bat by the Cat Lovers, and they chose to kick off, if you’ll pardon the mixed metaphor – or to take strike if you won’t – with or from water. Cyrus the Younger’s Mercenaries meant little to me – Eyes watching Casey at the Bat ( a popular American narrative poem ) little more – but Mo Farah’s first Olympic Gold strongly suggested 10,000. Alas, the Corpuscles zigged with 5000 when they should have zagged with 10000. I predicted the Grand Old Duke of York would be the last clue, but no, it was myriad. That was enough for the Cat Lovers. For their own first set they chose Lion and the Music set. The first was Monsoon singing Ever So Lonely. I didn’t remember the second. The third was All Saints with Never Ever and the last was Oasis with Wonderwall. Hmm. Monsoon – Lush – All Saints and Oasis all share their names with High Street Retailers. Which just goes to show how much I know about High Street Retailers. Neither team managed that one. The Corpuscles picked Twisted Flax. I didn’t know On St. Geoffrey’s Day. However On The Greek Calends, if you’ve read “I,Claudius” was a favourite saying of the Emperor Augustus, and it means never, for there was no Greek Calends. In The Reign of Queen Dick and When Dover and Calais meet confirmed it. Respect to Jim the Cat Lover Captain for voicing the second vowel in Horned Viper as he asked for it. Pictures were revealed of a position in American Football, and the Humphrey Davy Miners Lamp. Great thinking from the Cat Lovers saw them answer that the connection was Safety. Soon as they said it I could see it, but my mind certainly hadn’t been running along those lines up till then. Eye of Horus gave the Corps The Green Knight – Electric Toothbrush – Kryten – ( at which I was thinking they all had removable heads – Kryten and the Green Knight did ) Worzel Gummidge confirmed it. The Cat Lovers earned the bonus. They said that they can all change their heads – not strictly true since although the Green Knight was equally happy whether his head was on his shoulders or not, he didn’t actually swpa it for another – but it was close enough. Two Reeds finished the round for the Cats. Now, Harry Bailey was the landlord of the Tabard Inn in the Canterbury Tales. Mistress Quickly was an innkeeper in The Merry Wives of Windsor. I would probably have gambled on the Canterbury Tales and gone wrong for the first, but when she came up it became pretty clear. Neither Monseiur and Madame Thenardier nor Barliman Butterbar from the Lord of the Rings brought an instant response, but Roger Johnson saw it first, and thus a point was saved. This completed a profitable first round for the Cats, who led the Corps by 6 – 1.
Round Two – What Comes Fourth?
The Corps kicked off, and sadly Sam Kay opted not to voice the second vowel in Horned Viper. We saw a picture of a green rosette with a number 4 in the middle, then a yellow one with 3. The Corps came out with an ingenious answer related to the 2010 General Election, which would logically end with a blue rosette with a 1 in it. Not correct. In fact the next was a blue rosette with 2. The Cats guessed it would be red rosette with 1. Apparently the Corps had it with the first clue, but didn’t pursue it. The connection was rosettes in horse show competitions. Eye of Horus gave the Cats 17: 3 and 2 – 18: 1 and 4 – 19: 7 and 3 -. Me? No idea. I don’t think the Cats knew either, as their guess failed to hit the mark. So did the Corps. I’ll be honest, this was egg on face moment 1 of the series, since I once played darts for the long demolished Duke of Cambridge in Lewisham. So of course it would be 20: 5 and 1. I think Jim, who slapped his forehead, felt like I did. The Corps found pictures in Lion. We saw a pair of glasses – would looked like a cutaway drawing of the human male reproductive system, paying particular attention to the testes – and that was it! The Coprs buzzed immediately with watch – spectacles – testicles – wallet and watch. What a great set! Kudos to the setter who came up with that one. Two reeds gave the Cats Staff – Clef – and I knew we were probably in the realm of musical notation here. The Cats gambled with key Signature, but that was next, not fourth. The Corps offered Time Signature, and that was enough for the bonus. It was rapidly becoming a good round for the Corps. They took Twisted Flax for their last set in the round. Delta: Secondary Electrons – oh dear, Science, thought I – Gamma : Short Electromagnetic Waves came next. I toyed with making something up for Alpha radiation, but decided that discretion was the better part of valour and sat this one out. The Corps knew it – Alpha : Helium Nucleii – which Victoria hailed as a perfect answer. I’ll be honest, the last set, which awaited the Cats behind Water, was much more my level. Orville and Abraham led me to confidently predict Bart , as in successive generations of the Simpson family. Homer in third clinched it for the Cats. SO that point was enough to ensure that they finished the round 1 point ahead with 9 to the Corps’ 8.
Round Three – The Connecting Walls
The Cats picked the Lion Wall. By a great and logical process of elimination they found the set of Toy Story Characters – Etch – Hamm – Rex and Woody.They knew that there was a set of detectives there, but time ran out, and they didn’t unravel another set. When it was resolved they saw Viral – Buzz – Live In and Guerilla and Jim offered types of campaign. I don’t know if he meant marketing, but that was accepted by Victoria. Corbis, Getty, Magnum and Alamy I didn’t get, and neither did the Cats. They are picture agencies. This left our Detectives – Marlowe – Spade – Queen and Poirot. So a total lf 4 then for the Cats.
The Corps took water. Quickly they found Clegg – Eden – Butler and Atlee – all Deputy PMs at one time or another. Babylon – Kew – Versailles and Monet they could see all had famous gardens. They could see a set of things you can pass, and I could see that this left Nobel Prize winners for Literature. They fancied Buck for something to pass, though, when it would only work with her in the Nobel group. This they seemed to work out for themselves, and resolved the wall with time to spare. They didn’t get the Deputy PMs, opting for party leaders. They had the gardens and the things to pass, but despairingly plumped for members of the Doors for the Nobel laureates. 6 points were gained from a wall which had promised more, but nonetheless this gave them a 1 point lead of 14 to 13 going into round four.
Round Four – Missing Vowels
The Corps took first blood in the vowels round. The category of sausages though fell to the Cats by 3 – 1. Cats led by one. Films with colours in the title was the next category. The Cats took the first two. Then the Corps were unlucky because they didn’t say the A at the start of A Clockwork Orange. Harsh but correct adjudication. Soylent Green gave the Corps a point back, but with the score at 19 – 15 it was looking good for the Cats. Countries that have gained Independence since 1990 promised most for the team with the better general knowledge. Now, the Corps took the first two. Then the Cats lost a point for buzzing and hesitating. If the Corps could get it, then I reckoned it would be all square. But they couldn’t, and that was it. The Cats won by 18 – 17. A good show.
Well, as Victoria said at the start, we’ll see the Cats again – but we’ll also see the Corps.Good stuff.
Right, so what’s new? Well, carrying on with the UC theme, our Jeremy often mentions the labyrinthine, if it were not to say Byzantine complexity of the rules of qualification for the semi finals. Actually they really aren’t that complicated. Well, the good people at OC have taken a leaf out of their book. Basically a loss in round one does not mean automatic elimination. As I understand it you have to win twice in order to qualify for the semis. Lose twice, and you’re out of there. Or something like that. Anyway, it means that all of the teams in the first round will get to play again. Let’s get on with the show.
Round One – What’s the Connection?
The Corpuscles were put into bat by the Cat Lovers, and they chose to kick off, if you’ll pardon the mixed metaphor – or to take strike if you won’t – with or from water. Cyrus the Younger’s Mercenaries meant little to me – Eyes watching Casey at the Bat ( a popular American narrative poem ) little more – but Mo Farah’s first Olympic Gold strongly suggested 10,000. Alas, the Corpuscles zigged with 5000 when they should have zagged with 10000. I predicted the Grand Old Duke of York would be the last clue, but no, it was myriad. That was enough for the Cat Lovers. For their own first set they chose Lion and the Music set. The first was Monsoon singing Ever So Lonely. I didn’t remember the second. The third was All Saints with Never Ever and the last was Oasis with Wonderwall. Hmm. Monsoon – Lush – All Saints and Oasis all share their names with High Street Retailers. Which just goes to show how much I know about High Street Retailers. Neither team managed that one. The Corpuscles picked Twisted Flax. I didn’t know On St. Geoffrey’s Day. However On The Greek Calends, if you’ve read “I,Claudius” was a favourite saying of the Emperor Augustus, and it means never, for there was no Greek Calends. In The Reign of Queen Dick and When Dover and Calais meet confirmed it. Respect to Jim the Cat Lover Captain for voicing the second vowel in Horned Viper as he asked for it. Pictures were revealed of a position in American Football, and the Humphrey Davy Miners Lamp. Great thinking from the Cat Lovers saw them answer that the connection was Safety. Soon as they said it I could see it, but my mind certainly hadn’t been running along those lines up till then. Eye of Horus gave the Corps The Green Knight – Electric Toothbrush – Kryten – ( at which I was thinking they all had removable heads – Kryten and the Green Knight did ) Worzel Gummidge confirmed it. The Cat Lovers earned the bonus. They said that they can all change their heads – not strictly true since although the Green Knight was equally happy whether his head was on his shoulders or not, he didn’t actually swpa it for another – but it was close enough. Two Reeds finished the round for the Cats. Now, Harry Bailey was the landlord of the Tabard Inn in the Canterbury Tales. Mistress Quickly was an innkeeper in The Merry Wives of Windsor. I would probably have gambled on the Canterbury Tales and gone wrong for the first, but when she came up it became pretty clear. Neither Monseiur and Madame Thenardier nor Barliman Butterbar from the Lord of the Rings brought an instant response, but Roger Johnson saw it first, and thus a point was saved. This completed a profitable first round for the Cats, who led the Corps by 6 – 1.
Round Two – What Comes Fourth?
The Corps kicked off, and sadly Sam Kay opted not to voice the second vowel in Horned Viper. We saw a picture of a green rosette with a number 4 in the middle, then a yellow one with 3. The Corps came out with an ingenious answer related to the 2010 General Election, which would logically end with a blue rosette with a 1 in it. Not correct. In fact the next was a blue rosette with 2. The Cats guessed it would be red rosette with 1. Apparently the Corps had it with the first clue, but didn’t pursue it. The connection was rosettes in horse show competitions. Eye of Horus gave the Cats 17: 3 and 2 – 18: 1 and 4 – 19: 7 and 3 -. Me? No idea. I don’t think the Cats knew either, as their guess failed to hit the mark. So did the Corps. I’ll be honest, this was egg on face moment 1 of the series, since I once played darts for the long demolished Duke of Cambridge in Lewisham. So of course it would be 20: 5 and 1. I think Jim, who slapped his forehead, felt like I did. The Corps found pictures in Lion. We saw a pair of glasses – would looked like a cutaway drawing of the human male reproductive system, paying particular attention to the testes – and that was it! The Coprs buzzed immediately with watch – spectacles – testicles – wallet and watch. What a great set! Kudos to the setter who came up with that one. Two reeds gave the Cats Staff – Clef – and I knew we were probably in the realm of musical notation here. The Cats gambled with key Signature, but that was next, not fourth. The Corps offered Time Signature, and that was enough for the bonus. It was rapidly becoming a good round for the Corps. They took Twisted Flax for their last set in the round. Delta: Secondary Electrons – oh dear, Science, thought I – Gamma : Short Electromagnetic Waves came next. I toyed with making something up for Alpha radiation, but decided that discretion was the better part of valour and sat this one out. The Corps knew it – Alpha : Helium Nucleii – which Victoria hailed as a perfect answer. I’ll be honest, the last set, which awaited the Cats behind Water, was much more my level. Orville and Abraham led me to confidently predict Bart , as in successive generations of the Simpson family. Homer in third clinched it for the Cats. SO that point was enough to ensure that they finished the round 1 point ahead with 9 to the Corps’ 8.
Round Three – The Connecting Walls
The Cats picked the Lion Wall. By a great and logical process of elimination they found the set of Toy Story Characters – Etch – Hamm – Rex and Woody.They knew that there was a set of detectives there, but time ran out, and they didn’t unravel another set. When it was resolved they saw Viral – Buzz – Live In and Guerilla and Jim offered types of campaign. I don’t know if he meant marketing, but that was accepted by Victoria. Corbis, Getty, Magnum and Alamy I didn’t get, and neither did the Cats. They are picture agencies. This left our Detectives – Marlowe – Spade – Queen and Poirot. So a total lf 4 then for the Cats.
The Corps took water. Quickly they found Clegg – Eden – Butler and Atlee – all Deputy PMs at one time or another. Babylon – Kew – Versailles and Monet they could see all had famous gardens. They could see a set of things you can pass, and I could see that this left Nobel Prize winners for Literature. They fancied Buck for something to pass, though, when it would only work with her in the Nobel group. This they seemed to work out for themselves, and resolved the wall with time to spare. They didn’t get the Deputy PMs, opting for party leaders. They had the gardens and the things to pass, but despairingly plumped for members of the Doors for the Nobel laureates. 6 points were gained from a wall which had promised more, but nonetheless this gave them a 1 point lead of 14 to 13 going into round four.
Round Four – Missing Vowels
The Corps took first blood in the vowels round. The category of sausages though fell to the Cats by 3 – 1. Cats led by one. Films with colours in the title was the next category. The Cats took the first two. Then the Corps were unlucky because they didn’t say the A at the start of A Clockwork Orange. Harsh but correct adjudication. Soylent Green gave the Corps a point back, but with the score at 19 – 15 it was looking good for the Cats. Countries that have gained Independence since 1990 promised most for the team with the better general knowledge. Now, the Corps took the first two. Then the Cats lost a point for buzzing and hesitating. If the Corps could get it, then I reckoned it would be all square. But they couldn’t, and that was it. The Cats won by 18 – 17. A good show.
Well, as Victoria said at the start, we’ll see the Cats again – but we’ll also see the Corps.Good stuff.
News Questions
In the News
Who or what are the following, and why have they been in the news?
1. Lord Feldman
2. Tim Peake
3. Time
4. Tumblr
5. Emmelie de Forest
6. Neville Neville
7. Joe Farman
8. Forget Me Not Garden
9. Julian Stevenson
10. Encke
11. Kenton Cool
12. Bolt
13. Michael Wilshaw
14. Sir David Nicholson
15. Tim Cook
16. Eddie Braben
17. Dominique Venner
18. Bradley Davies
19. Lydia Davis
20. Eric Joyce
21. John Anthony Downey
22. Francisco Schettino
23. Michael Adebolajo – Michael Adebowale
24. Ingrid Loyau-Kennett
25. H7N9
26. South Lakes Wild Animal Park – Dalton in Furness
In Other News
1. What unwanted distinction is held by the inhabitants of Elbridge in South West London?
2. Which team did Arsenal defeat to take the 4th slot in next season’s Champions League?
3. An incident with a pig’s head made the news in which football club
4. Who played his last ever game for Liverpool FC?
5. Who took 7 wickets for England in the 2nd innings of the First Test v. New Zealand?
6. What was the score in the play off to earn a spot in The Championship?
7. Who won the World Matchplay in Golf
8. What was the score in the Heineken Cup Final?
9. Who is the European Rugby Player of the Year
10. Who was booed when accepting a Milestone Award?
11. Which film prop was found in a car boot sale?
12. A gas blast destroyed a house in which Nottinghamshire town?
13. Where did the Ark Royal set sail to in order to be scrapped?
14. Who was named as being far more successful than any other performer, living or dead, last week?
15. Which club did Jose Mourinho leave last week?
16. Who is to play Super Mario on film?
17. Name the Oklahoma town at the centre of last week’s tornado tragedy
18. Last week Pope Francis performed his first public what as pope?
19. Which team did Tony Pulis leave last week?
20. What was banned in golf from 1/1/2016?
21. Name the two cabinet ministers who voted against the Marriage ( Same Sex Couple) Bill
22. Which TV presenter said that he had actually heard senior Conservatives using the phrase “Swivel eyed loons”?
23. The world’s tallest what was unveiled in Xinghzi China last week?
24. What was the Azerbaijan voting scandal all about last week?
25. Who is returning to tennis in time for the French Open?
26. Which former professional wrestler passed away at the age of 85 last week?
27. Which former Man Utd. FA Cup winning player passed away aged 60 last week?
28. Who became the first woman to win the Gerschwin Prize for Song?
29. Which company are recalling 800,000 cars?
30. Which prominent French politician is facing fraud charges concerning tycoon Bernard Tapie?
31. Sergio Garcia was widely condemned for a remark he made about Tiger Woods, concerning which foodstuff?
32. Who was fined a reported £15,000 for a tweet about Lord McAlpine?
33. Where was the destination of the British Airways Airbus A319 which had to return after a cowling blew off one of its engines?
34. Which organization has voted to allow gay members?
Who or what are the following, and why have they been in the news?
