The Daily Teaser …

You know, you probably wouldn’t believe it, but I’m actually on to my second cuppa, this morning.

Ooooh, but that don’t half help!

And I also know I’ve borrowed Matt Hill’s Triumph of a Time Lord from Brentwood Library: I’ve just started it, and I think I’m going to have to look up the word ‘intertextual’. It looks like it’s aimed at someone a touch more academic than me.

Well …

That and semiotics: I used to pour beer for a living. it’s not a pair of that usually crop up.

Unless one of the regulars was feeling seriously philosophical …

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Lets get moving on, shall we … ?

Yesterday’s Teaser was nice and busy. It saw Kaiju beating both Mr Strict and Trevor to the punch by getting in his answers first. It also saw both he and Mr S scoring 6 out of 6, with Trevor bagging 5 out of 6.

Let’s see how they — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we? Here they are, along with the ‘How To’ and License …

Q1) 23rd September, 1122, saw the signing of the Concordat Of Worms: name either of the leaders who signed it.


Q2) Quite a few years later, 23rd September, 2002 saw the first public release of which web-browser … ?

Q3) 23rd September, 1215 saw the birth of Mongol Emperor, Kublai Khan: which English poet completed a poem named after him, in 1797?

Q4) 23rd September, 1920, saw the birth of actor, Joseph Yule Jnr: how is he better known … ?

Q5) And finally … 23rd September, 1909, saw the first part of which French novel published as a serial … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 22nd September, 1915, saw the birth of which star of Dad’s Army?


A1) Arthur Lowe.

Q2) More to the point, what was his character, in Dad’s Army?

A2) Captain Mainwaring. (Pronounced MAN-a-ring, for those of us of who don’t speak UK English.)

Q3) 22nd September, 1965, saw the end of the Second Kashmir War: name either of the countries who fought it.

A3) India and Pakistan.

Q4) 22nd September, 1515, saw the birth of which of Henry 8th’s wives?

A4) Anne of Cleves.

Q5) More to the point, was her marriage to Henry 8th ended by an axe, or an annulment?

A5) An annulment.

Q6) And finally … 22nd September, 2001, saw reporter John Simpson smuggled into which country?


A6) Afghanistan.

Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll catch you later.

Saint James Road: The Balloon’s Gone Up!!

You know, I thought the whole thing with the patch of ground on Saint James Road could go — and I’m hoping Councillor Chilvers will excuse the phrase — tit’s up!

As you’re probably aware, by now, we in the Rollason Way/Saint James Road area have managed to get the plans for the flats refused: obviously with a bit of help!

The one big worry I’ve always had, though … ?

Is the simple fact that Taylor Wimpey already had planning permission to build offices on the site.

And, as I went up the road, earlier, to do some shopping … ?

I noticed the sign you can see, in the picture.

Which was a bit of a bloater, to be frank …

Now as you can imagine, I’ve been quickly in touch with Councillor Chilvers: according to her, Taylor Wimpey have until December of next year to finish the building work.

And — although she wasn’t positive — as far as she could remember, the original application for a four storey building: something she’s told me she’ll be double checking, to make sure of.

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But as you can imagine … ?

Well …

I’ve fired off a letter to the Gazette: after all, they did publish last weeks … !

Dear Sir,

I’ve got to admit, I’m writing in shock at something I’ve seen, today.

As you and your readers probably know, we here in Rollason Way have been rather pleased about the fact that Brentwood Council turned down the plans Taylor Wimpey had for the flats in Saint James Road.

But to my consternation … ?

I went past the patch of land where the flats were supposed to go, today, to find a nice big sign … advertising offices to let on the fence around the area.

As you can imagine, after signing the petition against the flats, and speaking against them at the relevant planning meeting, this feels sickening.

I’m only hoping that our local councillors — in the midst of party conference season — will be able to tell us residents exactly how we’re supposed to object to plans that have already gone through.

Right here and now, though? Given what’s done is done? I’ve a nasty feeling they’re as powerless as the rest of us.

More offices aren’t what I wanted to see, when I moved into Rollason Way: I think that’s me speaking for many of my neighbours, as well.

There we go …

Here’s hoping they publish …

The Daily Teaser …

Morning, everyone …

Says I …

I’ve got to admit, it’s just gone 7•30, and I’m still feeling tired.

Tired, but quite good, after seeing something of a gem, last night: if you get the chance, folks, check out the uteer gem that is the 2009 film, Heartless, it’s a bit good!

Lets get moving on, shall we … ?

Shall we … ?

Yes, lets!

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Indeedy …

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Trevor and Kaiju going head-to-head: with Trevor bagging 7 out of 7 and Kaiju bagging 6 out of 7.

Although I’ve a funny feeling Kaiju might well have had one of Leonard Nimoy’s more notorious hits in mind …

At any rate, let’s see how everyone does with today’s questions, shall we? Here they are, along with the ‘How To’ and License …

Q1) 22nd September, 1915, saw the birth of which star of Dad’s Army?

