'The Result Of Last Years 'Operation Spread Christmas Spirit Campaign''

Hi all!

I have just remembered that I have not yet given you any feedback on the result of my 'Spread Christmas Spirit' campaign last year. To refresh your memories, I spent most of Christmas Eve last year walking the streets popping cards signed 'From Santa' into the letterboxes of people I do not know who had made a good effort decorating their homes with lights and decorations. I also dropped off two 'Secret Santa' gifts - one of which was a nice bottle of wine - as gifts to those I thought had made the best efforts of all.

Well, I can tell you that the response I got from people last year was AMAZING! Yes, NOT ONE CARD nor acknowledgment did I get back for my 46 cards and two prezzies! I had to laugh - what a mug I was walking the ends of the earth delivering cards to (hopefully) put smiles on faces over the festive season on a cold winters night! The previous year I delivered a few less cards ( I think - can't remember now?) and got 7 back - some of which I uploaded here but last year my efforts fell on deaf ears...

To be fair, I did deliver the cards on Christmas Eve so there would not be time after that to post me a card back ( my name and address is always on the reverse of each card as I do not wish to scare anyone) but you would have thought that SOMEONE would have written me a letter or sent me a card or note after Christmas to say how much they had enjoyed it or similar, wouldn't you?

Time is going to be at a premium this year and so I don't know if I will get the chance to write out loads of cards like I did last year. I could include my e mail address in the cards or on the back of the letters to encourage a response but the whole idea of my campaign is to try and get people to engage once more in a traditional Christmas - make an effort to do something festive to interact with their neighbours! I HATE the fact that Christmas card writing is dying off and being replaced by those animated e-mail cards ( though they are lovely!) because cards on the walls or on the mantlepiece are part of what make a Christmas scene and a jolly room to open presents in on Christmas Day. Cards everywhere show that you are thought of, loved and valued and are a permanent reminder over the festive season of that. E mail cards are lovely but once you have seen them they 'live' only on the Internet and even then I'm not sure you can keep them forever, can you?

I used to put up ALL the Christmas cards I had EVER been sent when I was a kid each year! Yes, I did! (lol) The last year I did it I had cards all over the entire expanse of my bedroom walls about two thirds of the way down... The walls of my bedroom are decorated these days with posters, badges, picture disc records and all kinds of other memorabilia and so I can't do that anymore but I still have 100's of Christmas cards from my past...

Oh well, let's see how things pan out this year? Having lost two dear friends I am going to have to work at being my usual happy self this Christmas but I'm going to manage it because I know that is what they would want... More soon.

'Here We Go Again!'

Hi everyone! I hope that this post finds you in good health and in during a good time in your life. 2016 has been a VERY emotional year for me as I have very sadly lost two friends of long-standing this year.

Noreen at home on her 90'th Birthday

My friend, Noreen Leach died on April the 9th aged 98. Noreen was kind of a 'substitute Gran' to me and I kind of 'adopted' her when my real Gran died in the 1980's. I spend the next 30 years or so visiting Noreen at her home in Old Church Rd, Hollington and used to make a big effort each year to decorate her house with Christmas decorations and lights as if it were my house. Noreen used to love it and because I have never had a home of my own so did I. We used to spend many a Christmas sitting in her front room with the lights twinkling away just talking and sipping a Sherry. It was all old fashioned and traditional and made both of us feel happy. Sadly, due to her age, Noreen had to go into a nursing home for the last five or so years of her life and so both of us missed out on the enjoyment all my efforts and each others company provided towards the end...

You can see a brief video of Noreen and I at Christmas' here. Lots of happy, innocent memories! I think Noreen used to like to think of me as her 'toy boy' sometimes but she was always just a special friend to me...
Losing her I have also lost any connection with the rest of her family. They were very tolerant and understanding including me in their plans for Noreen's sake but I guess they would not be human if they did not wonder about my motives as a young man hanging about with a much older lady and I kind of knew at her funeral that I was once again 'an outsider' and not a member of the family, you know? Still, I loved Noreen and had many happy times with her and all of them. I have never been interested in money (other than it can make things possible that cannot be without it) and would always choose having someone in my life to having their money or possessions...