1. Lord Feldman
2. Tim Peake
3. Time
4. Tumblr
5. Emmelie de Forest
6. Neville Neville
7. Joe Farman
8. Forget Me Not Garden
9. Julian Stevenson
10. Encke
11. Kenton Cool
12. Bolt
13. Michael Wilshaw
14. Sir David Nicholson
15. Tim Cook
16. Eddie Braben
17. Dominique Venner
18. Bradley Davies
19. Lydia Davis
20. Eric Joyce
21. John Anthony Downey
22. Francisco Schettino
23. Michael Adebolajo – Michael Adebowale
24. Ingrid Loyau-Kennett
25. H7N9
26. South Lakes Wild Animal Park – Dalton in Furness
In Other News
1. What unwanted distinction is held by the inhabitants of Elbridge in South West London?
2. Which team did Arsenal defeat to take the 4th slot in next season’s Champions League?
3. An incident with a pig’s head made the news in which football club
4. Who played his last ever game for Liverpool FC?
5. Who took 7 wickets for England in the 2nd innings of the First Test v. New Zealand?
6. What was the score in the play off to earn a spot in The Championship?
7. Who won the World Matchplay in Golf
8. What was the score in the Heineken Cup Final?
9. Who is the European Rugby Player of the Year
10. Who was booed when accepting a Milestone Award?
11. Which film prop was found in a car boot sale?
12. A gas blast destroyed a house in which Nottinghamshire town?
13. Where did the Ark Royal set sail to in order to be scrapped?
14. Who was named as being far more successful than any other performer, living or dead, last week?
15. Which club did Jose Mourinho leave last week?
16. Who is to play Super Mario on film?
17. Name the Oklahoma town at the centre of last week’s tornado tragedy
18. Last week Pope Francis performed his first public what as pope?
19. Which team did Tony Pulis leave last week?
20. What was banned in golf from 1/1/2016?
21. Name the two cabinet ministers who voted against the Marriage ( Same Sex Couple) Bill
22. Which TV presenter said that he had actually heard senior Conservatives using the phrase “Swivel eyed loons”?
23. The world’s tallest what was unveiled in Xinghzi China last week?
24. What was the Azerbaijan voting scandal all about last week?
25. Who is returning to tennis in time for the French Open?
26. Which former professional wrestler passed away at the age of 85 last week?
27. Which former Man Utd. FA Cup winning player passed away aged 60 last week?
28. Who became the first woman to win the Gerschwin Prize for Song?
29. Which company are recalling 800,000 cars?
30. Which prominent French politician is facing fraud charges concerning tycoon Bernard Tapie?
31. Sergio Garcia was widely condemned for a remark he made about Tiger Woods, concerning which foodstuff?
32. Who was fined a reported £15,000 for a tweet about Lord McAlpine?
33. Where was the destination of the British Airways Airbus A319 which had to return after a cowling blew off one of its engines?
34. Which organization has voted to allow gay members?
Answers to News Questions
In the News
Who or what are the following and why have they been in the news?
1. Stephanie Bottrill
2. Ben Watson
3. Philip Patterson
4. Cash Lady
5. Nawaz Sharif
6. Ricky Burns
7. Bloodhound SSC
8. Chris Hadfield
9. Stuart Hazell
10. Arnold Peters
11. Barbara Walters
12. Long Live the King
13. Philip Hensher
14. Jamie Filan
15. Colin Brewer
16. Cuidad Blanca
17. Peter Ericksson
18. Loic Remy
19. Joyce Brothers
20. Ryan Fogle
21. Sylvain Georges
22. Instead
23. James Wharton
24. Mark Moraghan
25. Steve Harper
26. Eric Schmidt
27. Believe in Me
28. Michael Le Vell
29. Peter Fulton
In Other News
1. Who was tagged after his release from prison last week?
2. Which film was finally allowed to be shown in cinemas in China?
3. Which Cabinet Minister said he would vote for Britain to leave the EU in a referendum?
4. Which was voted the Best sitcom in the BAFTAS?
5. Who won the Spanish Grand Prix
6. Which team did Northampton beat to reach the Premiership Final in rugby union?
7. Which team did Leicester beat to win the other semi final?
8. Which Man Utd. player retired from football last week?
9. Who was evicted from HSBC HQ while making a protest film?
10. Where is the G8 summit to be held?
11. Which English rugby club have been playing tapes of their head coach making his half time team talk to scare birds away from the pitch?
12. Which US TV show is returning after a 4 year absence?
13. IN the USA who is in court asking for a retrial?
14. Who was sacked after finishing second last week?
15. How many pit stops were there in the Spanish GP last week?
16. Who is the ECB Cricketer of the Year for 2012/13?
17. Which grand slam winner did Laura Robson defeat last week?
18. Which two teams will contest the Championship play off final?
19. How much money have the EU pledged to help Mali?
20. Which two firms have been accused of fixing petrol prices?
21. What was the score between Wigan and Arsenal that saw Wigan relegated days after winning the FA Cup?
22. What was score between Man City and Reading?
23. What did Angelina Joli tell the world about last week?
24. Which British boxer had to pull out of his comeback fight?
25. Who was the UK’s highest earning musician last year?
26. Which comedian and TV presenter was arrested on suspicion of taking part in a drunken brawl in Cornwall allegedly?
27. Last week a breakthrough was announced in the field of human cloning, using which cells?
28. What was the score in the Europa League final?
29. Who scored the winning goal?
30. Who has returned to advertise Calvin Klein after a gap of 20 years?
31. A factory for ASICS products had its roof collapse in which country last week?
32. Which Hi de Hi actor passed away last week at the age of 72?
33. MP Margaret Hodge called who or what ‘evil’ last week?
34. Which World War II operation saw its 70th anniversary?
35. Which former head of both Ford ( UK) and the CBI passed away last week?
36. Newsnight issued an apology to which charity last week?
37. Who won his 100th and 101st races during the Giro d’Italia?
38. Which manager was suspended by Brighton and Hove Albion?
39. How many caps did David Beckham – who retired from football last week – win for England?
40. Who walked out of an interview with BBC Radio Scotland after branding Scots as ‘racists’?
41. Which teams are contesting the Division 2 play off?
Answers
Who or what are the following and why have they been in the news?
1. Committed suicide because she couldn’t afford to pay the ‘bedroom tax’
2. Scored Wigan’s winning goal in the FA Cup Final
3. He has just finished copying out the King James Bible by hand
4. Company whose original Kerry Katona adverts for payday loans were banned as misleading – new ones made instead
5. Won the election in Pakistan
6. Defended his WBA Lightweight title against Jose Gonzalez
7. Car designed by Richard Noble consortium to break world land speed record, at 1000mph if possible
8. Made a video singing Space oddity on the International Space Station
9. Admitted murdering Tia Sharp – jailed for 38 years
10. Passed away aged 87 – he had played Jack Woolley in The Archers
11. Long serving US TV personality announced her retirement
12. New novel by Fay Wheldon
13. Won the Ondaatje Prize for “Scenes from Early life”
14. Stole jewellery from Jose Mourinho – jailed for 31 months
15. Councillor who compared disabled children to deformed lambs
16. Lost city found in Honduras
17. Quit job as head of UK Athletics
18. QPR striker arrested over alleged sexual assault
19. US TV Psychologist passed away - 86
20. Alleged CIA agent caught in Russia
21. Tested positive for banned substances during the Giro d’Italia
22. New schools inspection service being launched by Headteachers as alternative to Ofsted
23. Youngest Tory MP bringing in Private Members Bill about an EU Referendum
24. New voice of Thomas the Tank Engine
25. Newcastle goalie retired
26. Google Executive Chairman humiliated by Public Accounts Committee
27. Bonnie Tyler’s Eurovision Song Contest Entry
28. In corn court denied sex offence charges
29. James Anderson’s 300th test victim
In Other News
1. Chris Huhne
2. Django Unchained
3. Michael Gove
4. Twenty Twelve
5. Fernando Alonso
6. Saracens RFC
7. Harlequins
8. Paul Scholes
9. Bill Oddie
10. Fermanagh
11. Bath RFC
12. 24
13. OJ Simpson
14. Roberto Mancini
15. 79
16. Matt Prior
17. Venus Williams
18. Watford and Crystal Palace
19. 500 million Euros
20. BP and Shell
21. 1 - 4
22. 2 - 0
23. She has had a double mastectomy , having the gene that gives her a higher than 80% chance of developing breast cancer
24. David Haye
25. Dr. Dre – he is behind the ubiquitous Beats Headphones
26. Rory McGrath
27. Skin Cells
28. Chelsea 2 – Benfica 1 29. Bronislav Ibrahimovich
30. Christy Turlington
31. Cambodia
32. Paul Shane
33. Google
34. Operation Chastise – the Dambusters raid
35. Sir Terence Beckett
36. Help for Heroes
37. Mark Cavendish
38. Gus Poyet
39. 115
40. Nigel Farrage
41. Bradford and Northampton Town
Who or what are the following and why have they been in the news?
1. Stephanie Bottrill
2. Ben Watson
3. Philip Patterson
4. Cash Lady
5. Nawaz Sharif
6. Ricky Burns
7. Bloodhound SSC
8. Chris Hadfield
9. Stuart Hazell
10. Arnold Peters
11. Barbara Walters
12. Long Live the King
13. Philip Hensher
14. Jamie Filan
15. Colin Brewer
16. Cuidad Blanca
17. Peter Ericksson
18. Loic Remy
19. Joyce Brothers
20. Ryan Fogle
21. Sylvain Georges
22. Instead
23. James Wharton
24. Mark Moraghan
25. Steve Harper
26. Eric Schmidt
27. Believe in Me
28. Michael Le Vell
29. Peter Fulton
In Other News
1. Who was tagged after his release from prison last week?
2. Which film was finally allowed to be shown in cinemas in China?
3. Which Cabinet Minister said he would vote for Britain to leave the EU in a referendum?
4. Which was voted the Best sitcom in the BAFTAS?
5. Who won the Spanish Grand Prix
6. Which team did Northampton beat to reach the Premiership Final in rugby union?
7. Which team did Leicester beat to win the other semi final?
8. Which Man Utd. player retired from football last week?
9. Who was evicted from HSBC HQ while making a protest film?
10. Where is the G8 summit to be held?
11. Which English rugby club have been playing tapes of their head coach making his half time team talk to scare birds away from the pitch?
12. Which US TV show is returning after a 4 year absence?
13. IN the USA who is in court asking for a retrial?
14. Who was sacked after finishing second last week?
15. How many pit stops were there in the Spanish GP last week?
16. Who is the ECB Cricketer of the Year for 2012/13?
17. Which grand slam winner did Laura Robson defeat last week?
18. Which two teams will contest the Championship play off final?
19. How much money have the EU pledged to help Mali?
20. Which two firms have been accused of fixing petrol prices?
21. What was the score between Wigan and Arsenal that saw Wigan relegated days after winning the FA Cup?
22. What was score between Man City and Reading?
23. What did Angelina Joli tell the world about last week?
24. Which British boxer had to pull out of his comeback fight?
25. Who was the UK’s highest earning musician last year?
26. Which comedian and TV presenter was arrested on suspicion of taking part in a drunken brawl in Cornwall allegedly?
27. Last week a breakthrough was announced in the field of human cloning, using which cells?
28. What was the score in the Europa League final?
29. Who scored the winning goal?
30. Who has returned to advertise Calvin Klein after a gap of 20 years?
31. A factory for ASICS products had its roof collapse in which country last week?
32. Which Hi de Hi actor passed away last week at the age of 72?
33. MP Margaret Hodge called who or what ‘evil’ last week?
34. Which World War II operation saw its 70th anniversary?
35. Which former head of both Ford ( UK) and the CBI passed away last week?
36. Newsnight issued an apology to which charity last week?
37. Who won his 100th and 101st races during the Giro d’Italia?
38. Which manager was suspended by Brighton and Hove Albion?
39. How many caps did David Beckham – who retired from football last week – win for England?
40. Who walked out of an interview with BBC Radio Scotland after branding Scots as ‘racists’?
41. Which teams are contesting the Division 2 play off?
Answers
Who or what are the following and why have they been in the news?
1. Committed suicide because she couldn’t afford to pay the ‘bedroom tax’
2. Scored Wigan’s winning goal in the FA Cup Final
3. He has just finished copying out the King James Bible by hand
4. Company whose original Kerry Katona adverts for payday loans were banned as misleading – new ones made instead
5. Won the election in Pakistan
6. Defended his WBA Lightweight title against Jose Gonzalez
7. Car designed by Richard Noble consortium to break world land speed record, at 1000mph if possible
8. Made a video singing Space oddity on the International Space Station
9. Admitted murdering Tia Sharp – jailed for 38 years
10. Passed away aged 87 – he had played Jack Woolley in The Archers
11. Long serving US TV personality announced her retirement
12. New novel by Fay Wheldon
13. Won the Ondaatje Prize for “Scenes from Early life”
14. Stole jewellery from Jose Mourinho – jailed for 31 months
15. Councillor who compared disabled children to deformed lambs
16. Lost city found in Honduras
17. Quit job as head of UK Athletics
18. QPR striker arrested over alleged sexual assault
19. US TV Psychologist passed away - 86
20. Alleged CIA agent caught in Russia
21. Tested positive for banned substances during the Giro d’Italia
22. New schools inspection service being launched by Headteachers as alternative to Ofsted
23. Youngest Tory MP bringing in Private Members Bill about an EU Referendum
24. New voice of Thomas the Tank Engine
25. Newcastle goalie retired
26. Google Executive Chairman humiliated by Public Accounts Committee
27. Bonnie Tyler’s Eurovision Song Contest Entry
28. In corn court denied sex offence charges
29. James Anderson’s 300th test victim
In Other News
1. Chris Huhne
2. Django Unchained
3. Michael Gove
4. Twenty Twelve
5. Fernando Alonso
6. Saracens RFC
7. Harlequins
8. Paul Scholes
9. Bill Oddie
10. Fermanagh
11. Bath RFC
12. 24
13. OJ Simpson
14. Roberto Mancini
15. 79
16. Matt Prior
17. Venus Williams
18. Watford and Crystal Palace
19. 500 million Euros
20. BP and Shell
21. 1 - 4
22. 2 - 0
23. She has had a double mastectomy , having the gene that gives her a higher than 80% chance of developing breast cancer
24. David Haye
25. Dr. Dre – he is behind the ubiquitous Beats Headphones
26. Rory McGrath
27. Skin Cells
28. Chelsea 2 – Benfica 1 29. Bronislav Ibrahimovich
30. Christy Turlington
31. Cambodia
32. Paul Shane
33. Google
34. Operation Chastise – the Dambusters raid
35. Sir Terence Beckett
36. Help for Heroes
37. Mark Cavendish
38. Gus Poyet
39. 115
40. Nigel Farrage
41. Bradford and Northampton Town
Saturday, 18 May 2013
News Questions
In the News
Who or what are the following and why have they been in the news?
1. Stephanie Bottrill
2. Ben Watson
3. Philip Patterson
4. Cash Lady
5. Nawaz Sharif
6. Ricky Burns
7. Bloodhound SSC
8. Chris Hadfield
9. Stuart Hazell
10. Arnold Peters
11. Barbara Walters
12. Long Live the King
13. Philip Hensher
14. Jamie Filan
15. Colin Brewer
16. Cuidad Blanca
17. Peter Ericksson
18. Loic Remy
19. Joyce Brothers
20. Ryan Fogle
21. Sylvain Georges
22. Instead
23. James Wharton
24. Mark Moraghan
25. Steve Harper
26. Eric Schmidt
27. Believe in Me
28. Michael Le Vell
29. Peter Fulton
In Other News
1. Who was tagged after his release from prison last week?
2. Which film was finally allowed to be shown in cinemas in China?
3. Which Cabinet Minister said he would vote for Britain to leave the EU in a referendum?
4. Which was voted the Best sitcom in the BAFTAS?
5. Who won the Spanish Grand Prix
6. Which team did Northampton beat to reach the Premiership Final in rugby union?
7. Which team did Leicester beat to win the other semi final?
8. Which Man Utd. player retired from football last week?
9. Who was evicted from HSBC HQ while making a protest film?
10. Where is the G8 summit to be held?
11. Which English rugby club have been playing tapes of their head coach making his half time team talk to scare birds away from the pitch?