Q2) More to the point, what was his character, in Dad’s Army?

Q3) 22nd September, 1965, saw the end of the Second Kashmir War: name either of the countries who fought it.

Q4) 22nd September, 1515, saw the birth of which of Henry 8th’s wives?

Q5) More to the point, was her marriage to Henry 8th ended by an axe or an annulment?

Q6) And finally … 22nd September, 2001, saw reporter John Simpson smuggled into which country?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 21st September, 1937, saw the first UK publication of J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit: what’s the book’s sub-title … ?
A1) There And Back, Again.

Q2) More to the point, who played Bilbo in the 1968, Radio 4 audio version of The Hobbit?

A2) Paul Daneman.

Q3) Equally to the point, we know the Lord of the Rings trilogy was the follow up to The Hobbit: but what was the name of the posthumously published prequel … ?

A3) The Silmarillion.

Q4) 21st September, 1792, saw the French government abolish … what … ?

A4) The monarchy. (They’d got sick of Marie-Antoinette’s cakes … )

Q5) 21st September, 1957, saw the birth of which of the Coen Brothers?

A5) Ethan Coen.

Q6) 21st September, 1952, saw the birth of Exorcism victim, Anneliese Michel: name either of the movies that have been made of the event.


A6) The Exorcism of Emily Rose and Requiem.

Q7) And finally … 21st September, 1952 saw the birth of keyboard player and guitarist, Dave Gregory: with which English band did he find fame … ?

A7) XTC.

Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll catch you later!

Heartless: A Low Budget, High Class Faust

You know, I’ve got to admit, there’s times I miss running pub quizzes, there really are.

Tuesday nights used to be the night I did the quiz over at the King Harold, in Harold Wood: used to be quite a bit of a blast, I can tell you.

And then there’s times when I don’t.

Especially as Movie Night Tuesday now seems to be something of an established tradition.

And especially when Movie Night Adrian digs up an interesting little find from the local library’s DVD collection.

Hang on, did I say little find … ?

I meant to say ‘absolute bloody gem’!

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The Daily Teaser …

You know, I’ve got to admit, I’m still feeling vaguely tired.

Because I’ve got to admit, I managed to sell my kid sister, Ruth’s, laptop, last night.

To an old friend, Gwen: bless her, Gwen managed drive up from deepest Kent — along with her brother Pete — to pick it up!

Bless!

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But there’s also a distracted note to this.

Because not only is Nick Clegg getting interviewed, live on the BBC’s Breakfast news, but they’ve also had an interview with actress, Linda Bellingham: as her mother died of Alzheimer’s Disease, the BBC choice her to highlight the publication, today, of a report that says the Dementia family of diseases currently something like 1% of the world’s income.

About US$604 billion …

Makes you think …

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Lets get moving on, shall we … ?

Yes, lets …

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Trevor managing to score 5 out of five, and put in some very good quotes from possibly one of the world’s best Jazzmen, Jelly Roll Morton.

Lets see how he — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we? Here they are, along with the ‘How To’ and License …

Q1) 21st September, 1937, saw the first UK publication of J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit: what’s the book’s sub-title … ?

Q2) More to the point, who played Bilbo in the 1968, Radio 4 audio version of The Hobbit?

Q3) Equally to the point, we know the Lord of the Rings trilogy was the follow up to The Hobbit: but what was the name of the posthumously published prequel … ?

Q4) 21st September, 1792, saw the French government abolish … what … ?

Q5) 21st September, 1957, saw the birth of which of the Coen Brothers?

Q6) 21st September, 1952, saw the birth of Exorcism victim, Anneliese Michel: name either of the movies that have been made of the event.


Q7) And finally … 21st September, 1952 saw the birth of keyboard player and guitarist, Dave Gregory: with which English band did he find fame … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 20th September, 1857, saw the end of the Indian Rebellion of 1857: with the capture of which major Indian city … ?


A1) Delhi.

Q2) More to the point, by forces of what: the British government, the British East India Company or the last Murghal Emperor … ?

A2) The British East India Company.

Q3) Moving on, 20th September, 1967, saw the launch of the Queen Elizabeth 2nd: which company owned the QE2?

A3) Cunard.

Q4) 20th September, 1946, saw the very first Cannes Film Festival: what’s the name of its ‘Best Film’ award … ?

A4) The Palme d’Or.

Q5) 20th September, 2000, saw the Real IRA (apparently) attack 85, Vauxhall Cross: whose Headquarters is this building … ?

A5) The UK’s Secret Intelligence Service: otherwise known as MI6. (And — according to various John Le Carré character’s — occasionally referred to as ‘Spook City’, by London cab drivers. Unless that’s MI5 … ummm … )

Q6) And finally … 20th September, 2005, saw the death of which Holocaust survivor and Knight Commander of the British Empire … ?


A6) Nazi hunter, Simon Wiesenthal.

Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll catch you later.