To try and make it easier to write this difficult first post I'm listening to something suitably old
fashioned in the shape of Ray Anthony! Yes, I bought up a load of Christmas CD's earlier in the year and quite a few of them are old orchestral, waltz style CD's. I think I would have loved the romantic era of ballroom dancing! I know I certainly found a lot of the ladies at the 'War & Peace Revival' I went to a few years ago much more attractive in their frilly skirts and cute hats than I do todays 'bovver boot' tattoo's and trousers lot! Sexist? Well, maybe but I guess I just love the illusion of a pretty lady dressing to look feminine and sweet...

The second person to have died on me this year was also a friend of mine for over 30 years. Alan Gaywood was about as far removed from the 'flash harry' and 'egotistical twit' that I am as you could meet. Alan was a true 'rock' and I saw him once a week almost every week for 30 odd years. He died very suddenly from an epileptic attack on July 1st and I am still struggling to get over his loss. Having a quiet, loyal and tolerant person like Al in your life one minute and then not the next is a HUGE shock to the system and I have felt a bit 'haunted' by him and memories of him since he died. There seems to be another special memory around every corner, you know?

Alan Gaywood in January This Year

My Christmas video single for Youtube this year 'You Can't Take Christmas Away From Me' was inspired by and written for Alan and I have been recording it over the last couple of months with SUPER Producer Harvey Summers at Broadoak Studios in Little Common. Harvey has done a BRILLIANT job on the song and I am now in need of working on a video for the song to upload to Youtube later this year. Watch this space for more on that as we get closer to the big day!

Well, that's my news. Sorry, it's not more upbeat but I promise not to depress you all with too much misery in the run up to Christmas so don't worry!

'The Usual Boxing Day Luck And Farewell For This Year'

Unsurprisingly. I failed to pick a single winner on the gee-gees at Kempton on Boxing Day... A decent win on Boxing Day is one of my most longed for things at Christmas time simply because I ALWAYS seem to have such bad luck each year. In over 30 odd years of gambling i do not remember a single winning Boxing Day!!

Still, I was reminded more so than ever this year by one of the lovely presents I got from a friend of why none of that matters a jot! Just take a look at this video to see why?

I hope each of you have at least one friend who cares for you as much as I do and never be afraid to tell someone how you feel about them - far better to speak and be heard than never to say what you really wanted someone to know!

As for other Christmas events this year, I managed to help send a couple of kids toys out to Africa for the kids out there this year after spotting an appeal on Streetlife.com, which was nice and have been promised some photos of the kids receiving them later on (so I may post them here next year).

On the 'Spread Christmas Spirit Campaign' front I've not had any cards through the post or letter-box as yet from any of the recipients but I'm sure I will get some response in time. If nothing else my 'campaign' is 'blooming good fun' and brings me closer to 'Santa' as in effect I am 'pre-empting his footsteps' - just using paths instead of roofs!

Well, I think that is about it for this years blogging! I wish all of you a FABULOUS New Years Eve (don't forget to look out for the lonely and isolated New Years Eve, eh?) and the very best wishes for a cracking 2016. Hopefully, fate allowing I will be back here next year with some more festive blogging to accompany the build up to the big day...

Love Tony xx

'MERRY CHRISTMAS! And An Update On 'Operation Spread Christmas Spirit'

Here we are again folks! As Noddy Holder would scream ...It's Christmasssssssss!!! HA HA HA

Well, it may not be the dream Christmas Day outside (grey, wet, miserable) and there may not be a hint of a snow flake but last night I had a rollicking lot of fun delivering 46 'Santa cards' and two 'Secret Santa' prezzie drops!

Oh yes! I was out for a good couple of hours under the cover of darkness 'delivering' cards to the houses of people I've never met. Why? Well, when people go out of their way to put on a lovely, festive light display or put a beautiful and welcoming looking Christmas Tree in their living room window I think its nice when someone also makes the effort to let them know that they have seen and ENJOYED their efforts! It really does make my Christmas special when I walk along the streets and see all of the funny displays, 'Santa stop here' signs and homes 'glowing' with festivity each year. I can often imagine the wonderful family get-togethers and meals that will ensue and almost get a charge to my 'human battery' when I think of how so many people are going to be happy in that environment over the next few days.

I know that not all 'get-togethers' or parties are happy ones and not all families get along well over the festive period but when, like me, you do not have a family of your own, do not own your own house, do not have a job or a proper place in society it is heart warming to see that at least in this world there ARE some who HAVE managed to achieve those things. I may be a lot of things (and I am certainly an awkward git) but I have never 'done jealousy' preferring instead to choose to be HAPPY for that person or persons. Things are never always what they seem, however, and those I look at who appear to have everything often do not or are unhappy. Well, I like to make sure that my actions at least put a smile on faces at this time of the year and 'creeping about at night trying to deliver cards allegedly from Santa himself' is my way of doing that!