12. Which US TV show is returning after a 4 year absence?
13. IN the USA who is in court asking for a retrial?
14. Who was sacked after finishing second last week?
15. How many pit stops were there in the Spanish GP last week?
16. Who is the ECB Cricketer of the Year for 2012/13?
17. Which grand slam winner did Laura Robson defeat last week?
18. Which two teams will contest the Championship play off final?
19. How much money have the EU pledged to help Mali?
20. Which two firms have been accused of fixing petrol prices?
21. What was the score between Wigan and Arsenal that saw Wigan relegated days after winning the FA Cup?
22. What was score between Man City and Reading?
23. What did Angelina Joli tell the world about last week?
24. Which British boxer had to pull out of his comeback fight?
25. Who was the UK’s highest earning musician last year?
26. Which comedian and TV presenter was arrested on suspicion of taking part in a drunken brawl in Cornwall allegedly?
27. Last week a breakthrough was announced in the field of human cloning, using which cells?
28. What was the score in the Europa League final?
29. Who scored the winning goal?
30. Who has returned to advertise Calvin Klein after a gap of 20 years?
31. A factory for ASICS products had its roof collapse in which country last week?
32. Which Hi de Hi actor passed away last week at the age of 72?
33. MP Margaret Hodge called who or what ‘evil’ last week?
34. Which World War II operation saw its 70th anniversary?
35. Which former head of both Ford ( UK) and the CBI passed away last week?
36. Newsnight issued an apology to which charity last week?
37. Who won his 100th and 101st races during the Giro d’Italia?
38. Which manager was suspended by Brighton and Hove Albion?
39. How many caps did David Beckham – who retired from football last week – win for England?
40. Who walked out of an interview with BBC Radio Scotland after branding Scots as ‘racists’?
41. Which teams are contesting the Division 2 play off?
Who or what are the following and why have they been in the news?
1. Stephanie Bottrill
2. Ben Watson
3. Philip Patterson
4. Cash Lady
5. Nawaz Sharif
6. Ricky Burns
7. Bloodhound SSC
8. Chris Hadfield
9. Stuart Hazell
10. Arnold Peters
11. Barbara Walters
12. Long Live the King
13. Philip Hensher
14. Jamie Filan
15. Colin Brewer
16. Cuidad Blanca
17. Peter Ericksson
18. Loic Remy
19. Joyce Brothers
20. Ryan Fogle
21. Sylvain Georges
22. Instead
23. James Wharton
24. Mark Moraghan
25. Steve Harper
26. Eric Schmidt
27. Believe in Me
28. Michael Le Vell
29. Peter Fulton
In Other News
1. Who was tagged after his release from prison last week?
2. Which film was finally allowed to be shown in cinemas in China?
3. Which Cabinet Minister said he would vote for Britain to leave the EU in a referendum?
4. Which was voted the Best sitcom in the BAFTAS?
5. Who won the Spanish Grand Prix
6. Which team did Northampton beat to reach the Premiership Final in rugby union?
7. Which team did Leicester beat to win the other semi final?
8. Which Man Utd. player retired from football last week?
9. Who was evicted from HSBC HQ while making a protest film?
10. Where is the G8 summit to be held?
11. Which English rugby club have been playing tapes of their head coach making his half time team talk to scare birds away from the pitch?
12. Which US TV show is returning after a 4 year absence?
13. IN the USA who is in court asking for a retrial?
14. Who was sacked after finishing second last week?
15. How many pit stops were there in the Spanish GP last week?
16. Who is the ECB Cricketer of the Year for 2012/13?
17. Which grand slam winner did Laura Robson defeat last week?
18. Which two teams will contest the Championship play off final?
19. How much money have the EU pledged to help Mali?
20. Which two firms have been accused of fixing petrol prices?
21. What was the score between Wigan and Arsenal that saw Wigan relegated days after winning the FA Cup?
22. What was score between Man City and Reading?
23. What did Angelina Joli tell the world about last week?
24. Which British boxer had to pull out of his comeback fight?
25. Who was the UK’s highest earning musician last year?
26. Which comedian and TV presenter was arrested on suspicion of taking part in a drunken brawl in Cornwall allegedly?
27. Last week a breakthrough was announced in the field of human cloning, using which cells?
28. What was the score in the Europa League final?
29. Who scored the winning goal?
30. Who has returned to advertise Calvin Klein after a gap of 20 years?
31. A factory for ASICS products had its roof collapse in which country last week?
32. Which Hi de Hi actor passed away last week at the age of 72?
33. MP Margaret Hodge called who or what ‘evil’ last week?
34. Which World War II operation saw its 70th anniversary?
35. Which former head of both Ford ( UK) and the CBI passed away last week?
36. Newsnight issued an apology to which charity last week?
37. Who won his 100th and 101st races during the Giro d’Italia?
38. Which manager was suspended by Brighton and Hove Albion?
39. How many caps did David Beckham – who retired from football last week – win for England?
40. Who walked out of an interview with BBC Radio Scotland after branding Scots as ‘racists’?
41. Which teams are contesting the Division 2 play off?
Friday, 17 May 2013
Answers to News Questions
In the News
Who or what are the following, and why have they been in the news?
1. Nigel Evans
2. Jo Swinson
3. Jacqueline Wilson
4. Jeffrey John
5. Defence Distributed
6. Tal –y-Fan
7. Matt O’Connor
8. Paul Mealor
9. Lara Stone
10. Tommy and Patrick Connors
11. Eddie Shah
12. Amanda Berry
Gina de Jesus
Michelle Knight
13. Ariel Castro
14. Sarah Brown
15. Geordan Murphy
16. Chetham’s Music School
17. Melanie Smith
18. Ray Harryhausen
19. Jolly Nero
20. Kyle Thomson
21. The Smiler
22. Inferno
23. Sean Lopes
24. Andrew Simpson
25. David Norris
In Other News
1. A plane crashed happened at an airshow in which European capital?
2. 50 what were stolen from a pet shop in Nottingham?
3. There is controversy over the election of whom as a Fellow of the Royal Society?
4. There has been anger in New York over plans to charge what entry fee to the 9/11 Museum, to be opened in the future?
5. What was the score between Chelsea and Man Utd?
6. Which team won the Blue Square Bet Premier Play off to gain entry to the football League?
7. Who won the first stage of the Giro d’Italia
8. Whom did Ronnie O’Sullivan defeat in the final of the World Snooker Championship?
9. It was revealed last week that who had asked, and was refused, Led Zeppelin to reform for a charity concert in aid of the victims of Hurricane Sandy?
10. Who ordered a samba band to stop playing outside the Gielgud Theatre?
11. Which former Chancellor of the Exchequer said that he wants Britain to leave the EU?
12. Which two teams made it to the League One play offs? Which teams did they beat?
13. Who was confirmed as Team Sky leader for the 2013 Tour de France?
14. What was the final score in the World Snooker final?
15. What was the score between Wigan and Swansea?
16. Who fractured his skull during a political rally last week?
17. Which comedian was facing sex abuse charges last week?
18. Which operating system did Microsoft admit that it will need to revamp?
19. Who alleged that pupils at his former school were abused?
20. A memorial to whom was unveiled at the National Arboretum in Staffordshire last week?
21. Staff of which train company expressed an unwillingness to wear their ‘see through’ new uniforms?
22. The Queen will not be attending the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference, which will take place where?
23. Which manager was sacked by Wolverhampton Wanderers?
24. What was the score in the Chelsea v. Spurs match?
25. Who has been controversially left out of the England RU Squad for a tour of Uruguay and Argentina?
26. Who was reinstated to the Parliamentary Conservative Party last week?
27. Which minister was accused of fabricating figures ?
28. Frank Field called for which change to the House of Lords?
29. Which film director died aged 87?
30. Who was appointed the new manager of Manchester United?
31. The BBC announced that it will be re making which popular 1970s drama series?
32. Des Lynam pledged support for whom last week?
33. The Derbyshire v. Lancashire cricket match was called off due to what?
Answers
Who or what are the following and why have they been in the news?
1. Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons – facing allegations of sexual assault
2. Employment minister who collapsed with severe nut allgery
3. Writer who said that British children are more illiterate than her foreign fans
4. Openly gay Dean of St. Albans – tipped as a strong candidate to be the next Bishop of Durham
5. Company marketing the gun you can make with a 3D printer – over 100,000 blueprints downloaded
6. Hill in Snowdonia now reclassified as a mountain
7. New coach of Leicester Tigers RFC
8. Composed the song ‘Lullaby’ for William and Kate’s baby – to be sung by Hayley Westenra
9. Wife of David Walliams – just gave birth to a son, their first child
10. Jailed for slavery
11. Former Today newspaper owner, on trial for alleged rape of a school girl
12. Kidnapped women found in house in Cleveland Ohio.
13. Owner of the kidnap house in Cleveland – presumed the kidnapper
14. Wife of Gordon Brown, fined for boarding train without valid travel card
15. Ireland and Leicester rugby star retiring from rugby
16. Music school at the centre of abuse claims
17. Arsonist jailed for 30 years
18. Film special effects great responsible for Jason and Argonauts – The 7th Voyage of Sinbad – et al passed away aged 93
19. Ship which struck a central tower in Genoa Harbour
20. He threw a vegemite sandwich at Australian PM Julia Gillard
21. New roller coaster at Alton Towers – with 14 loops – the most of any roller coaster in the world at the time of writing.
22. New Dan Brown novel
23. One of New York’s most wanted criminals, found working in a Sainsbury’s store in Chatham
24. Beijing sailing gold medallist – died in tragic accident
25. Lost his appeal against his conviction for the murder of Stephen Lawrence
In Other News
1. Madrid
2. Snakes
3. Prince Andrew
4. $25
5. 1 - 0
6. Newport – defeated Wrexham 2 - 0
7. Mark Cavendish
8. Barry Hawkins
9. Bill CLinton
10. Helen Mirren
11. Nigel Lawson
12. Brentford bt. Swindon – Yeovil bt. Sheff Utd.
13. Chris Froome
14. 18 – 12 to Ronnie O’Sullivan
15. 2 - 3
16. Imran Khan
17. Jimmy Tarbuck
18. Windows 8
19. Nigel Kennedy
20. The Bevin Boys
21. Virgin
22. Sri Lanka
23. Dean Saunders
24. 2 - 2
25. Chris Robshaw
26. Nadine Dorries
27. Iain Duncan-Smith
28. He called for most of the bishops’ seats in the House of Lords to be abolished
29. Brian Forbes
30. David Moyes
31. Poldark
32. UKIP
33. A fire in a nearby disused Thornton’s warehouse
Who or what are the following, and why have they been in the news?
1. Nigel Evans
2. Jo Swinson
3. Jacqueline Wilson
4. Jeffrey John
5. Defence Distributed
6. Tal –y-Fan
7. Matt O’Connor
8. Paul Mealor
9. Lara Stone
10. Tommy and Patrick Connors
11. Eddie Shah
12. Amanda Berry
Gina de Jesus
Michelle Knight
13. Ariel Castro
14. Sarah Brown
15. Geordan Murphy
16. Chetham’s Music School
17. Melanie Smith
18. Ray Harryhausen
19. Jolly Nero
20. Kyle Thomson
21. The Smiler
22. Inferno
23. Sean Lopes
24. Andrew Simpson
25. David Norris
In Other News
1. A plane crashed happened at an airshow in which European capital?
2. 50 what were stolen from a pet shop in Nottingham?
3. There is controversy over the election of whom as a Fellow of the Royal Society?
4. There has been anger in New York over plans to charge what entry fee to the 9/11 Museum, to be opened in the future?
5. What was the score between Chelsea and Man Utd?
6. Which team won the Blue Square Bet Premier Play off to gain entry to the football League?
7. Who won the first stage of the Giro d’Italia
8. Whom did Ronnie O’Sullivan defeat in the final of the World Snooker Championship?
9. It was revealed last week that who had asked, and was refused, Led Zeppelin to reform for a charity concert in aid of the victims of Hurricane Sandy?
10. Who ordered a samba band to stop playing outside the Gielgud Theatre?
11. Which former Chancellor of the Exchequer said that he wants Britain to leave the EU?
12. Which two teams made it to the League One play offs? Which teams did they beat?
13. Who was confirmed as Team Sky leader for the 2013 Tour de France?
14. What was the final score in the World Snooker final?
15. What was the score between Wigan and Swansea?
16. Who fractured his skull during a political rally last week?
17. Which comedian was facing sex abuse charges last week?
18. Which operating system did Microsoft admit that it will need to revamp?
19. Who alleged that pupils at his former school were abused?
20. A memorial to whom was unveiled at the National Arboretum in Staffordshire last week?
21. Staff of which train company expressed an unwillingness to wear their ‘see through’ new uniforms?
22. The Queen will not be attending the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference, which will take place where?
23. Which manager was sacked by Wolverhampton Wanderers?
24. What was the score in the Chelsea v. Spurs match?
25. Who has been controversially left out of the England RU Squad for a tour of Uruguay and Argentina?
26. Who was reinstated to the Parliamentary Conservative Party last week?
27. Which minister was accused of fabricating figures ?
28. Frank Field called for which change to the House of Lords?
29. Which film director died aged 87?
30. Who was appointed the new manager of Manchester United?
31. The BBC announced that it will be re making which popular 1970s drama series?
32. Des Lynam pledged support for whom last week?
33. The Derbyshire v. Lancashire cricket match was called off due to what?
Answers
Who or what are the following and why have they been in the news?
1. Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons – facing allegations of sexual assault
2. Employment minister who collapsed with severe nut allgery
3. Writer who said that British children are more illiterate than her foreign fans
4. Openly gay Dean of St. Albans – tipped as a strong candidate to be the next Bishop of Durham
5. Company marketing the gun you can make with a 3D printer – over 100,000 blueprints downloaded
6. Hill in Snowdonia now reclassified as a mountain
7. New coach of Leicester Tigers RFC
8. Composed the song ‘Lullaby’ for William and Kate’s baby – to be sung by Hayley Westenra
9. Wife of David Walliams – just gave birth to a son, their first child
10. Jailed for slavery
11. Former Today newspaper owner, on trial for alleged rape of a school girl
12. Kidnapped women found in house in Cleveland Ohio.
13. Owner of the kidnap house in Cleveland – presumed the kidnapper
14. Wife of Gordon Brown, fined for boarding train without valid travel card
15. Ireland and Leicester rugby star retiring from rugby
16. Music school at the centre of abuse claims
17. Arsonist jailed for 30 years
18. Film special effects great responsible for Jason and Argonauts – The 7th Voyage of Sinbad – et al passed away aged 93
19. Ship which struck a central tower in Genoa Harbour
20. He threw a vegemite sandwich at Australian PM Julia Gillard
21. New roller coaster at Alton Towers – with 14 loops – the most of any roller coaster in the world at the time of writing.
22. New Dan Brown novel
23. One of New York’s most wanted criminals, found working in a Sainsbury’s store in Chatham
24. Beijing sailing gold medallist – died in tragic accident
25. Lost his appeal against his conviction for the murder of Stephen Lawrence
In Other News
1. Madrid
2. Snakes
3. Prince Andrew
4. $25
5. 1 - 0
6. Newport – defeated Wrexham 2 - 0
7. Mark Cavendish
8. Barry Hawkins
9. Bill CLinton
10. Helen Mirren
11. Nigel Lawson
12. Brentford bt. Swindon – Yeovil bt. Sheff Utd.
13. Chris Froome
14. 18 – 12 to Ronnie O’Sullivan
15. 2 - 3
16. Imran Khan
17. Jimmy Tarbuck
18. Windows 8
19. Nigel Kennedy
20. The Bevin Boys
21. Virgin
22. Sri Lanka
23. Dean Saunders
24. 2 - 2
25. Chris Robshaw
26. Nadine Dorries
27. Iain Duncan-Smith
28. He called for most of the bishops’ seats in the House of Lords to be abolished
29. Brian Forbes
30. David Moyes
31. Poldark
32. UKIP
33. A fire in a nearby disused Thornton’s warehouse
A comeback and a jackpot
Well, I hope you’ve had a good week. I’ve had a busy one, although I certainly can’t say that it’s been a bad one. Last night I was paid a backhanded compliment by Terry of Lemurs – the top team in the Thursday night quiz in the rugby club. “I see that you’re not going senile then.” he said, or words to that effect. Of course he was referring to my less than stellar performance as question master last Thursday, about which the less said the better. Last night, though, I redeemed myself when my team had one of the best comebacks since Lazarus.
