Thursday first, Steve's in the house along with myself and Robson. Mike is once more surplus to Lady & Tramps requirements and joins us to make four. Siobhan declares that Steve seems to sense when she is going to set a TV/films round and turns up accordingly. Truth is he has been team bonding in London and is still on his way home. Photographic evidence of Daren's op scar is produced, he hopes to get along to the Smugglers on Gold Cup/Paddy's day.
Pictures play to a strength as well, images of little doggies.
Some uncertainty between cocker/springer spaniel but other wise plain sailing and full marks.
Current affairs includes this week's hot topic in the O'Neill household, the collapse of Gozo's azure window. Mike chips in on a couple including one about the Imperial War Museum. Unable to get the African airport with a crap runway (Lagos), too many likely contenders, or that Rochdale has banned swearing in the streets, good luck enforcing that one. Two other gender equality questions are also missed, a drop relative to recent standards.
Twenty out of twenty on the above mentioned TV/films round without breaking sweat.
Shocked to find that that the Connections round is already 6 questions old by the time I return from buying a round. The team has already established that Batman is the answer to Question 10, but I am able to fill in two gaps with General Gordon and Maureen O'Hara. The former subsequently turns up again on Saturday.
Ten point questions negotiated successfully. Brighton Rock had to be the percentage bet for the Graham Greene book featuring Ida Arnold, and all pretty sure that The Sheffield Steelers play Ice Hockey.
Chain letters sorted out much better this week, full marks on questions covering Billy Goats Gruff, lobsters, mountains. sleeves, castles, inhalers, indian bread, school days off, plastic receptacles, shoulder decorations and listening. Plenty of variation.
Only one real stumbling block on the Jeopardy Round this week, not prepared to guess at the English translation of 'Dachshund' and probably don't have to. Turns out to be Badger Hound.
Slight slip between OMD's 'Joan of Arc' and 'Maid of Orleans' but otherwise good on the music round. A decent win, 6 clear of second place. Everyone contributed enough to suggest that it might have been a different story with less of us.
I often end up with at least one cryptic note that I can't remember the significance of, but this week's is up there with the best. 'Mary's dad is an Iran ayatollah's little sister'. Any offers from people there as to what this was about, or indeed anybody else?
In other news, one of the Anoraks has extended an invitation to join his team for a wholly music quiz in Cheam on Weds 19 April. £5 a head for St Raphael's Hospital, teams of up to 8.
Onto Saturday, myself and Robson joined by Clare and Jane. The wall display behind handy for the subsequent astronomy questions.
Eight rounds of ten questions covering good old fashioned quiz subjects, Films/History/Food & Drink/Art & Lit/Sport/Geography/Science & Nature/Gen Knowledge. Joker for double points on selected round. 20 songs, artist only required, to finish.
Fair play to the quizmaster, who is known for revelling in setting difficult questions, some very good questions including ones that can be solved with logic and reason, or guessed as it is sometimes known. Could perhaps have had a few more easier ones, at least one team scored zero on the first round. We scored a more than decent 7 out of 10 in all 4 of the first half rounds. Delighted to report that we got the Harvey Wallbanger question correct, overturning years of obstinately getting this one wrong. Believe it or not Siobhan's team couldn't remember it! She may also have a recognised a question about peas, we somehow didn't even though it was suggested and also fell for a Winston Churchill Bear Trap. If it looks, sounds or smells like a Bear trap then it probably is a Bear trap. 4th place at halfway, but all 3 ahead of us have played their joker and only The Quizacles 11 points ahead look difficult to catch.
Half time food is another unqualified success for the kitchen ladies, chicken in white wine sauce followed by apple/raspberry strudel with custard. Apparently kitchen ladies have long memories and at least one still harbours a grudge that they were referred to as old in a previous year's blog! We naturally quickly put this down to Kevster denying any knowledge ourselves. Whilst we are on the subject a big up to Kevster for the use of his BT subscription to watch not only Man City 5 Monaco 3, but also Barcelona 6 PSG 1.
Sport turned out to be our poorest round, only 5 out of 10. Other teams actually all got less, except an 8 for The Quizacles increasing their lead to 14. We managed 8 for each of the remaining regular rounds (doubled up for Geography) to their 7 each time.
Memorable correct answers include Filo Pastry, Sapphire, Ivanhoe and Parsec, one each see if you can guess who. Only 3 adrift going into the music...
Local people still remember the year when this same quizmaster said of the music round, 'I don't need the name of the pieces just the composer and the year'. Thankfully this year it is pop/rock and only the artists are needed.
We missed only two, agonisingly at it turned out. Instead of McFly/Pat Boone we should have stuck with Busted/Bobby Darin, our first thoughts. Quizacles scored 16 taking it by 1 point, a couple of boxes of Quality Street our consolation prize. I earned some kudos from the evening's host for being the onlyone to recognise the final tune as Looking Glass. A few familiar faces from the PA stopped off at our table for a friendly chat. And a couple of bottles won in the raffle rounded off a good evening for all concerned
Graham
Lots to take in there but I did and do know that a dachshund is a badger hound.
ReplyDeleteWell done to all concerned
Great stuff. No answer on why the pictures didn't work - jpg normally ok and entirely baffled on Mary's dad. Plus ca change.
ReplyDeletePictures now show on my pc but not ipad. May be a tablet thing.
ReplyDelete