I tell you what was SUCH fun the other night. Oh my GOODNESS! Today's letterboxes are C_R_A_P! (HA HA) How a lovely house worth zillions and zillions can have all the best mod cons and a swanky driveway and then have a really AWFUL letterbox is beyond me! Most of the letter boxes I discovered last night were REALLY hard to get letters through! No wonder most of people's mail arrives bent or damaged - you try being a Postman and see how you get on! (HA HA)

Then of course there are the other 'hazards' like being torn to shreds by Dogs or putting the letter through the box using your hand and not being able to free your hand again! When you are DESPERATELY trying to deliver to a house without making a sound or attracting any attention its NOT GOOD when the pesky security light comes on, followed by a dog biting your hand as you try to put the card in a SQUEAKY and ULTRA STIFF letterbox! By the time you as 'Santa' have managed to deliver your message of good will the Police are on the way and there is a searchlight and the sound of a S.W.A.T. team jumping out of a van ringing in your ears! Trying to tell the secret services that there is only a 'box of fruit jellies' in the box while you are flat on the ground with your hands behind your back is REALLY not in the festive spirit!!!

It was FUN though last night 'sculking about' in the shadows of people's homes! I felt like a right villain even though all I was trying to do was 'deliver a smile and some happiness'. At one house I was just about to sneak up the drive when I saw a man get out of the car parked in it!!! EEKK!!!
I nearly did a 'Jim Carrey' and dived into the nearest hedge but AMAZINGLY he didn't see me! After he went into the house, I carefully slid open the door and got into the porch. I had a bottle of wine dressed up to look like a Christmas cracker and a card for him (I felt his house was the best effort of all) and so I carefully laid it at the foot of one of the decorations he had put outside his front door!
There was a notice telling me to smile as I was on CCTV but I just had to trust in the magical fairy dust of good will I had sprinkled that I would not get rumbled!! HA HA

Mind you, if there is such an offense as 'delivering more Christmas spirit than is allowed' or 'being nice without a license' I will be the happiest man in court in January!!

All in all I dropped 46 Santa cards on doormats ready for discovery this morning in peoples homes and left another home a box of fruit jellies and a card on their doorstep. I also had a LONNNNGGG chat with a friendly fellow by the name of Andy who just happened to be passing. We talked a lot about Christmas, God, Religion and faith and shared some interesting views and ideas. Was it fate that I should run into Andy (a Christian) doing 'Santa's work' on Christmas Eve? Well, I guess you could see it that way!!!

Have a LOVELY day today people and keep rockin'!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

'A Christmas Update!'

Well, not long to go now! I hope you are all sorted with your Christmas preparations?

Now, a little word of advice for any of you 'dreading' the next few days...

People are what make Christmas what it is and it is purely down to YOU whether you enjoy it or not. we all moan about our relatives or get irritated by what others think, do and say but it is just as well to remind yourself BEFORE you open your mouth next time something similar happens that you are LUCKY to have those people in your life...

Many people have no-one and face a Christmas with nothing but the telly, a book or the radio for company. My 'little world' is shrinking fast and as I get older I'm becoming more and more aware of that. This blog, my video channel (Youtube Channel Maybrick44), my writing for 'Hastings Town' magazine and my creativity are all ways I use to help me deal with being single. Most of the year round it works well and I don't miss what I don't know - if you see what I mean?

These last few days though I have been to a fantastic get-together with my writing club (Shorelink Writers) for a Christmas meal in the 'Capital City of Christmas - Westfield' which was lovely and spent an evening with two of the most Christmassy friends I know in their beautifully decorated flat. Both evenings would be nothing, mean nothing without the human interaction so just you remember that next time 'the mother or father-in-law gets your goat', eh?

Right, that's my 'Christmas Sermon' to the nation for this year out of the way! (lol) Now I will tell you what I am planning for tonight!

I am HOPING that the weather will be good because I have (belatedly) been writing a lot of my 'To The Occupants' cards and hope to walk the streets late tonight 'delivering' cards to houses in and about my area that have made a great effort this year to put up Christmas decorations, lights and or a lovely Christmas Tree! I always sign these 'THANK YOU' cards 'From Santa' so I thought if I were to make the effort on Christmas Eve the recipients would literally wake up with a Christmas card fro Santa on their mat! How great an idea is that, eh? Ho! Ho! Ho! Doesn't even start to cover it, does it!!