The way it works in the club is that you have 8 rounds of (usually) 10 questions, and a handout. The handout might have 30 answers but you only get points for the position in which you come. So when there are 6 teams, the team with the highest score in the handout will get 6 points, and the team with the lowest score will get 1. Now the thing is that Lemurs are very good at the pictures . . . and we’re not. So we know that even on the occasions when we manage to pip them on the questions there’s every good chance we’ll lose out when the picture scores are added on. With two rounds left we were 3 points behind with the picture scores yet to be added on. It was a connections quiz last night, and in round 7 the link which needed to be found was between these answers - Therm - Bath Oliver – Bar Code – the Norse Goddess Hel. If you said – ometers, well in the words of Roy Walker, it’s good but it’s not right. Right at the death inspiration struck, and I said that they can all come after – iso - lines of equal whatever. We were the only team to get that connection, and we wiped out the three point lead on that one round. The next and last round there were two I wasn’t sure of. I zigged correctly, Lemurs zagged incorrectly, I guess, and we ended the questions with a two point lead. Now, me, I’m usually satisfied if we can win the questions but lose on the pictures. But we only scored one less on the pictures, and a rare foray into the W column ensued. Loved it.
Now there’s lots of things I enjoy about quizzing. One of them is going to a quiz I’ve never been to before, discovering that it’s a good, fun little homemade quiz, and if possible winning. A few weeks ago I was invited to go to the Dillwyn in Pontardawe by Brian’s wife Gail, who’d been invited a few times by another friend and had really enjoyed it. The Dillwyn in Pontardawe – now thereby hangs a tale. By coincidence I used to play for the Dillwyn in the now sadly defunct Swansea Independent Quiz League. We moved out of the Dillwyn when they went the way of a lot of pubs in going in for more of a restaurant/hotel sort of thing.
I rang Gail up on Tuesday, full of the joys of Spring having won in Newport on Monday night, but the weather was foul, and she didn’t want to know. Fair enough. I had made up my mind that I was going anyway, and so my daughter Jess (youngest of 4 girls and 1 boy) piped up with “D’you mind if I come, Dad?” To which the answer is always – no, I don’t mind. After all, you never know when they’re going to stick in something about modern music, do you? The pub’s phone was out of action, so I couldn’t get through to them to ask the starting time. Gail told me she thought it was about 8:30. So we arrived at 8:15 to find that the small bar where they held it was packed, and they were already on the 6th question of the first round. Well, we put our money down, and they let us join in, kindly telling us the questions we’d missed at the end of the round.
First round was ‘in the news’ and the second was TV and Entertainment. Then we had a handout with the flags of 10 African countries to identify. Thank you Sporcle – I’ve played that flags game a lot so we did well. In fact at this stage of the game we had a 5 point lead. The third actual round was pop music – 10 songs, point for the singer and point for the song. We managed about 16 points out of 20, more by luck than judgement. The general round fell our way, which left only the second handout. In this one we were given a map of the Shipping Forecast areas, and asked to identify each number on the map. We had a few wrong, but the vast majority right. All of which meant that we won by a comfortable 11 points.
Now, had that been that, and no prizes been handed out, or only a bottle of wine which I wouldn’t drink anyway, then all well and good, it wouldn’t have bothered me at all, thank you very much. But no. Having won the quiz, this qualified us for a chance to go for the jackpot. I’m sure you’ve seen things like this before. You’re given a choice of three envelopes – one has the real jackpot, one has a consolations prize – one has a booby prize. I’m utterly hopeless at this sort of thing, so I told Jess to pick – knowing full well that we would get the booby prize . . . and she picked the jackpot! We won’t exactly be retiring on what we won, but it was a nice end to what had been a terrific little quiz.
The way it works in the club is that you have 8 rounds of (usually) 10 questions, and a handout. The handout might have 30 answers but you only get points for the position in which you come. So when there are 6 teams, the team with the highest score in the handout will get 6 points, and the team with the lowest score will get 1. Now the thing is that Lemurs are very good at the pictures . . . and we’re not. So we know that even on the occasions when we manage to pip them on the questions there’s every good chance we’ll lose out when the picture scores are added on. With two rounds left we were 3 points behind with the picture scores yet to be added on. It was a connections quiz last night, and in round 7 the link which needed to be found was between these answers - Therm - Bath Oliver – Bar Code – the Norse Goddess Hel. If you said – ometers, well in the words of Roy Walker, it’s good but it’s not right. Right at the death inspiration struck, and I said that they can all come after – iso - lines of equal whatever. We were the only team to get that connection, and we wiped out the three point lead on that one round. The next and last round there were two I wasn’t sure of. I zigged correctly, Lemurs zagged incorrectly, I guess, and we ended the questions with a two point lead. Now, me, I’m usually satisfied if we can win the questions but lose on the pictures. But we only scored one less on the pictures, and a rare foray into the W column ensued. Loved it.
Now there’s lots of things I enjoy about quizzing. One of them is going to a quiz I’ve never been to before, discovering that it’s a good, fun little homemade quiz, and if possible winning. A few weeks ago I was invited to go to the Dillwyn in Pontardawe by Brian’s wife Gail, who’d been invited a few times by another friend and had really enjoyed it. The Dillwyn in Pontardawe – now thereby hangs a tale. By coincidence I used to play for the Dillwyn in the now sadly defunct Swansea Independent Quiz League. We moved out of the Dillwyn when they went the way of a lot of pubs in going in for more of a restaurant/hotel sort of thing.
I rang Gail up on Tuesday, full of the joys of Spring having won in Newport on Monday night, but the weather was foul, and she didn’t want to know. Fair enough. I had made up my mind that I was going anyway, and so my daughter Jess (youngest of 4 girls and 1 boy) piped up with “D’you mind if I come, Dad?” To which the answer is always – no, I don’t mind. After all, you never know when they’re going to stick in something about modern music, do you? The pub’s phone was out of action, so I couldn’t get through to them to ask the starting time. Gail told me she thought it was about 8:30. So we arrived at 8:15 to find that the small bar where they held it was packed, and they were already on the 6th question of the first round. Well, we put our money down, and they let us join in, kindly telling us the questions we’d missed at the end of the round.
First round was ‘in the news’ and the second was TV and Entertainment. Then we had a handout with the flags of 10 African countries to identify. Thank you Sporcle – I’ve played that flags game a lot so we did well. In fact at this stage of the game we had a 5 point lead. The third actual round was pop music – 10 songs, point for the singer and point for the song. We managed about 16 points out of 20, more by luck than judgement. The general round fell our way, which left only the second handout. In this one we were given a map of the Shipping Forecast areas, and asked to identify each number on the map. We had a few wrong, but the vast majority right. All of which meant that we won by a comfortable 11 points.
Now, had that been that, and no prizes been handed out, or only a bottle of wine which I wouldn’t drink anyway, then all well and good, it wouldn’t have bothered me at all, thank you very much. But no. Having won the quiz, this qualified us for a chance to go for the jackpot. I’m sure you’ve seen things like this before. You’re given a choice of three envelopes – one has the real jackpot, one has a consolations prize – one has a booby prize. I’m utterly hopeless at this sort of thing, so I told Jess to pick – knowing full well that we would get the booby prize . . . and she picked the jackpot! We won’t exactly be retiring on what we won, but it was a nice end to what had been a terrific little quiz.
Sunday, 12 May 2013
Only Connect - 8:30 - Monday
I'm delighted to see Only Connect returning to our screens a little earlier than normal. In fact it starts at 8:30 on BBC4 tomorrow night. I'm posting this just in case you didn't know, and might have ended up missing this.
Quiz Fatigue?
Nothing stays the same forever. I reflected some time ago on the relative paucity of charity quizzes in my local area in recent years. Back in the day, when I began my quiz career in the late 80s and early 90s they were a fairly regular occurrence in Port Talbot and surrounding district. The Bay View Club, the Seaside Labour and Social Club, the Gas Club, Aberavon Quins rugby club and other venues all held at least a couple a year, and when you added venues in Neath into the mix you wouldn’t have to let many months go by without playing in one if you wanted to. Well, some of the venues I’ve mentioned aren’t there any more, and some of them use other ways of raising money for causes. So when a charity quiz does come up, it’s something of the exception rather than the rule.
That’s why a week like last week, where I participated in two charity quizzes in three days, is something a little out of the ordinary these days. On Wednesday it was the evening of the annual May Day in Melincrythan charity quiz. I won’t go on about this one since I’ve mentioned it in the blog every year since 2009. But I will just say reiterate that this was the quiz that made me into a born again quizzer. I hadn’t attended a quiz in a good year or so before being asked to put a team of kids from my school into the 1994 quiz. We won, the itch had been scratched, and I was a quizzer again. The decision was made a couple of years back to rename the trophy the David Clark Mastermind 2008 Trophy, and ever since I’ve set the questions and hosted the quiz.
For I think the last three – and possibly four – years the trophy and the quiz have been won by a team led by the redoubtable Rob Merrill. I’ve mentioned Rob many times in the blog before, but if I remind you that Rob was joint runner up in Brain of Britain 2012 then that should give you an idea of his credentials. Last year I think his team had 100% of their answers correct. Does that mean the quiz I set was too easy? For them, yes, but for the rest of the teams, relatively few of whose members are quizzers in any way shape or form, I would argue no. On Wednesday Rob and the guys were unable to play, and so for the first time since the quiz was resurrected in 2007, the quiz was going to have a winning team that did not contain either me or Rob. As it was it came down to a struggle between two teams containing former friends from the old Neath Quiz League. The winners in the end were the Broken Wheel – who for several years have been the bridesmaids rather than the brides. A good fun evening – which to be honest was the only other thing apart from raising money for the May Day in Melincrythan Charity – which really mattered.
I wasn’t the question master for the quiz organized by the Friends of Coed Hirwaun Primary School on Friday evening. This was none other than Ken , of the Ken’s Quiz website. If you don’t know what I mean, click on the link below: -
Ken’s Quiz
There’s a lot of free quizzes and handouts on the site.
The team for whom I was guesting was called Three’s a Crowd, for the rather obvious reason that there were just three of us, and we were by some distance the smallest team there. We either top scored, or joint top scored all of the rounds apart from the pop music intros round, and had a fantastic performance on the pictures handout. In particular we benefited from a novel arrangement, whereby we were asked to guess the ages of all the people in the photographs – some of them, like Karl Marx, for example, had been dead for a very long time – and add them all up. The team whose total was closest to the correct answer would get a 10 point bonus. We were, I think, about 20 years out altogether, which is less than a year per photo, and so what had been a useful but by no means unassailable lead became unbeatable by the last round.
Sandwiched between these two charity quizzes was my turn as QM for the rugby club. Now, thereby hangs a tale. I compiled the two quizzes – the May Day quiz and this one for the rugby club – on Bank Holiday Monday, when I was suitably fresh, and had the time to spare. I’ve delivered at least one quiz a month in the club for the last 18 years, so I’ve probably done this a couple of hundred times in the past. For some reason, though, everything seemed to go wrong on Thursday night. Actually, scratch that. I seemed to go wrong. I kept reading out the quiz, and missing questions out of the rounds – jumping from question 4 to question 6, stumbling over a couple of the questions, getting one team’s score for one of the rounds completely wrong. None of which I can honestly say I’ve never done before, but not so often, and not all in the same quiz. And the harder I tried to pull myself together, the worse it got.
In mitigation, last week was a very hard and stressful one once I returned to work on Tuesday. I was ill last weekend, and while I’m much better than I was my chest is still not quite 100%. Julie, my Head of Department at work, has had it worse than I have, and hasn’t been in school all week, which has left it to me to manage two students and provide work for all of her classes. Last week was the last week of school for my year group – year 11, and as well as all of that I have been organizing and overseeing extra study sessions for them. In fact I did study and exam skills all day with them myself on Thursday, and that was a high energy session.Add that to the fact that I’d been QM just the previous evening as well. So I’m hoping that I was just knackered come last Thursday evening, and that was the excuse.
As a postscript, I had the best round of applause I think I’ve ever had in the quiz when I finished on Thursday night. I think that they were just all relieved that I’d managed to get through it in the end. Not as much as I was.
That’s why a week like last week, where I participated in two charity quizzes in three days, is something a little out of the ordinary these days. On Wednesday it was the evening of the annual May Day in Melincrythan charity quiz. I won’t go on about this one since I’ve mentioned it in the blog every year since 2009. But I will just say reiterate that this was the quiz that made me into a born again quizzer. I hadn’t attended a quiz in a good year or so before being asked to put a team of kids from my school into the 1994 quiz. We won, the itch had been scratched, and I was a quizzer again. The decision was made a couple of years back to rename the trophy the David Clark Mastermind 2008 Trophy, and ever since I’ve set the questions and hosted the quiz.
For I think the last three – and possibly four – years the trophy and the quiz have been won by a team led by the redoubtable Rob Merrill. I’ve mentioned Rob many times in the blog before, but if I remind you that Rob was joint runner up in Brain of Britain 2012 then that should give you an idea of his credentials. Last year I think his team had 100% of their answers correct. Does that mean the quiz I set was too easy? For them, yes, but for the rest of the teams, relatively few of whose members are quizzers in any way shape or form, I would argue no. On Wednesday Rob and the guys were unable to play, and so for the first time since the quiz was resurrected in 2007, the quiz was going to have a winning team that did not contain either me or Rob. As it was it came down to a struggle between two teams containing former friends from the old Neath Quiz League. The winners in the end were the Broken Wheel – who for several years have been the bridesmaids rather than the brides. A good fun evening – which to be honest was the only other thing apart from raising money for the May Day in Melincrythan Charity – which really mattered.
I wasn’t the question master for the quiz organized by the Friends of Coed Hirwaun Primary School on Friday evening. This was none other than Ken , of the Ken’s Quiz website. If you don’t know what I mean, click on the link below: -
Ken’s Quiz
There’s a lot of free quizzes and handouts on the site.
The team for whom I was guesting was called Three’s a Crowd, for the rather obvious reason that there were just three of us, and we were by some distance the smallest team there. We either top scored, or joint top scored all of the rounds apart from the pop music intros round, and had a fantastic performance on the pictures handout. In particular we benefited from a novel arrangement, whereby we were asked to guess the ages of all the people in the photographs – some of them, like Karl Marx, for example, had been dead for a very long time – and add them all up. The team whose total was closest to the correct answer would get a 10 point bonus. We were, I think, about 20 years out altogether, which is less than a year per photo, and so what had been a useful but by no means unassailable lead became unbeatable by the last round.
Sandwiched between these two charity quizzes was my turn as QM for the rugby club. Now, thereby hangs a tale. I compiled the two quizzes – the May Day quiz and this one for the rugby club – on Bank Holiday Monday, when I was suitably fresh, and had the time to spare. I’ve delivered at least one quiz a month in the club for the last 18 years, so I’ve probably done this a couple of hundred times in the past. For some reason, though, everything seemed to go wrong on Thursday night. Actually, scratch that. I seemed to go wrong. I kept reading out the quiz, and missing questions out of the rounds – jumping from question 4 to question 6, stumbling over a couple of the questions, getting one team’s score for one of the rounds completely wrong. None of which I can honestly say I’ve never done before, but not so often, and not all in the same quiz. And the harder I tried to pull myself together, the worse it got.
In mitigation, last week was a very hard and stressful one once I returned to work on Tuesday. I was ill last weekend, and while I’m much better than I was my chest is still not quite 100%. Julie, my Head of Department at work, has had it worse than I have, and hasn’t been in school all week, which has left it to me to manage two students and provide work for all of her classes. Last week was the last week of school for my year group – year 11, and as well as all of that I have been organizing and overseeing extra study sessions for them. In fact I did study and exam skills all day with them myself on Thursday, and that was a high energy session.Add that to the fact that I’d been QM just the previous evening as well. So I’m hoping that I was just knackered come last Thursday evening, and that was the excuse.
As a postscript, I had the best round of applause I think I’ve ever had in the quiz when I finished on Thursday night. I think that they were just all relieved that I’d managed to get through it in the end. Not as much as I was.
Saturday, 11 May 2013
In The News
In the News
Who or what are the following, and why have they been in the news?
1. Nigel Evans
2. Jo Swinson
3. Jacqueline Wilson
4. Jeffrey John
5. Defence Distributed
6. Tal –y-Fan
7. Matt O’Connor
8. Paul Mealor
9. Lara Stone
10. Tommy and Patrick Connors
11. Eddie Shah
12. Amanda Berry
Gina de Jesus
Michelle Knight
13. Ariel Castro
14. Sarah Brown
15. Geordan Murphy
16. Chetham’s Music School
17. Melanie Smith
18. Ray Harryhausen
19. Jolly Nero
20. Kyle Thomson
21. The Smiler
22. Inferno
23. Sean Lopes
24. Andrew Simpson
25. David Norris
In Other News
1. A plane crashed happened at an airshow in which European capital?
2. 50 what were stolen from a pet shop in Nottingham?
3. There is controversy over the election of whom as a Fellow of the Royal Society?
4. There has been anger in New York over plans to charge what entry fee to the 9/11 Museum, to be opened in the future?
5. What was the score between Chelsea and Man Utd?
6. Which team won the Blue Square Bet Premier Play off to gain entry to the football League?
7. Who won the first stage of the Giro d’Italia
8. Whom did Ronnie O’Sullivan defeat in the final of the World Snooker Championship?
9. It was revealed last week that who had asked, and was refused, Led Zeppelin to reform for a charity concert in aid of the victims of Hurricane Sandy?
