Compliments of the Season

Maybe it’s the Christmas spirit. Maybe I’m just getting soft in my old age. Probably it’s a combination of both. Let me explain. Last night was probably my last quiz of 2016, and it was of course in Aberavon Rugby Club. Dai Norwich was question master, and he gave us a Christmas themed quiz. Yeah, I know, I’ve never been the biggest fan of themed quizzes, but fair enough, tis the season to be jolly and all that. Fair play to the rugby club, they provided a very nice buffet to say thanks to all the people who turn up to the quiz, week in, week out. Now, in one of the rounds, Dai asked this question –

“In which year was London’s last Frost Fair? If you’re within 3 years you’ll get 1 point, and if you’re spot on you’ll get two.”

Many years ago I studied London Bridge as my specialist subject for a well known quiz show. So I knew that the icing up of the Thames for the last ever frost fair inflicted mortal wounds on old London Bridge – albeit that it was over a decade before it was finally replaced. I fairly confidently gave the date of 1814. Dai gave the answer – “Two teams of you were actually very close with 1814, but it was in fact 1813.”

Which is where we come to my point. You see, I was pretty certain it was 1814 – and I’ve checked this morning – and time was that I would have argued pointlessly with Dai until I was blue in the face. Time was I would have waved my metaphorical quiz credentials in his face, and insisted (to no avail) that we be given the points. But last night I just sat there, grinned and bore it. This means one of two things – either I’m growing up, or it must be Christmas Time.

Thanks for staying with the blog this year, and my compliments of the season to all of you.