I have written about 30 cards out so far (sadly, not as many as last years campaign but then I have not had the time to prepare this year) and hope to add a few more to that total today. Then, come the cover of darkness, I shall be off out with a sack over my back just like Santa! Mind you, I WILL be sticking to doors and letter boxes - I don't think I will try squeezing down chimneys or 'popping in' to leave my card by the Christmas Tree in the living room! I might be 100% genuine (and Christmas Potty!) but I doubt the local constabulary would see it that way and spending New Years Eve behind bars for having 'too much Christmas spirit' (in the non-alcoholic sense)' would not be much fun!

As with last year, creaking gates, tight 'Arkwright's till' like letter boxes and security lights will be my sworn enemy tonight so I'm hoping that the weather will be kind (fat chance!)...

Right, well I'm off to get writing and preparing - be fun to see if I get any cards back this time around? I think last year I 'delivered' about 55 cards and got 7 back..

'Tony's Christmas Quiz For You To Try'

Well, its just seven days now to the BIG day! Not really seemed as much like Christmas to me this year and we are nearly there now so I guess its going to take a miracle for me to REALLY get my usual buzz at this time of year...

Anyway, here as promised is the Christmas Quiz I put to my writing club members the other night. in hindsight, I think its probably a bit too hard to be a great quiz but have a go and see how you get on - its certainly more of a challenge than most quizzes and even if you don't know the answers you will learn a lot about Christmas by taking part!!

Tony May’s Christmas Quiz!

Round 1 – Christmas Traditions

Q 1-What actually happens to letters sent by children to Santa addressed to ‘The North Pole’?

A) The Post Office simply discards them at the local sorting office.

B) They are sent to The North Pole.

C) They are stored at the sorting office over Christmas and then re-cycled.

D) They are sent internally to the Post Office HQ where they are destroyed.

Q 2 – With what is it deemed unlucky to cut a mince pie?

A) A Knife

B) A Sword

C) An Axe

D) A Pikestaff

Q3 – With what purpose is Christmas pudding traditionally doused in flaming brandy?

A) The flaming brandy helps to enhance/hide the flavour of the pudding – many of which in Dickensian times may have been made with stale ingredients of fruit well past its best.

B) The flames are said to ward off evil spirits.

C) The tradition of doing so originated in the U.S. where the flaming of the pudding was said to signify ‘the eradication of sin and the birth of hope for goodness from then on’.

D) The flames are purely for show and always have been!

  

Q4 – Which group of people are said to have invented Carol Singing?

A) Servants

B) The Landed Gentry

C) Monks

D) Beggars

Q5 – The traditional period to sing carols begins on which date?

A) 21^st Dec

B) 22^nd of Dec

C) Christmas Eve

D) 19^th Dec

Q6 – If you are ‘Mumming’ at Christmas what in fact are you doing?

A) Being a VERY naughty boy or girl!

B) Visiting the home of your mother or wife’s mother

C) Taking part in an early version of pantomime

D) Using a LOT of bandages!

Q7 - What are the three items it is said Children should leave out for Father Christmas on Christmas Eve?

A) Sherry, Mince Pies And A Letter

B) Brandy, An Apple And Mince Pies

C) Mince Pies, Brandy & A Carrot

D) Brandy, Mince Pies & A Letter

Q8 – According to old Christmas superstitions what do all of the sheep in the fields do at midnight?

A) Turn and bow to the North

B) Turn and bow to the South

C) Turn and bow to the West

D) Turn and bow to the East

Q9 – What exactly is ‘posset’?

A) It is a medieval Apple Pie

B) It is a wooden cup specially carved each year for the purpose of celebrating the festive season. Family members would take turns in drinking from the posset before meals during the twelve days of Christmas.

C) It is a drink traditionally drunk on Christmas Eve made from milk combined with spices, lemon, sugar and other ingredients.

D) It is a long wooden bench made from Oak.

Q10 – Poinsettia’s are traditional Christmas plants but from which country do they originate?

A) Mexico

B) Spain

C) Brazil

D) Scotland

Round 2 – History

Q 1 – Where and when did the first recorded observance of Christmas take place?

A) AD 100 in Jerusalem

B) AD 340 in Vienna

C) AD 360 in Rome

D) AD 330 in Oslo

Q2 – Electric lights were first used to celebrate Christmas in which year?