10. Who ordered a samba band to stop playing outside the Gielgud Theatre?
11. Which former Chancellor of the Exchequer said that he wants Britain to leave the EU?
12. Which two teams made it to the League One play offs? Which teams did they beat?
13. Who was confirmed as Team Sky leader for the 2013 Tour de France?
14. What was the final score in the World Snooker final?
15. What was the score between Wigan and Swansea?
16. Who fractured his skull during a political rally last week?
17. Which comedian was facing sex abuse charges last week?
18. Which operating system did Microsoft admit that it will need to revamp?
19. Who alleged that pupils at his former school were abused?
20. A memorial to whom was unveiled at the National Arboretum in Staffordshire last week?
21. Staff of which train company expressed an unwillingness to wear their ‘see through’ new uniforms?
22. The Queen will not be attending the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference, which will take place where?
23. Which manager was sacked by Wolverhampton Wanderers?
24. What was the score in the Chelsea v. Spurs match?
25. Who has been controversially left out of the England RU Squad for a tour of Uruguay and Argentina?
26. Who was reinstated to the Parliamentary Conservative Party last week?
27. Which minister was accused of fabricating figures ?
28. Frank Field called for which change to the House of Lords?
29. Which film director died aged 87?
30. Who was appointed the new manager of Manchester United?
31. The BBC announced that it will be re making which popular 1970s drama series?
32. Des Lynam pledged support for whom last week?
33. The Derbyshire v. Lancashire cricket match was called off due to what?
Who or what are the following, and why have they been in the news?
1. Nigel Evans
2. Jo Swinson
3. Jacqueline Wilson
4. Jeffrey John
5. Defence Distributed
6. Tal –y-Fan
7. Matt O’Connor
8. Paul Mealor
9. Lara Stone
10. Tommy and Patrick Connors
11. Eddie Shah
12. Amanda Berry
Gina de Jesus
Michelle Knight
13. Ariel Castro
14. Sarah Brown
15. Geordan Murphy
16. Chetham’s Music School
17. Melanie Smith
18. Ray Harryhausen
19. Jolly Nero
20. Kyle Thomson
21. The Smiler
22. Inferno
23. Sean Lopes
24. Andrew Simpson
25. David Norris
In Other News
1. A plane crashed happened at an airshow in which European capital?
2. 50 what were stolen from a pet shop in Nottingham?
3. There is controversy over the election of whom as a Fellow of the Royal Society?
4. There has been anger in New York over plans to charge what entry fee to the 9/11 Museum, to be opened in the future?
5. What was the score between Chelsea and Man Utd?
6. Which team won the Blue Square Bet Premier Play off to gain entry to the football League?
7. Who won the first stage of the Giro d’Italia
8. Whom did Ronnie O’Sullivan defeat in the final of the World Snooker Championship?
9. It was revealed last week that who had asked, and was refused, Led Zeppelin to reform for a charity concert in aid of the victims of Hurricane Sandy?
10. Who ordered a samba band to stop playing outside the Gielgud Theatre?
11. Which former Chancellor of the Exchequer said that he wants Britain to leave the EU?
12. Which two teams made it to the League One play offs? Which teams did they beat?
13. Who was confirmed as Team Sky leader for the 2013 Tour de France?
14. What was the final score in the World Snooker final?
15. What was the score between Wigan and Swansea?
16. Who fractured his skull during a political rally last week?
17. Which comedian was facing sex abuse charges last week?
18. Which operating system did Microsoft admit that it will need to revamp?
19. Who alleged that pupils at his former school were abused?
20. A memorial to whom was unveiled at the National Arboretum in Staffordshire last week?
21. Staff of which train company expressed an unwillingness to wear their ‘see through’ new uniforms?
22. The Queen will not be attending the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference, which will take place where?
23. Which manager was sacked by Wolverhampton Wanderers?
24. What was the score in the Chelsea v. Spurs match?
25. Who has been controversially left out of the England RU Squad for a tour of Uruguay and Argentina?
26. Who was reinstated to the Parliamentary Conservative Party last week?
27. Which minister was accused of fabricating figures ?
28. Frank Field called for which change to the House of Lords?
29. Which film director died aged 87?
30. Who was appointed the new manager of Manchester United?
31. The BBC announced that it will be re making which popular 1970s drama series?
32. Des Lynam pledged support for whom last week?
33. The Derbyshire v. Lancashire cricket match was called off due to what?
Friday, 10 May 2013
Answers to News Questions
In the News
Who or what are the following and why have they been in the news?
1. Get Lucky
2. Menelik Watson
3. Sohel Rana
4. Andrew Cassidy
5. Gerard Butler
6. Down Hall Country House Hotel
7. Julio Diaz
8. Neonictinoids
9. Lee Bradley Brown
10. El Celler de Con Roca
11. Jason Collins
12. Abdelkadir el Janadi
Alex Wilson-Fletcher
13. Christian Benteke
14. Kim Little
15. Henning Berg
16. English Defence League
17. Allan Arbus
18. Fuentes Eufemio
19. Reginald D. Hunter
20. Philip Goodeve-Docker
21. James McCormick
22. Natalie Coleman
23. Chris Kelly
24. Viva Forever
25. Dan Llewellyn Hall
26. Joanne Chesimard
27. Jeff Hanneman
In Other News
1. IN the University League Table – Cambridge was 1st – Oxford 2nd. Which came third?
2. Who called UKIP ‘fruitcakes and closet racists’
3. Who won the awards for Best actor and Best Actress at the Oliviers?
4. Whose stolen red Chevrolet convertible has been found after 20 years?
5. Who won the PFA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year?
6. Which cyclist won the Tour of Romandie?
7. Which were the first two teams relegated from the Premier League?
8. What was the score between Toulon and Saracens in the Heineken Cup?
9. What was the score between Man Utd and Arsenal?
10. Which world stadium was reopened after 3 years?
11. What was the score in the Heineken cup semi final between Clermont and Munster
12. City and Guilds test papers are being sent where to be marked?
13. Name both previous winners of both PFA and Young player of the Year awards in the same year
14. Which is the top UK restaurant in the world’s top 50?
15. Which group are sponsoring Rhwbina children’s rugby team in Cardiff?
16. Which city has Britain’s tastiest tap water?
17. What was the score in the Villas v. Sunderland match?
18. What announcement did Sir Bradley Wiggins make this week?
19. Which University won University Challenge?
20. Who was announced as the captain of the British and Irish Lions?
21. Who resigned as honorary FIFA president
22. What was the score in the Champions League semi final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund?
23. Who abdicated on 30th April?
24. Who is the new King of the Netherlands?
25. What is to be dried after 30 years of work?
26. How many representatives in the Lions squad do each of the home unions have?
27. Who said that he does not have an MP3 player?
28. Who has been charged with raping a girl in 1967?
29. Who is to face a retrial in a military court?
30. Former Hollywood actress passed away aged 91?
31. What was the score in the Bayern Munich v. Barcelona Heineken cup semi final?
32. Who announced his retirement from boxing?
33. Who met Ronnie O’ Sullivan in the semi final of the world snooker championship?
34. Which mountain is about to be named a world heritage site?
35. Who admitted indecent assault charges?
36. Which two fairy tales were named Britain’s favourite?
37. Star Wars is to be redubbed in which language?
38. How much did the plebgate bike fetch on ebay?
39. What was the score in the Chelsea v. Basle Europa League semi final?
40. What was the score in the Benfica v. Fenerbahce Europa League semi final?
41. How many local council seast were won by UKIP?
42. Which bomber is being raised from the Goodwin Sands?
Answers
Who or what are the following and why have they been in the news?
1. 1st UK number 1 for Daft Punk
2. Brit picked by Oakland Raiders
3. Owner of collapsed factory building in Bangladesh
4. 20 stone ‘Welsh Maradona’ Youtube sensation
5. 2nd trainer investigate for steroid use on horses
6. Hotel where a couple were found dead in the swimming pool
7. Knocked down Amir Khan before losing on points
8. Pesticide banned by EU in order to save bees
9. He passed away in police custody in Dubai
10. World’s top restaurant – Girona Spain
11. NBA star for Washington – 1st US sports star active in a major sport to come out as gay
12. Jailed for raping a 14 year old boy in the toilets in Debenhams, Manchester
13. Scored a hattrick for Villa against Sunderland
14. PFA Woman Player of the Year
15. Blackburn Rovers were ordered to pay him £2.25 million
16. Far right organization targeted by Islamist extremists
17. Played Major Freeman in MASH – passed away
18. Cycling ‘doping doctor’ received one year suspended sentence
19. Comedian slammed in media for using the N word at the PFA awards ceremony 20. Adventurer who died in a snowstorm in Greenland
21. Jailed for 10 years for selling fake bomb detectors
22. Masterchef Winner
23. Rapper – half of Kris Kross – passed away
24. Spice Girls Musical to close after 6 months
25. His portrait of the Queen has been compared to a Spitting Image puppet
26. First woman ever to feature on the FBI most Wanted list
27. Founder of the group Slayer who passed away
28. In Other News
1. London School of Economics
2. Kenneth Clarke
3. Luke Treadaway – Helen Mirren
4. Quentin Tarantino
5. Gareth Bale
6. Chris Froome
7. QPR and Reading
8. 24 - 12
9. 1 - 1
10. The Maracana – Rio de Janeiro
11. 16 - 10
12. India
13. Andy Gray and Christiano Ronaldo
14. Heston Blumenthal’s Dinner
15. Def Leppard
16. Coventry
17. 6 - 1
18. He announced that he wants to win the Tour de France again this year, not just the Giro d’Italia
19. Manchester
20. Sam Warburton
21. Joao Havelange
22. 2 – 0 (Borussia win 4 – 3 on aggregate)
23. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands
24. Willem Alexander
25. The Mary Rose
26. 15 Welsh – 10 English – 9 Irish – 3 Scots
27. Keith Richards
28. William Roache
29. SAS Sniper Danny Nightingale
30. Deanna Durbin
31. 3 – 0 ( 7 – 0 ) on aggregate
32. Audley Harrison
33. Judd Trump
34. Mt. Fuji
35. Stuart Hall
36. Snow White and Cinderella
37. Navajo
38. £10,600
39. 3 – 1 ( 5 – 1 on aggregate)
40. 3 – 1
41. 136
42. Dornier Do17
Who or what are the following and why have they been in the news?
1. Get Lucky
2. Menelik Watson
3. Sohel Rana
4. Andrew Cassidy
5. Gerard Butler
6. Down Hall Country House Hotel
7. Julio Diaz
8. Neonictinoids
9. Lee Bradley Brown
10. El Celler de Con Roca
11. Jason Collins
12. Abdelkadir el Janadi
Alex Wilson-Fletcher
13. Christian Benteke
14. Kim Little
15. Henning Berg
16. English Defence League
17. Allan Arbus
18. Fuentes Eufemio
19. Reginald D. Hunter
20. Philip Goodeve-Docker
21. James McCormick
22. Natalie Coleman
23. Chris Kelly
24. Viva Forever
25. Dan Llewellyn Hall
26. Joanne Chesimard
27. Jeff Hanneman
In Other News
1. IN the University League Table – Cambridge was 1st – Oxford 2nd. Which came third?
2. Who called UKIP ‘fruitcakes and closet racists’
3. Who won the awards for Best actor and Best Actress at the Oliviers?
4. Whose stolen red Chevrolet convertible has been found after 20 years?
5. Who won the PFA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year?
6. Which cyclist won the Tour of Romandie?
7. Which were the first two teams relegated from the Premier League?
8. What was the score between Toulon and Saracens in the Heineken Cup?
9. What was the score between Man Utd and Arsenal?
10. Which world stadium was reopened after 3 years?
11. What was the score in the Heineken cup semi final between Clermont and Munster
12. City and Guilds test papers are being sent where to be marked?
13. Name both previous winners of both PFA and Young player of the Year awards in the same year
14. Which is the top UK restaurant in the world’s top 50?
15. Which group are sponsoring Rhwbina children’s rugby team in Cardiff?
16. Which city has Britain’s tastiest tap water?
17. What was the score in the Villas v. Sunderland match?
18. What announcement did Sir Bradley Wiggins make this week?
19. Which University won University Challenge?
20. Who was announced as the captain of the British and Irish Lions?
21. Who resigned as honorary FIFA president
22. What was the score in the Champions League semi final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund?
23. Who abdicated on 30th April?
24. Who is the new King of the Netherlands?
25. What is to be dried after 30 years of work?
26. How many representatives in the Lions squad do each of the home unions have?
27. Who said that he does not have an MP3 player?
28. Who has been charged with raping a girl in 1967?
29. Who is to face a retrial in a military court?
30. Former Hollywood actress passed away aged 91?
31. What was the score in the Bayern Munich v. Barcelona Heineken cup semi final?
32. Who announced his retirement from boxing?
33. Who met Ronnie O’ Sullivan in the semi final of the world snooker championship?
34. Which mountain is about to be named a world heritage site?
35. Who admitted indecent assault charges?
36. Which two fairy tales were named Britain’s favourite?
37. Star Wars is to be redubbed in which language?
38. How much did the plebgate bike fetch on ebay?
39. What was the score in the Chelsea v. Basle Europa League semi final?
40. What was the score in the Benfica v. Fenerbahce Europa League semi final?
41. How many local council seast were won by UKIP?
42. Which bomber is being raised from the Goodwin Sands?
Answers
Who or what are the following and why have they been in the news?
1. 1st UK number 1 for Daft Punk
2. Brit picked by Oakland Raiders
3. Owner of collapsed factory building in Bangladesh
4. 20 stone ‘Welsh Maradona’ Youtube sensation
5. 2nd trainer investigate for steroid use on horses
6. Hotel where a couple were found dead in the swimming pool
7. Knocked down Amir Khan before losing on points
8. Pesticide banned by EU in order to save bees
9. He passed away in police custody in Dubai
10. World’s top restaurant – Girona Spain
11. NBA star for Washington – 1st US sports star active in a major sport to come out as gay
12. Jailed for raping a 14 year old boy in the toilets in Debenhams, Manchester
13. Scored a hattrick for Villa against Sunderland
14. PFA Woman Player of the Year
15. Blackburn Rovers were ordered to pay him £2.25 million
16. Far right organization targeted by Islamist extremists
17. Played Major Freeman in MASH – passed away
18. Cycling ‘doping doctor’ received one year suspended sentence
19. Comedian slammed in media for using the N word at the PFA awards ceremony 20. Adventurer who died in a snowstorm in Greenland
21. Jailed for 10 years for selling fake bomb detectors
22. Masterchef Winner
23. Rapper – half of Kris Kross – passed away
24. Spice Girls Musical to close after 6 months
25. His portrait of the Queen has been compared to a Spitting Image puppet
26. First woman ever to feature on the FBI most Wanted list
27. Founder of the group Slayer who passed away
28. In Other News
1. London School of Economics
2. Kenneth Clarke
3. Luke Treadaway – Helen Mirren
4. Quentin Tarantino
5. Gareth Bale
6. Chris Froome
7. QPR and Reading
8. 24 - 12
9. 1 - 1
10. The Maracana – Rio de Janeiro
11. 16 - 10
12. India
13. Andy Gray and Christiano Ronaldo
14. Heston Blumenthal’s Dinner
15. Def Leppard
16. Coventry
17. 6 - 1
18. He announced that he wants to win the Tour de France again this year, not just the Giro d’Italia
19. Manchester
20. Sam Warburton
21. Joao Havelange
22. 2 – 0 (Borussia win 4 – 3 on aggregate)
23. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands
24. Willem Alexander
25. The Mary Rose
26. 15 Welsh – 10 English – 9 Irish – 3 Scots
27. Keith Richards
28. William Roache
29. SAS Sniper Danny Nightingale
30. Deanna Durbin
31. 3 – 0 ( 7 – 0 ) on aggregate
32. Audley Harrison
33. Judd Trump
34. Mt. Fuji
35. Stuart Hall
36. Snow White and Cinderella
37. Navajo
38. £10,600
39. 3 – 1 ( 5 – 1 on aggregate)
40. 3 – 1
41. 136
42. Dornier Do17
Sunday, 5 May 2013
30 Quiz Experiences to Try Before You Die
Yes, I’m feeling a little bit better today, thanks for asking. Today is Phillippa, my eldest daughter’s 27th birthday, and so I’ve been surrounded by all of my family, and that’s working its usual magic. My head is clearer, and my chest feels a little better. I reflected a little on my post yesterday on the subject of 100 things to do before you die, and I’d like to offer you my 30 Quiz Experiences to Try before you Die. I invite you to see how many you’ve already done – and I’ll tell you about my own strike rate at the end.