A) 1879

B) 1880

C) 1881

D) 1882

Q3 - In Which Country was the first Christmas stamp issued in 1898?

A) England

B) France

C) Canada

D) The United States

Q4 – In what year was the first Christmas card created?

A) 1887

B) 1842

C) 1844

D) 1843

Q5 – The carol, ‘Silent Night’, was written by a Priest named Joseph Mohr. What nationality was he?

A) German

B) Czech

C) Swiss

D) Austrian

Q6 – Up until the 19^th century people would keep their decorations up until Candlemas Day. When exactly is ‘Candlemas Day’?

A) February 2^nd

B) January 31^st

C) February 4^th

D) January 25^th

Q7 – St Francis Of Assisi is said to have created the first nativity performance in 1223. In which country did this take place?

A) Italy

B) Greece

C) Portugal

D) Spain

Q8 – Why are there twelve days of Christmas?

A) Because it took the three kings twelve days to find the baby Jesus

B) Because the twelve days represent the twelve months in each year

C) Because it allows plenty of time for continuous feasting and merrymaking

D) Because (say someone present in the room) said there should be!

Q9 – The Christmas Pudding we know today started life as a kind of Christmas porridge. By what name was this porridge known?

A) Kasha

B) Frumenty

C) Groats

D) Quinoa

Q10 – When did Wassailing first become associated with Christmas?

A) The 1600’s

B) The 1500’s

C) The 1700’s

D) The 1400’s

Round 3 – Christmas Hits

Q1 – What was the Christmas No 1 Single in the U.K. in 1972?

Q2 – Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen was first No 1 at Christmas in 1975. In which year did it return to the top spot at Christmas when re-issued as part of a double a-sided single with the song, ‘These Are The Days Of Our Lives’?

Q3 - Who had a top ten hit in 1957 with the song, ‘Santa, Bring My Baby Back To Me’?

Q4 – The Smurfs had a 1978 Christmas hit with the song, ‘Christmas In Smurfland’. From which country do Smurfs originate?

Q5 – Which British band had a 1980 Christmas hit with the song ‘Never Mind The Presents’?

Q6 – In what year was ‘Do They know Its Christmas?’ by Band Aid first released?

Q7 – Who was the first British artist to have a No 1 Christmas hit in the U.K?

Q8 – Wizzard had the 1973 Christmas No 1 in the U.K. with the festive classic ‘I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday’. Name the group’s lead singer. * BONUS POINT if you can name the record label it was on.

Q9 – In 1983, Actors George Cole & Dennis Waterman teamed up to record the Christmas novelty song, ‘What are We Gonna Get Er’ Indoors’. The song was a cash-in from the duo’s popularity in the television programme ‘Minder’. We all remember that George Cole played Arthur Daley but what was the name of the character played by Dennis Waterman?

Q10 – Bob The Builder was number one at Christmas in 2000 with the song ‘Can We Fix it?’ Can you name the actor who was the voice of Bob?

Round 4 – Christmas Films

Q1 – Which Actor provides the voice of ‘Scrooge’ in the 1992 Film, ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’?

Q2 – What was the surname of he angel, ‘Clarence’ in the 1946 classic Christmas film ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’?

Q3 – In what year was the film ‘Elf’ starring Will Ferrell released?

Q4 – The 1947 film, ‘Miracle On 34^th Street’ starred Maureen O’ Hara, John Payne and Natalie Wood but which other Actor was it who won ‘Best Actor in a supporting role’ in the 1948 US Academy Awards for his portrayal of the lead character, Kris Kringle?

Q5 – What is the name of Bill Murray’s character in the 1988 film ‘Scrooged’?

Q6 – The 1988 film, ‘National Lampoons Christmas Vacation’ was the final film in the 58 year career of Mae Questel. Which well-known cartoon character was Mae the voice of?

Q7 – How many films in the ‘Home Alone’ series have been made so far?

Q8 – ‘Whoville’ is the fictional town in which Christmas film?

Q9 – What year was the animated short film ‘The Snowman’ released?

Q10 - Who plays the character Ted Hanover in the 1942 film ‘Holiday Inn’?

Round 5 Christmas Cryptic Capers!

The following are cryptic clues to objects found around the home at Christmas.

Q1. Appointments?

Q2. Dad's a barber?

Q3. Crazy?