Quiz Experiences to Try Before you Die (No particular Order)
1. Appear on a TV quiz
2. Complete the Big Four of appearences on University Challenge, Mastermind, Brain of Britain and Only Connect
3. Appear on Mastermind and go through a whole round without passing on a single question.
4. Persuade William G Stewart and Channel Four to resurrect Fifteen to One
5. Play in a pub quiz and have every single question right
6. Write and publish a quiz book
7. Meet Fred Housego
8. Play in a pub quiz on your own and win
9. Play in a quiz every night of the same week
10. Play in two pub quizzes on the same night
11. Write your own quiz blog
12. Take part in a charity quiz auction
13. Play on the same team as Phil Tufnell
14. Play in an event with more than 50 teams
15. Compile a pub quiz and be question master
16. Create an idea for a new quiz show
17. Create a new quiz board game
18. Argue with a question master
19. Have a Quiz Trophy named after you
20. Play in at least one Grand Prix event
21. Win a Quiz League
22. Join the committee of a Quiz League
23. Share a Quiz with friends or colleagues who don’t normally do quizzes
24. Play a game of The World According to Ubi
25. Tell someone off for cheating with their phone in a quiz.
26. Introduce someone to quizzing and watch them become a good quizzer in their own right
27. Play in a pub quiz in a different country outside the UK
28. Play in a quiz in a different language
29. Play in a team that has a genuinely funny AND original name
30. Come up with a perfect question
How did you get on? Are there any experiences which I didn’t put down that you would have included? I’m sure there must be. Right, here’s my own answers: -
1. Done it – including radio 18 shows in 8 different series.
2. No – haven’t done UC, and can’t see how it could happen. If there was any chance, though, they’d never have to ask me twice
3. Yes – in 2007 I only passed on my first SS round. For the rest of that series I answered every question, although not all correctly.
4. Oh, I wish someone would
5. Three times in total, I think
6. Yes – all on the kindle
7. Look – I’d just really like to meet Fred Housego, ok? You know how important Mastermind is to me. So Fred, once again, if you do by any chance happen to read this, I’d love to have a pint and a chat – or just a chat if you’d prefer. Just drop me a line
8. Yes. I’ve never done it in the rugby club . . . yet
9. No – 5 in one week is my record
10. Yes – when they moved the Haywain quiz to early on Sunday evening.
11. Oh, er, let me think about that one
12. Great fun – GetConnected 2010-12
13. Yes – believe me what you see on TV with Tuffers is what you get.
14. Birmingham Mega Quiz. Mind you, not all of them – or even most of them – would have been serious quiz teams
15. Yes
16. Yes – leaving aside my April Fool “Count Your Beans” , my idea based on Bid a Note from Name that Tune has yet to be appreciated by any production company
17. No
18. Yes – despite what we all say they are NOT always right
19. Yes – on this Wednesday teams from Neath will be competing in the MayDay in Melin Annual quiz, to try to win the Dave Clark mastermind 2008 Trophy ( I kid you not)
20. Yes – and had I not been ill yesterday I might well have played in another
21. Yes – Port Talbot – Neath – Swansea – Morriston – South Wales Echo – Llandeilo - Bridgend
22. Yes – I served on the committee of the Neath Quiz League. Just before it folded.
23. Yes – every time I compile one for the club I share it during lunchtime with colleagues in work. They often ask me when they can have another one, believe it or not
24. Yes – it is the finest quiz ‘board’ game around, in my opinion.
25. Yes – Aberavon rugby club – ooh, it felt good.
26. No – a lot of people seem daunted by the amount of work involved in becoming good.
27. Yes – Spain
28. No, although I have read a quiz book in French – and enjoyed it
29. That one’s all in the ear of the behearer. I’ll be honest, I don’t think we ever progressed much beyond the level of Norfolk and Goode style witticisms
30. No, although I am a great admirer of other peoples’ good questions when I hear them. A great recycler of other people’s good questions too.
Quiz Experiences to Try Before you Die (No particular Order)
1. Appear on a TV quiz
2. Complete the Big Four of appearences on University Challenge, Mastermind, Brain of Britain and Only Connect
3. Appear on Mastermind and go through a whole round without passing on a single question.
4. Persuade William G Stewart and Channel Four to resurrect Fifteen to One
5. Play in a pub quiz and have every single question right
6. Write and publish a quiz book
7. Meet Fred Housego
8. Play in a pub quiz on your own and win
9. Play in a quiz every night of the same week
10. Play in two pub quizzes on the same night
11. Write your own quiz blog
12. Take part in a charity quiz auction
13. Play on the same team as Phil Tufnell
14. Play in an event with more than 50 teams
15. Compile a pub quiz and be question master
16. Create an idea for a new quiz show
17. Create a new quiz board game
18. Argue with a question master
19. Have a Quiz Trophy named after you
20. Play in at least one Grand Prix event
21. Win a Quiz League
22. Join the committee of a Quiz League
23. Share a Quiz with friends or colleagues who don’t normally do quizzes
24. Play a game of The World According to Ubi
25. Tell someone off for cheating with their phone in a quiz.
26. Introduce someone to quizzing and watch them become a good quizzer in their own right
27. Play in a pub quiz in a different country outside the UK
28. Play in a quiz in a different language
29. Play in a team that has a genuinely funny AND original name
30. Come up with a perfect question
How did you get on? Are there any experiences which I didn’t put down that you would have included? I’m sure there must be. Right, here’s my own answers: -
1. Done it – including radio 18 shows in 8 different series.
2. No – haven’t done UC, and can’t see how it could happen. If there was any chance, though, they’d never have to ask me twice
3. Yes – in 2007 I only passed on my first SS round. For the rest of that series I answered every question, although not all correctly.
4. Oh, I wish someone would
5. Three times in total, I think
6. Yes – all on the kindle
7. Look – I’d just really like to meet Fred Housego, ok? You know how important Mastermind is to me. So Fred, once again, if you do by any chance happen to read this, I’d love to have a pint and a chat – or just a chat if you’d prefer. Just drop me a line
8. Yes. I’ve never done it in the rugby club . . . yet
9. No – 5 in one week is my record
10. Yes – when they moved the Haywain quiz to early on Sunday evening.
11. Oh, er, let me think about that one
12. Great fun – GetConnected 2010-12
13. Yes – believe me what you see on TV with Tuffers is what you get.
14. Birmingham Mega Quiz. Mind you, not all of them – or even most of them – would have been serious quiz teams
15. Yes
16. Yes – leaving aside my April Fool “Count Your Beans” , my idea based on Bid a Note from Name that Tune has yet to be appreciated by any production company
17. No
18. Yes – despite what we all say they are NOT always right
19. Yes – on this Wednesday teams from Neath will be competing in the MayDay in Melin Annual quiz, to try to win the Dave Clark mastermind 2008 Trophy ( I kid you not)
20. Yes – and had I not been ill yesterday I might well have played in another
21. Yes – Port Talbot – Neath – Swansea – Morriston – South Wales Echo – Llandeilo - Bridgend
22. Yes – I served on the committee of the Neath Quiz League. Just before it folded.
23. Yes – every time I compile one for the club I share it during lunchtime with colleagues in work. They often ask me when they can have another one, believe it or not
24. Yes – it is the finest quiz ‘board’ game around, in my opinion.
25. Yes – Aberavon rugby club – ooh, it felt good.
26. No – a lot of people seem daunted by the amount of work involved in becoming good.
27. Yes – Spain
28. No, although I have read a quiz book in French – and enjoyed it
29. That one’s all in the ear of the behearer. I’ll be honest, I don’t think we ever progressed much beyond the level of Norfolk and Goode style witticisms
30. No, although I am a great admirer of other peoples’ good questions when I hear them. A great recycler of other people’s good questions too.
"How to Win TV Quizzes"
Over on Daniel’s Blog “The Quiz Addict” I saw an interview with CJ de Mooi, late of Eggheads. CJ has just published his book – “How to Win TV Quiz Shows”. I’ll be honest, I was interested to see what he has to say on the subject, so I bought it. I did think twice before starting to write this – after all you could say that it is in direct competition with my own “Be A Quiz Winner!”
Be A Quiz Winner!
But what the hell. Mine is a little more general – it does give advice about TV, but that’s only just one of the areas covered.
So what about CJ’s book? I’ll be completely objective, and say that I enjoyed it. CJ writes well. There are several amusing anecdotes in the book, and he is absolutely honest and unapologetic about his TV persona and his desire to do whatever it takes ( within the rules) to win any TV quiz show he took part in. In fact he would probably tell you that while it’s very nice of me to plug his book, it’s relatively stupid of me considering that I have a book of my own on the market which covers at least some of the same ground, judging by what he says about the attitude you should take towards the competition. Well, there we are, I was never planning to retire on the proceeds of the kindle books anyway.
All the advice in the book is first hand, and all of it is valuable. Would it necessarily help you to win TV quizzes? Maybe yes. Let me explain that. Let’s say that you’re someone who has never applied to be on a quiz show before. If you read and follow the advice in the book then I’ve no doubt that you’d greatly improve your chances of making it through the application and audition processes onto the show itself. So working on the principle that you’ve got to be on a show to actually win anything, to that extent it could definitely help you to win. Once you’re actually on the show, there are tips here to help you maximise your performance. If nothing else I’m sure that, like me, you’ll enjoy the sections about assessing your opponents’ strengths and weaknesses, and about being the strong one who preys on the weak. As Harry S. Truman may or may not have said, “If you want a friend – get a dog.” What it won't do is increase your chances of winning by making you a better general knowledge quizzer, and to be fair CJ is quite open about this. He acknowledges that in order to improve your general knowledge, you have to work at it. So if you're one of those people who tend to say - "Hmm - it's not really my subject" whenever you're asked a question on History, Geography, Literature, Science, entertainment, Sport ( I could go on )"- well don't think for one minute that this, or any other book is going to be a panacea for what ails you. No book is. If you don't know anything, you ain't going to win a great deal.
I don’t think the book is available in print yet, but it’s available on your kindle right now, and it’s not a huge amount of money (although Be A Quiz Winner is a whole pound cheaper at the moment!). A good read for anyone who is either thinking about applying to be on a show, or who is generally interested in them anyway.
--------------------------------------------
Being English I’m not very good at being pushy. Still, just for once, I’ll make an exception. I don’t go on and on about my kindle books in the blog for the very good reason that I don’t want to start putting people off the blog. Still, I hope that I can be forgiven just this once reminding readers of the titles I have available out there at the moment. Currently : -
Be A Quiz Winner!
The Quiz Show Quiz Book
The Mythology Quiz Book
The Cryptic Quiz Book
The Pub Quiz Master Quiz Book
The Pub Quiz Master Quiz Book 2
The Pub Quiz Master Quiz Book 3
The Pub Quiz Player’s Quiz Book
The Connections Quiz Book
The Great TV Pub Quiz Book
The Ultimate Summer Olympic Quiz Book
The Ultimate English Literature Quiz Book
There are links to most of these on Amazon in my links section, but you can also find all of them on my Amazon Author Page – just click on the link below
Dave Clark Amazon Author Page
Be A Quiz Winner!
But what the hell. Mine is a little more general – it does give advice about TV, but that’s only just one of the areas covered.
So what about CJ’s book? I’ll be completely objective, and say that I enjoyed it. CJ writes well. There are several amusing anecdotes in the book, and he is absolutely honest and unapologetic about his TV persona and his desire to do whatever it takes ( within the rules) to win any TV quiz show he took part in. In fact he would probably tell you that while it’s very nice of me to plug his book, it’s relatively stupid of me considering that I have a book of my own on the market which covers at least some of the same ground, judging by what he says about the attitude you should take towards the competition. Well, there we are, I was never planning to retire on the proceeds of the kindle books anyway.
All the advice in the book is first hand, and all of it is valuable. Would it necessarily help you to win TV quizzes? Maybe yes. Let me explain that. Let’s say that you’re someone who has never applied to be on a quiz show before. If you read and follow the advice in the book then I’ve no doubt that you’d greatly improve your chances of making it through the application and audition processes onto the show itself. So working on the principle that you’ve got to be on a show to actually win anything, to that extent it could definitely help you to win. Once you’re actually on the show, there are tips here to help you maximise your performance. If nothing else I’m sure that, like me, you’ll enjoy the sections about assessing your opponents’ strengths and weaknesses, and about being the strong one who preys on the weak. As Harry S. Truman may or may not have said, “If you want a friend – get a dog.” What it won't do is increase your chances of winning by making you a better general knowledge quizzer, and to be fair CJ is quite open about this. He acknowledges that in order to improve your general knowledge, you have to work at it. So if you're one of those people who tend to say - "Hmm - it's not really my subject" whenever you're asked a question on History, Geography, Literature, Science, entertainment, Sport ( I could go on )"- well don't think for one minute that this, or any other book is going to be a panacea for what ails you. No book is. If you don't know anything, you ain't going to win a great deal.
I don’t think the book is available in print yet, but it’s available on your kindle right now, and it’s not a huge amount of money (although Be A Quiz Winner is a whole pound cheaper at the moment!). A good read for anyone who is either thinking about applying to be on a show, or who is generally interested in them anyway.
--------------------------------------------
Being English I’m not very good at being pushy. Still, just for once, I’ll make an exception. I don’t go on and on about my kindle books in the blog for the very good reason that I don’t want to start putting people off the blog. Still, I hope that I can be forgiven just this once reminding readers of the titles I have available out there at the moment. Currently : -
The Quiz Show Quiz Book
The Mythology Quiz Book
The Cryptic Quiz Book
The Pub Quiz Master Quiz Book
The Pub Quiz Master Quiz Book 2
The Pub Quiz Master Quiz Book 3
The Pub Quiz Player’s Quiz Book
The Connections Quiz Book
The Great TV Pub Quiz Book
The Ultimate Summer Olympic Quiz Book
The Ultimate English Literature Quiz Book
There are links to most of these on Amazon in my links section, but you can also find all of them on my Amazon Author Page – just click on the link below
Dave Clark Amazon Author Page
Saturday, 4 May 2013
In The News
In the News
Who or what are the following and why have they been in the news?
1. Get Lucky
2. Menelik Watson
3. Sohel Rana
4. Andrew Cassidy
5. Gerard Butler
6. Down Hall Country House Hotel
7. Julio Diaz
8. Neonictinoids
9. Lee Bradley Brown
10. El Celler de Con Roca
11. Jason Collins
12. Abdelkadir el Janadi
Alex Wilson-Fletcher
13. Christian Benteke
14. Kim Little
15. Henning Berg
16. English Defence League
17. Allan Arbus
18. Fuentes Eufemio
19. Reginald D. Hunter
20. Philip Goodeve-Docker
21. James McCormick
22. Natalie Coleman
23. Chris Kelly
24. Viva Forever
25. Dan Llewellyn Hall
26. Joanne Chesimard
27. Jeff Hanneman
In Other News
1. IN the University League Table – Cambridge was 1st – Oxford 2nd. Which came third?
2. Who called UKIP ‘fruitcakes and closet racists’
3. Who won the awards for Best actor and Best Actress at the Oliviers?
4. Whose stolen red Chevrolet convertible has been found after 20 years?
5. Who won the PFA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year?
6. Which cyclist won the Tour of Romandie?
7. Which were the first two teams relegated from the Premier League?
8. What was the score between Toulon and Saracens in the Heineken Cup?
9. What was the score between Man Utd and Arsenal?
10. Which world stadium was reopened after 3 years?
11. What was the score in the Heineken cup semi final between Clermont and Munster
12. City and Guilds test papers are being sent where to be marked?
13. Name both previous winners of both PFA and Young player of the Year awards in the same year
14. Which is the top UK restaurant in the world’s top 50?
15. Which group are sponsoring Rhwbina children’s rugby team in Cardiff?
16. Which city has Britain’s tastiest tap water?
17. What was the score in the Villas v. Sunderland match?
18. What announcement did Sir Bradley Wiggins make this week?
19. Which University won University Challenge?
20. Who was announced as the captain of the British and Irish Lions?
21. Who resigned as honorary FIFA president
22. What was the score in the Champions League semi final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund?
23. Who abdicated on 30th April?
24. Who is the new King of the Netherlands?
25. What is to be dried after 30 years of work?
26. How many representatives in the Lions squad do each of the home unions have?
27. Who said that he does not have an MP3 player?
28. Who has been charged with raping a girl in 1967?
29. Who is to face a retrial in a military court?
30. Former Hollywood actress passed away aged 91?
31. What was the score in the Bayern Munich v. Barcelona Heineken cup semi final?
32. Who announced his retirement from boxing?
33. Who met Ronnie O’ Sullivan in the semi final of the world snooker championship?
34. Which mountain is about to be named a world heritage site?
35. Who admitted indecent assault charges?
36. Which two fairy tales were named Britain’s favourite?
37. Star Wars is to be redubbed in which language?
38. How much did the plebgate bike fetch on ebay?
39. What was the score in the Chelsea v. Basle Europa League semi final?
40. What was the score in the Benfica v. Fenerbahce Europa League semi final?
41. How many local council seast were won by UKIP?
42. Which bomber is being raised from the Goodwin Sands?
Who or what are the following and why have they been in the news?
1. Get Lucky
2. Menelik Watson
3. Sohel Rana
4. Andrew Cassidy
5. Gerard Butler
6. Down Hall Country House Hotel
7. Julio Diaz
8. Neonictinoids
9. Lee Bradley Brown
10. El Celler de Con Roca
11. Jason Collins
12. Abdelkadir el Janadi
Alex Wilson-Fletcher
13. Christian Benteke
14. Kim Little
15. Henning Berg
16. English Defence League
17. Allan Arbus
18. Fuentes Eufemio
19. Reginald D. Hunter
20. Philip Goodeve-Docker
21. James McCormick
22. Natalie Coleman
23. Chris Kelly
24. Viva Forever
25. Dan Llewellyn Hall
26. Joanne Chesimard
27. Jeff Hanneman
In Other News
1. IN the University League Table – Cambridge was 1st – Oxford 2nd. Which came third?
2. Who called UKIP ‘fruitcakes and closet racists’
3. Who won the awards for Best actor and Best Actress at the Oliviers?
4. Whose stolen red Chevrolet convertible has been found after 20 years?
5. Who won the PFA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year?
6. Which cyclist won the Tour of Romandie?
7. Which were the first two teams relegated from the Premier League?
8. What was the score between Toulon and Saracens in the Heineken Cup?
9. What was the score between Man Utd and Arsenal?
10. Which world stadium was reopened after 3 years?
11. What was the score in the Heineken cup semi final between Clermont and Munster
12. City and Guilds test papers are being sent where to be marked?
13. Name both previous winners of both PFA and Young player of the Year awards in the same year
14. Which is the top UK restaurant in the world’s top 50?
15. Which group are sponsoring Rhwbina children’s rugby team in Cardiff?
16. Which city has Britain’s tastiest tap water?
17. What was the score in the Villas v. Sunderland match?
18. What announcement did Sir Bradley Wiggins make this week?
19. Which University won University Challenge?
20. Who was announced as the captain of the British and Irish Lions?
21. Who resigned as honorary FIFA president
22. What was the score in the Champions League semi final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund?
23. Who abdicated on 30th April?
24. Who is the new King of the Netherlands?
25. What is to be dried after 30 years of work?
26. How many representatives in the Lions squad do each of the home unions have?
27. Who said that he does not have an MP3 player?
28. Who has been charged with raping a girl in 1967?
29. Who is to face a retrial in a military court?
30. Former Hollywood actress passed away aged 91?
31. What was the score in the Bayern Munich v. Barcelona Heineken cup semi final?
32. Who announced his retirement from boxing?
33. Who met Ronnie O’ Sullivan in the semi final of the world snooker championship?
34. Which mountain is about to be named a world heritage site?
35. Who admitted indecent assault charges?
36. Which two fairy tales were named Britain’s favourite?
37. Star Wars is to be redubbed in which language?
38. How much did the plebgate bike fetch on ebay?
39. What was the score in the Chelsea v. Basle Europa League semi final?
40. What was the score in the Benfica v. Fenerbahce Europa League semi final?
41. How many local council seast were won by UKIP?
42. Which bomber is being raised from the Goodwin Sands?
Answers to News Questions
In the news
Who or what are the following and why have they been in the news?
1. Alisher Usmanov
2. John Cherry
3. To Be Loved
4. Giorgio Napolitano
5. Branislav Ivanovic
6. Tsegaye Kebede
7. Prisgah Jeptoo
8. Michael White
9. Parsons School of Design – New York city
10. Mark Davis
11. DNP
12. Eric Toth
13. James McCormick
14. Chris Gayle
15. The Look of Love
16. Danny Cohen
17. Sarah Stevenson
18. Caxirola
19. Enrico Letta
20. Duncan Larcombe
21. Jo Johnson MP
22. Moulton Paddocks
23. Caroline Banana
24. Robert Milkins
25. Marcus Wareing
26. Irfan Naseer
In Other News
1. What was the score in the Spurs v. Man City match?
2. What happened to panda Tian Tian in Edinburgh last year?
3. Who defeated Nadal in the final of the Monte carlo Masters?
4. Who won the SPL?
5. What was the score in the Liverpool v. Chelsea match?
6. Which team won the Championship after having qualified for the Premier League the previous week?
7. Who were the top 3 in the Bahrain GP?
8. Which Brit was 4th in the Bahrain GP?
9. Poor harvests have halted the production of which breakfast cereal?
10. GB lost a play off for the world group in the Fed Cup to which team?
11. what was the score in the Man Utd. v. Aston Villa match?
12. How many League titles has Sir Alex Ferguson won with Man Utd.?
13. Which Hollywood actress was arrested for disorderly conduct?
14. Which film topped the Time Out poll of the most romantic films of all time?
15. Who was controversially overlooked for the position of the chairman of Sport England?
16. ITV were criticized for excessively promoting what on the Alan Titchmarsh show?
17. Who last week offered to pay just a quarter of his trial costs?
18. The search for whom was officially called off last week?
19. Which two teams will contest the University Challenge final on Monday?
20. Who said GCSE Maths is too easy after sitting the paper and getting A*?
21. Which European country’s parliament gave its final approval to the Gay marriage bill?
22. How many of Mahmood al Zarroni’s horses tested positive for steroids?
23. The government appeal was rejected over what?
24. Ritchie Havens who passed away last week was famously the first act on what or where?
25. Lushan was hit by an earthquake last week – in which country?
26. what was the score in the Bayern Munich v. Barcelona European Champions League semi final? 27. Which large union is balloting members about a strike? 28. Who was re-arrested over sexual allegations last week?
29. A factory supplying which retailer collapsed in Bangladesh last week?
30. Which car topped a UK motorists satisfaction poll last week?
31. Who announced that they will split after a farewell tour in December
32. Which Hollywood actor announced he was taking part in the £1 a day food challenge?
33. How many games has Luis Suarez been suspended for ?
34. Last week which welsh legend was added to the British and Irish Lions coaching team?
35. What was the score in the Borussia Dortmund v. Real Madrid Champions League match?
36. Which D Day beach has been omitted from a French D Day tourism campaign?
37. The US Justice Deartment have launched legal proceedings against which sportsman?
38. A UN peacekeeping force has been approved for which African country?
39. Which has been voted Britain’s best University for Quality of Life?
40. On whose tour bus were drugs found in Sweden?
41. What was the score in the Europa League match between Chelsea and Basle?
42. What punishment was handed to Mahmood al Zarooni ?
43. Which rugby player suffered only minor injuries after being hit by a bus during a pub crawl?
44. who was charged by the CPS on 11 counts of Indecent assault?
45. Who will feature on the new £5 note?
Answers>
Who or what are the following, and why have they been in the news?
1. Named as Britain’s Richest man
2. Conservative local councillor dismissed from party for racist statements
3. New album by Michael Bublé
4. Re elected as president of Italy
5. Player bitten by Luis Suarez
6. Won man’s race in London marathon
7. Won women’s race in London Marathon
8. Knocked Mark Williams out of world snooker championship
9. John Galliano has been hired to teach some classes there
10. He knocked John Higgins out of the world snooker championship
11. Banned weight loss drug taken by Sarah Houston who sadly passed away
12. The FBI’s most wanted since Osama Bin Laden, arrested in Nicaragua
13. Man found guilty of selling fake bomb detectors
14. Hit the fastest century in history in 30 balls
15. Film starring Steve Coogan as ‘King of Soho’ Paul Raymond
16. New BBC Director of Television
17. Announced her retirement from Taekwondo
18. The new percussion instrument for the 2016 FIFA world cup, set to be the ‘new vuvuzela’
19. Has been asked by president of Italy to form a government
20. The Sun’s Royal editor who has been charged with paying public officials
21. Brother of Boris – Cameron’s new Head of Policy
22. Mahmood Al Zarooni’s training yard, closed by Sheikh Mohammed
23. Deal or No Deal winner who did not declare her winnings found guilty of benefit fraud
24. He knocked Neil Robertson out of the world snooker championships
25. Chef who joined the judging panel for Masterchef semi finals, attracting attention through very sharp comments
26. Leader of Birmingham Terrorist cell, jailed for life.
In Other news
1. 3 - 1
2. She was artificially inseminated
3. Novak Djokovic
4. Celtic
5. 2 - 2
6. Cardiff City
7. Vettel – 1, Raikkonen – 2, Grosjean - 3
8. Paul di Resta
9. Weetabix Minis and Oatibix
10. Argentina
11. 3 - 0
12. 13
13. Reece Witherspoon
14. Brief Encounter
15. Tanni Grey Thompson
16. Patsy Kensit on Weightwatchers
17. Chris Huhne
18. April Jones
19. University College London and Manchester
20. Dara O’Briain
21. France
22. 11
23. Abu Qatada deportation
24. Woodstock festival
25. CHina
26. 4 - 0
27. Postal workers union
28. Freddie Starr
29. Primark
30. Skoda Yeti
31. JLS
32. Ben Affleck
33. 10 games
34. Neil Jenkins
35. 4 - 1
36. Sword Beach
37. Lance Armstrong
38. Mali
39. University of East Anglia
40. Justin Beiber
41. 2 - 1
42. He was banned for 8 years
43. Danny Cipriani
44. Max Clifford
45. Winston Churchill
Who or what are the following and why have they been in the news?
1. Alisher Usmanov
2. John Cherry
3. To Be Loved
4. Giorgio Napolitano
5. Branislav Ivanovic
6. Tsegaye Kebede
7. Prisgah Jeptoo
8. Michael White
9. Parsons School of Design – New York city
10. Mark Davis
11. DNP
12. Eric Toth
13. James McCormick
14. Chris Gayle
15. The Look of Love
16. Danny Cohen
17. Sarah Stevenson
18. Caxirola
19. Enrico Letta
20. Duncan Larcombe
21. Jo Johnson MP
22. Moulton Paddocks
23. Caroline Banana
24. Robert Milkins
25. Marcus Wareing
26. Irfan Naseer
In Other News
1. What was the score in the Spurs v. Man City match?
2. What happened to panda Tian Tian in Edinburgh last year?
3. Who defeated Nadal in the final of the Monte carlo Masters?
4. Who won the SPL?
5. What was the score in the Liverpool v. Chelsea match?
6. Which team won the Championship after having qualified for the Premier League the previous week?
7. Who were the top 3 in the Bahrain GP?
8. Which Brit was 4th in the Bahrain GP?
9. Poor harvests have halted the production of which breakfast cereal?
10. GB lost a play off for the world group in the Fed Cup to which team?
11. what was the score in the Man Utd. v. Aston Villa match?
12. How many League titles has Sir Alex Ferguson won with Man Utd.?
13. Which Hollywood actress was arrested for disorderly conduct?
14. Which film topped the Time Out poll of the most romantic films of all time?
15. Who was controversially overlooked for the position of the chairman of Sport England?
16. ITV were criticized for excessively promoting what on the Alan Titchmarsh show?
17. Who last week offered to pay just a quarter of his trial costs?
18. The search for whom was officially called off last week?
19. Which two teams will contest the University Challenge final on Monday?
20. Who said GCSE Maths is too easy after sitting the paper and getting A*?
21. Which European country’s parliament gave its final approval to the Gay marriage bill?
22. How many of Mahmood al Zarroni’s horses tested positive for steroids?
23. The government appeal was rejected over what?
24. Ritchie Havens who passed away last week was famously the first act on what or where?
25. Lushan was hit by an earthquake last week – in which country?
26. what was the score in the Bayern Munich v. Barcelona European Champions League semi final? 27. Which large union is balloting members about a strike? 28. Who was re-arrested over sexual allegations last week?
29. A factory supplying which retailer collapsed in Bangladesh last week?
30. Which car topped a UK motorists satisfaction poll last week?
31. Who announced that they will split after a farewell tour in December
32. Which Hollywood actor announced he was taking part in the £1 a day food challenge?
33. How many games has Luis Suarez been suspended for ?
34. Last week which welsh legend was added to the British and Irish Lions coaching team?
35. What was the score in the Borussia Dortmund v. Real Madrid Champions League match?
36. Which D Day beach has been omitted from a French D Day tourism campaign?
37. The US Justice Deartment have launched legal proceedings against which sportsman?
38. A UN peacekeeping force has been approved for which African country?
39. Which has been voted Britain’s best University for Quality of Life?
40. On whose tour bus were drugs found in Sweden?
41. What was the score in the Europa League match between Chelsea and Basle?
42. What punishment was handed to Mahmood al Zarooni ?
43. Which rugby player suffered only minor injuries after being hit by a bus during a pub crawl?
44. who was charged by the CPS on 11 counts of Indecent assault?
45. Who will feature on the new £5 note?
Answers>
Who or what are the following, and why have they been in the news?
1. Named as Britain’s Richest man
2. Conservative local councillor dismissed from party for racist statements
3. New album by Michael Bublé
4. Re elected as president of Italy
5. Player bitten by Luis Suarez
6. Won man’s race in London marathon
7. Won women’s race in London Marathon
8. Knocked Mark Williams out of world snooker championship
9. John Galliano has been hired to teach some classes there
10. He knocked John Higgins out of the world snooker championship
11. Banned weight loss drug taken by Sarah Houston who sadly passed away
12. The FBI’s most wanted since Osama Bin Laden, arrested in Nicaragua
13. Man found guilty of selling fake bomb detectors
14. Hit the fastest century in history in 30 balls
15. Film starring Steve Coogan as ‘King of Soho’ Paul Raymond
16. New BBC Director of Television
17. Announced her retirement from Taekwondo
18. The new percussion instrument for the 2016 FIFA world cup, set to be the ‘new vuvuzela’
19. Has been asked by president of Italy to form a government
20. The Sun’s Royal editor who has been charged with paying public officials
21. Brother of Boris – Cameron’s new Head of Policy
22. Mahmood Al Zarooni’s training yard, closed by Sheikh Mohammed
23. Deal or No Deal winner who did not declare her winnings found guilty of benefit fraud
24. He knocked Neil Robertson out of the world snooker championships
25. Chef who joined the judging panel for Masterchef semi finals, attracting attention through very sharp comments
26. Leader of Birmingham Terrorist cell, jailed for life.
In Other news
1. 3 - 1
2. She was artificially inseminated
3. Novak Djokovic
4. Celtic
5. 2 - 2
6. Cardiff City
7. Vettel – 1, Raikkonen – 2, Grosjean - 3
8. Paul di Resta
9. Weetabix Minis and Oatibix
10. Argentina
11. 3 - 0
12. 13
13. Reece Witherspoon
14. Brief Encounter
15. Tanni Grey Thompson
16. Patsy Kensit on Weightwatchers
17. Chris Huhne
18. April Jones
19. University College London and Manchester
20. Dara O’Briain
21. France
22. 11
23. Abu Qatada deportation
24. Woodstock festival
25. CHina
26. 4 - 0
27. Postal workers union
28. Freddie Starr
29. Primark
30. Skoda Yeti
31. JLS
32. Ben Affleck
33. 10 games
34. Neil Jenkins
35. 4 - 1
36. Sword Beach
37. Lance Armstrong
38. Mali
39. University of East Anglia
40. Justin Beiber
41. 2 - 1
42. He was banned for 8 years
43. Danny Cipriani
44. Max Clifford
45. Winston Churchill
100 things to do before you die quiz
I’m not asking for sympathy. Well, not really. I’m sitting here in bed, with my laptop, feeling very sorry for myself. Being as Wednesday was the First Day of Summer, my annual winter cold, showing a sense of irony, has decided to finally put in an appearance. Mary’s taking three of the girls to London on a shopping trip today – (wild horses wouldn’t drag me, before you ask) – and so they needed taking to Swansea to catch the Mega Bus at 4:30 this morning. So there you are. I’m knackered, I’m ill, and I’m feeling sad. Yesterday I learned that a dear friend from University, with whom I lost contact many years ago, passed away about 18 months ago. Even though we’d had no contact for well over two decades I can confidently say that the world is a sadder and worse place without her in it.