Q4. Make a pig of yourself when you find them?

Q5. The orange song?

Q6. A pleasure in Ankara?

Q7. Vision for cockney?

Q8. Type that goes on your head?

Q9. Second visitor in a Christmas Carol?

Q10. Opposite a French stick?

Round 6 – Christmas Panto’s

Q1 – In which Shakespeare play does a variant of the Giant’s cry "Fee! Fie! Foe! Fum! I smell the blood of an Englishman" 

 from ‘Jack and The Beanstalk’ appear?

A) A Midsummer Nights Dream

B) Othello

C) As You Like It

D) King Lear

Q2 – In which Pantomime does the character ‘Ilnyeva Gettamanovic’ appear?

A) Puss In Boots

B) Cinderella

C) Peter Pan

D) Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs

Q3 – Richard Whittington was in fact a real person and the pantomime that bears his name is the only pantomime to be based on a true subject. ‘Dick’ was mayor of London three times. In which of these years was he NOT Mayor of London?

A) 1401

B) 1397

C) 1406

D) 1419 

Q4 – In which pantomime does the character ‘Columbine’ appear?

A) Jack & The Beanstalk

B) Mother Goose

C) Dick Whittington

D) Cinderella

Q5 – According to the website ‘It’s Behind You. Com’ which is the most popular pantomime of all?

A) Aladdin

B) Dick Whittington

C) Cinderella

D) Snow White

Q6 – In which year was ‘Peter Pan’ first performed at the Duke of York Theatre in London?

A) 1900

B) 1910

C) 1904

D) 1908

Q7 – The first recorded use of the word pantomime was in which of these years?

A) 1788

B) 1804

C) 1717

D) 1773

Q8 – In which country is the pantomime, ‘Aladdin’ traditionally set?

A) China

B) Japan

C) Hong Kong

D) Egypt

Q9 – Joseph Grimaldi (1779 – 1837) is considered to be the most ‘famous & popular’ Clown in harlequinade and pantomime of all time but what nationality was he?

A) Irish

B) English

C) Italian

D) Dutch

Q10 – In which pantomime does the character ‘Lagoon’ appear?

A) Aladdin

B) Peter Pan

C) Mother Goose

D) Babes In The Wood

Round 7 – Christmas True of False

Q1 – The Queen’s broadcast to the nation topped the ratings on Christmas Day 2014 with an average of 7.82 million viewers?

Q2 – Legendary soul singer James Brown died on Christmas Day, 2007.

Q3 – Charlie Chaplin, Dean Martin & eartha Kitt all died on Christmas Day.

Q4 – ‘Adeste Fideles’ is how you say ‘Merry Christmas’ in Spanish.

Q5 – The Book ‘Hercule Poirot’s Christmas’ was published in 1939 - the same year that the Second World War began!

Q6 – In Charles Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol’ Bob Cratchit’s second daughter is called ‘Belinda’

Q7 – Frank Kelly’s hilarious ‘Christmas Countdown’ was a top 20 hit in 1984.

Q8 – William Shakespeare wrote a Christmas poem entitled, ‘Song Of The Holly’

Q9 – Two five minute ‘Christmas Specials’ were made of the popular comedy series, ‘On The Buses’

Q10 – Leslie Neilsen played Santa in the 2000 TV Movie, ‘Santa Who?’                   

Stumped? Then here are the answers!!!!!

Q1 - B

Q2 – A

Q3 – B

Q4 – D (In The Middle Ages)

Q5 - A

Q6 – C

Q7 – C

Q8 – D

Q9 – C

Q10 - A

Round 2

Q1 – C

Q2 – D

Q3 – C

Q4 – D

Q5 – D

Q6 – A

Q7 – A

Q8 – A

Q 9 – B

Q10 - D

Round 3

Q1 – Long Haired Lover From Liverpool – Little Jimmy Osmond with the Mike Curb Congregation.

Q2 – 1991

Q3 – Elvis Presley

Q4 – Holland (The Netherlands)

Q5 – The Barron Knights

Q6 – 1984

Q7 – Dickie Valentine (in 1955 with ‘Christmas Alphabet’)

Q8 – Roy Wood & Harvest Records

Q9 – Terry McCann

Q10 – Neil Morrissey

Round 4

Q1 – Michael Caine

Q2 – Odbody

Q3 – 2003

Q4 – Edmund Gwenn

Q5 – Frank Cross

Q6 – Betty Boop

Q7 – 5

Q8 – How The Grinch Stole Christmas

Q9 – 1982

Q10 – Fred Astaire

Round 5

Q1. Dates

Q2. Parsnips

Q3. Nuts

Q4. Truffles

Q5. Tangerine

Q6. Turkish delight

Q7. Mince pies

Q8. Pork Pie

Q9. Christmas present

Q10. Shortbread

Round 6

Q1 – D

Q2 - B

Q3 – A

Q4 – B

Q5 – C

Q6 – C

Q7 – C

Q8 – A

Q9 – B

Q10 – B

Round 7

Q1 – TRUE

Q2 – FALSE – it was 2006!

Q3 – TRUE (Chaplin in 1977, Martin in 1995 and Kitt in 2008)

Q4 – FALSE – it is ‘Feliz Navidad’

Q5 - FALSE  - it was published in 1938

Q6 – TRUE

Q7 – FALSE – it only made no 26

Q8 – TRUE

Q9 – TRUE – In 1969 and 1972 – the 1969 version has been lost.

Q10 - TRUE

Do let me know how you get on?

'Fun At My Christmas Quiz!'

What a manic night last night was at my Christmas Quiz! I decided to surprise my fellow writers by turning up as Quizmaster dressed as Sherlock Holmes! As each new person arrived so I approached them looking intently through my magnifying glass at them 'just in case they happened to be Professor Moriarty in disguise'.

Now, most Women do not normally take kindly of being suspected of being a man - even less a fiend like Moriarty but I am well-known now for my 'quirky' sense of humour so my magnifying glass stayed clear of my rectum...

In fact, as you can see by these photos, my fellow Shorelink Writers all entered into the spirit of silliness and there was plenty of friendly banter all night. Fuelled by my 'chocolate rations' (I had placed a wrapped present on each of the four team tables beforehand) we managed to get through six rounds of questions in the two hours AND were treated to a strange 'bonus round' performance consisting of my old sparring partner, Alvin Culzac, and I 'singing' the carol 'Good King Wenceslas' with a subtle difference... well, not such a subtle difference actually as I was singing each first line in English whilst Alvin sung his

alternate lines in a 'mystery' different language? Aside from having to put up with our singing, the teams had the task of trying to work out which languages Alvin was singing in! I subsequently awarded 1 point for each correct answer with a bonus 5 points for those teams which recognised that Alvin was singing in Klingon! HA HA HA

Amazingly, TWO teams managed to identify the Klingon tongue but missed one or more of German, Italian & Spanish!!! What a bunch of 'Trekkies', eh?

 
As usual, in spite of my efforts to make it a more level playing field with some tricky multiple choice questions, Jenny's Team led pretty much throughout the contest and won with their heads in their chest by an impressive 10 points!

Sally Patricia Gardner (our Chair) is a 'Quiz Whizz' and ALWAYS ends up on the winning side no matter how difficult I try to make it for her!
I would shackle her chances by being in her team if I could but when its ME who is running the show even that's impossible!

In hindsight, I think I made the Quiz a tad too hard for 'most ordinary mortals' but its a very difficult task trying to put a quiz together. I hate it when all of the questions are SOOO easy that every team gets nearly all of them right but its a fine line to tread when you try to make a quiz a bit harder because if you set the bar too high people lose interest and/or get demoralised...

Still, overall I think everyone enjoyed the evening, the music (I brought my laptop to keep the festive sounds coming) and the silliness.

The one sadness for all of us being the lack of two of our most long standing members 'Bin & Bean Kennedy' (see last post here) who have now moved to Wales. I've known a lot of people do a LOT of things to get away from one of my 'dos' but physically moving to Wales tops the list! HA HA

No, seriously, 'Bean' asked me to send her the quiz questions and answers via e mail so I suspect I shall hear back from her soon with regard to how her and her lot got on!!

Here is the final scoreboard. A gallant effort by all concerned and poor old Tony B's team did really well to tie for third place after being at the rear of the field all the way through. They recognised the 'Klingon' language due to the skills of Mr. Paul J Middleton and did well on the last 'Christmas True or False' round.

I had to miss out one of the rounds I'd prepared due to the time but that I will post the whole Quiz and answers here for you all to have a go at very soon. Do let me know how you all do, won't you?

Lastly, we  celebrated a birthday last night - that of our long standing member, Daniel. He looks quite stunned, don't you think?

Ho!


      Ho!

     
          Ho!