I’m not a great one for taking online ‘quizzes’ but in my current mood I thought it might be interesting to try one of these = How Many of the 100 Things to Do Before you Die Have you Actually done ? – in an attempt to count my blessings, and try to look on the bright side. So this is the result: -
1. Attend at least one major sporting event:
(Yes – 1983 FA Cup Final Replay)
2. Throw a huge party and invite every one of your friends.(Nope – too miserly)
3. Swim with a dolphin.(No – still can’t swim)
4. Skydive.(Not quite, but I have gone paragliding – loved it.)
5. Have your portrait painted.(No, although I have drawn a self portrait)
6. Learn to speak a foreign language and make sure you use it.
(Yes – French used on school trips – a little Spanish used at the Mother in Law’s – a little Icelandic – never used)
7. Go skinny-dipping at midnight in the South of France.(love to say yes – but no.)
8. Watch the launch of the space shuttle.(No, and it ain’t gonna happen now)
9. Spend a whole day eating junk food without feeling guilty.(See above)
10. Be an extra in a film.
(Done it. Last Days of Pompeii – 1983- long story)
11. Tell someone the story of your life, sparing no details.(No – very boring anyway)
12. Make love on a forest floor.(No)
13. Make love on a train.
(Erm – can I skip the question please?)
14. Learn to rollerblade.
(Yes, I’m rather good too)
15. Own a room with a view.
(Yes – although it is a view of Port Talbot Steelworks)
16. Brew your own beer.
(Yes, back in the late 80s. Heaven knows why, I’m virtually teetotal.)
17. Learn how to take a compliment.(Umm – still struggling there, I think)
18. Buy a round-the-world air ticket and a rucksack, and run away.(no)
19. Grow a beard and leave it for at least a month.
( Yes – witness my early Noughties ill advised David Brent period)
20. Give your mother a dozen red roses and tell her you love her.
(Yes)
21. Be a member of the audience in a TV show.
(Yes, several , but appeared on shows more times than I’ve been in the audience)
22. Put your name down to be a passenger on the first tourist shuttle to the moon.(Yeah, sure, next time I have a few million dollars to spare I will)
23. Send a message in a bottle.
(Yes. Still waiting for a reply)
24. Ride a camel into the desert.(Done it in Whipsnade Zoo. Does that count?)
25. Get to know your neighbors.
(Yes – although more in the last house, to be honest)
26. Plant a tree.
(yes)
27. Learn not to say yes when you really mean no.(No, and probably never will)
28. Write a fan letter to your all-time favorite hero or heroine.(No. )
29. Visit the House of Commons to see how Parliament really works (No – despite being a Londoner by birth)
30. Learn to ballroom dance properly.(No – two left feet and one left brain)
31. Eat jellied eels from a stall in London.
(Yes – waste of time. Disgusting)
32. Be the boss.(no)
33. Fall deeply in love -- helplessly and unconditionally.
(Yes)
34. Ride the Trans-Siberian Express across Asia. (no, but I’d love to)
35. Sit on a jury.(Not quite. was called up for service, but never got into the court room to see a case)
36. Write the novel you know you have inside you.
(It’s called “Ermine Stone and the Iron Spider” and it’s available on your kindle)
37. Go to Walden Pond and read Thoreau while drifting in a canoe.(Where the hell is Walden Pond?)
38. Stay out all night dancing and go to work the next day without having gone home (just once).
(Yes, but there wasn’t much dancing involved thank God)
39. Drink beer at Oktoberfest in Munich.(Nein!)
40. Be someone's mentor.
(Yes)
41. Shower in a waterfall.(no)
42. Ask for a raise.
(Yes – from a temp agency in Ealing Broadway in 1986. I didn’t get it)
43. Learn to play a musical instrument with some degree of skill.(No)
44. Teach someone illiterate to read.
(yes)
45. Be one of the first to take a flight on the new Airbus A380.(no)
46. Spend a night in a haunted house -- by yourself.(Not by myself – and I’m not sensitive enough to have seen the ghost. Shame)
47. Write down your personal mission statement, follow it, and revise it from time to time.(No)
48. See a lunar eclipse.
(yes)
49. Spend New Year's in an exotic location.
(Alicante count?)
50. Get passionate about a cause and spend time helping it, instead of just thinking about it.
(yes)
51. Experience weightlessness.(no)
52. Sing a great song in front of an audience.
(Yes – although the word ‘sing’ is stretching it a bit)
53. Ask someone you've only just met to go on a date.
(Yes – Mary. We’ve been married for almost 27 years so I think it worked)
54. Drive across America from coast to coast.(No – I would LOVE to)
55. Make a complete and utter fool of yourself.
(Are you kidding? Just watch my appearance on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire)
56. Own one very expensive but absolutely wonderful business suit.(no)
57. Write your will.(No. I should do. )
58. Sleep under the stars.
(Yes. I watched a wonderful meteor shower then fell asleep on the beach by Rhodes Old Town)
59. Take a ride on the highest roller coaster in the country.(No. Could do – it wouldn’t bother me, but just haven’t)
60. Learn how to complain effectively -- and do it!(Ah – the fact is that I am VERY good at complaining in writing – and absolute pants at doing it face to face)
61. Go wild in Rio during Carnival.( No – but wouldn’t mind)
62. Spend a whole day reading a great novel.
(Yes – umpteen times)
63. Forgive your parents.
(Yes. Nothing to forgive Mum for, and made my peace with Dad before he died. Long story. Move on please)
64. Learn to juggle with three balls.(Infuriatingly, no. I just cannot master it)
65. Drive the Autobahn.(nein)
66. Find a job you love.(No, not yet)
67. Spend Christmas on the beach drinking pina coladas.(no)
68. Overcome your fear of failure.(Why? Fear can drive you on to achievement sometimes.)
69. Raft through the Grand Canyon.( Not happening. Can’t swim)
70. Donate money and put your name on something: a college scholarship, a bench in the park.(No)
71. Buy your own house and then spend time making it into exactly what you want.
(Half done. Bought the house, but that took all our money and so we can’t afford to make it exactly how we want)
72. Grow a garden.(No. Alan Tichmarsh I’m not.)
73. Spend three months getting your body into optimum shape.(No. Good one that. Never gonna happen)
74. Drive a convertible with the top down and music blaring.
(Yes. Good fun)
75. Accept yourself for who you are.(Yes)
76. Learn to use a microphone and give a speech in public.
(Yes)
77. Scuba dive off Australia's Great Barrier Reef.(No, and it ain’t gonna happen neither)
78. Go up in a hot-air balloon.(No, but it’s on the list)
79. Attend one really huge rock concert.
(Yes – Pink Floyd – The Wall – 1981)
80. Kiss someone you've just met on a blind date.
(Yes – blush! There was a second date too, but we left it there by mutual consent)
81. Be able to handle: your tax forms, Jehovah's Witnesses, your banker, telephone solicitors.(No)
82. Give to a charity -- anonymously.
(yes)
83. Lose more money than you can afford at roulette in Vegas.(I can tell you now that’s never gonna happen)
84. Let someone feed you peeled, seedless grapes.(Diabetic , so it ain’t happening now)
85. Kiss the Blarney stone and develop the gift of gab.(no)
86. Fart in a crowded space.
(Pass. Move on)
87. Make love on the kitchen floor.
(see above)
88. Go deep sea fishing and eat your catch.(no)
89. Create your own web site.
(Yes - see the link to My Quiz Pages)
90. Visit the Holy Land.(no – would love to)
91. Make yourself spend a half-day at a concentration camp and swear never to forget.(See above)
92. Run to the top of the Statue of Liberty.(No – walking was enough for me)
93. Create your Family Tree.
(Yes – great fun)
94. Catch a ball in the stands of a major league baseball stadium.(No, and not going to happen neither)
95. Make a hole-in-one.(no)
96. Ski a double-black diamond run.(no)
97. Learn to bartend.
(Yes – Harrow Leisure Centre bar – New Year’s Eve 1983)
98. Run a marathon.(No , but I have run charity 10ks)
99. Look into your child's eyes, see yourself, and smile.
(Yes, and I am so lucky to have had 5 children to do it with)
100. Reflect on your greatest weakness, and realize how it is your greatest strength.(No – sounds too much like psychobabble to me)
Hmm – done about 2/5 of them. I’m not sure if that’s supposed to be good, bad or indifferent.
Well, I have three quizzes to write this weekend, so I think that I’ll just leave these little reflections there. Have a great weekend, and please make the best of all the opportunities that are available to you.
I’m not a great one for taking online ‘quizzes’ but in my current mood I thought it might be interesting to try one of these = How Many of the 100 Things to Do Before you Die Have you Actually done ? – in an attempt to count my blessings, and try to look on the bright side. So this is the result: -
1. Attend at least one major sporting event:
(Yes – 1983 FA Cup Final Replay)
2. Throw a huge party and invite every one of your friends.(Nope – too miserly)
3. Swim with a dolphin.(No – still can’t swim)
4. Skydive.(Not quite, but I have gone paragliding – loved it.)
5. Have your portrait painted.(No, although I have drawn a self portrait)
6. Learn to speak a foreign language and make sure you use it.
(Yes – French used on school trips – a little Spanish used at the Mother in Law’s – a little Icelandic – never used)
7. Go skinny-dipping at midnight in the South of France.(love to say yes – but no.)
8. Watch the launch of the space shuttle.(No, and it ain’t gonna happen now)
9. Spend a whole day eating junk food without feeling guilty.(See above)
10. Be an extra in a film.
(Done it. Last Days of Pompeii – 1983- long story)
11. Tell someone the story of your life, sparing no details.(No – very boring anyway)
12. Make love on a forest floor.(No)
13. Make love on a train.
(Erm – can I skip the question please?)
14. Learn to rollerblade.
(Yes, I’m rather good too)
15. Own a room with a view.
(Yes – although it is a view of Port Talbot Steelworks)
16. Brew your own beer.
(Yes, back in the late 80s. Heaven knows why, I’m virtually teetotal.)
17. Learn how to take a compliment.(Umm – still struggling there, I think)
18. Buy a round-the-world air ticket and a rucksack, and run away.(no)
19. Grow a beard and leave it for at least a month.
( Yes – witness my early Noughties ill advised David Brent period)
20. Give your mother a dozen red roses and tell her you love her.
(Yes)
21. Be a member of the audience in a TV show.
(Yes, several , but appeared on shows more times than I’ve been in the audience)
22. Put your name down to be a passenger on the first tourist shuttle to the moon.(Yeah, sure, next time I have a few million dollars to spare I will)
23. Send a message in a bottle.
(Yes. Still waiting for a reply)
24. Ride a camel into the desert.(Done it in Whipsnade Zoo. Does that count?)
25. Get to know your neighbors.
(Yes – although more in the last house, to be honest)
26. Plant a tree.
(yes)
27. Learn not to say yes when you really mean no.(No, and probably never will)
28. Write a fan letter to your all-time favorite hero or heroine.(No. )
29. Visit the House of Commons to see how Parliament really works (No – despite being a Londoner by birth)
30. Learn to ballroom dance properly.(No – two left feet and one left brain)
31. Eat jellied eels from a stall in London.
(Yes – waste of time. Disgusting)
32. Be the boss.(no)
33. Fall deeply in love -- helplessly and unconditionally.
(Yes)
34. Ride the Trans-Siberian Express across Asia. (no, but I’d love to)
35. Sit on a jury.(Not quite. was called up for service, but never got into the court room to see a case)
36. Write the novel you know you have inside you.
(It’s called “Ermine Stone and the Iron Spider” and it’s available on your kindle)
37. Go to Walden Pond and read Thoreau while drifting in a canoe.(Where the hell is Walden Pond?)
38. Stay out all night dancing and go to work the next day without having gone home (just once).
(Yes, but there wasn’t much dancing involved thank God)
39. Drink beer at Oktoberfest in Munich.(Nein!)
40. Be someone's mentor.
(Yes)
41. Shower in a waterfall.(no)
42. Ask for a raise.
(Yes – from a temp agency in Ealing Broadway in 1986. I didn’t get it)
43. Learn to play a musical instrument with some degree of skill.(No)
44. Teach someone illiterate to read.
(yes)
45. Be one of the first to take a flight on the new Airbus A380.(no)
46. Spend a night in a haunted house -- by yourself.(Not by myself – and I’m not sensitive enough to have seen the ghost. Shame)
47. Write down your personal mission statement, follow it, and revise it from time to time.(No)
48. See a lunar eclipse.
(yes)
49. Spend New Year's in an exotic location.
(Alicante count?)
50. Get passionate about a cause and spend time helping it, instead of just thinking about it.
(yes)
51. Experience weightlessness.(no)
52. Sing a great song in front of an audience.
(Yes – although the word ‘sing’ is stretching it a bit)
53. Ask someone you've only just met to go on a date.
(Yes – Mary. We’ve been married for almost 27 years so I think it worked)
54. Drive across America from coast to coast.(No – I would LOVE to)
55. Make a complete and utter fool of yourself.
(Are you kidding? Just watch my appearance on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire)
56. Own one very expensive but absolutely wonderful business suit.(no)
57. Write your will.(No. I should do. )
58. Sleep under the stars.
(Yes. I watched a wonderful meteor shower then fell asleep on the beach by Rhodes Old Town)
59. Take a ride on the highest roller coaster in the country.(No. Could do – it wouldn’t bother me, but just haven’t)
60. Learn how to complain effectively -- and do it!(Ah – the fact is that I am VERY good at complaining in writing – and absolute pants at doing it face to face)
61. Go wild in Rio during Carnival.( No – but wouldn’t mind)
62. Spend a whole day reading a great novel.
(Yes – umpteen times)
63. Forgive your parents.
(Yes. Nothing to forgive Mum for, and made my peace with Dad before he died. Long story. Move on please)
64. Learn to juggle with three balls.(Infuriatingly, no. I just cannot master it)
65. Drive the Autobahn.(nein)
66. Find a job you love.(No, not yet)
67. Spend Christmas on the beach drinking pina coladas.(no)
68. Overcome your fear of failure.(Why? Fear can drive you on to achievement sometimes.)
69. Raft through the Grand Canyon.( Not happening. Can’t swim)
70. Donate money and put your name on something: a college scholarship, a bench in the park.(No)
71. Buy your own house and then spend time making it into exactly what you want.
(Half done. Bought the house, but that took all our money and so we can’t afford to make it exactly how we want)
72. Grow a garden.(No. Alan Tichmarsh I’m not.)
73. Spend three months getting your body into optimum shape.(No. Good one that. Never gonna happen)
74. Drive a convertible with the top down and music blaring.
(Yes. Good fun)
75. Accept yourself for who you are.(Yes)
76. Learn to use a microphone and give a speech in public.
(Yes)
77. Scuba dive off Australia's Great Barrier Reef.(No, and it ain’t gonna happen neither)
78. Go up in a hot-air balloon.(No, but it’s on the list)
79. Attend one really huge rock concert.
(Yes – Pink Floyd – The Wall – 1981)
80. Kiss someone you've just met on a blind date.
(Yes – blush! There was a second date too, but we left it there by mutual consent)
81. Be able to handle: your tax forms, Jehovah's Witnesses, your banker, telephone solicitors.(No)
82. Give to a charity -- anonymously.
(yes)
83. Lose more money than you can afford at roulette in Vegas.(I can tell you now that’s never gonna happen)
84. Let someone feed you peeled, seedless grapes.(Diabetic , so it ain’t happening now)
85. Kiss the Blarney stone and develop the gift of gab.(no)
86. Fart in a crowded space.
(Pass. Move on)
87. Make love on the kitchen floor.
(see above)
88. Go deep sea fishing and eat your catch.(no)
89. Create your own web site.
(Yes - see the link to My Quiz Pages)
90. Visit the Holy Land.(no – would love to)
91. Make yourself spend a half-day at a concentration camp and swear never to forget.(See above)
92. Run to the top of the Statue of Liberty.(No – walking was enough for me)
93. Create your Family Tree.
(Yes – great fun)
94. Catch a ball in the stands of a major league baseball stadium.(No, and not going to happen neither)
95. Make a hole-in-one.(no)
96. Ski a double-black diamond run.(no)
97. Learn to bartend.
(Yes – Harrow Leisure Centre bar – New Year’s Eve 1983)
98. Run a marathon.(No , but I have run charity 10ks)
99. Look into your child's eyes, see yourself, and smile.
(Yes, and I am so lucky to have had 5 children to do it with)
100. Reflect on your greatest weakness, and realize how it is your greatest strength.(No – sounds too much like psychobabble to me)
Hmm – done about 2/5 of them. I’m not sure if that’s supposed to be good, bad or indifferent.
Well, I have three quizzes to write this weekend, so I think that I’ll just leave these little reflections there. Have a great weekend, and please make the best of all the opportunities that are available to you.
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