The World Book Night Giveaway

Hmmm … 

You know, I’ll HAPPILY admit, yesterday was a bit of a challenge, it really was … 

No, seriously … !

You’ve probably already worked out that yesterday was both Saint George’s Day, AND World Book Night.

And that I was an OFFICIAL World Book Night giver.

In other words, I’d volunteered to hand out copies of one of 25 books.   In my case — and I’m willing to bet people who know me would’ve seen this coming —it was 24 copies of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman’s Good Omens: possibly the world’s only completely reliable comedy about the end of the world.

☰☷☰

Set in the modern day, Good Omens follows the adventures of Aziriphale the angel and Crowley the demon: the representatives of Heaven and Hell on Earth, since Creation*.

What their bosses don’t know is that Crowley and Aziriphale a) are rather fond of both Earth, and humanity, and b) in the finest traditions of the Cold War front line, get on better with each other than their respective managers.

The story kicks off … ?   When Crowley is given orders… and a baby he has to deliver, to a certain hospital in Surrey, run by an order of Satanic Nuns.

You’d think it would be simple, wouldn’t you?

Not the case, given the nuns in question … 

☰☷☰

Now … 

That’s story … 

The day itself … ?

I have to admit was rather fun, and started a touch early: after all, I‘d made sure my mother and my two sisters got their free copies on Sunday night: along with my recommendation to register their copy on the World Book Night site.

On Monday itself … ?   I do know I managed to make sure all of my neighbours in my block had copies put in their letter boxes.

Which was good: I’ve had at least two poke their heads around my front door to get more details:   complete with a fascinating natter with the chap in № 12, about Alzheimer’s and heart attacks.

I also managed to take another half a dozen up to Brentwood High Street: even managing to hand a copy to our local PCSO, another couple of neighbours on Rollason Way.

And another old friend and neighbour, Faye: who quite happily admitted she was looking forward to having something to read: especially as she’s expecting her second child, this week, and wanted something to read, while she’s waiting … 

☰☷☰

Phew … !

Now, I have to admit, I think I’ve managed to spread a little good, this week.

At least, I hope I have.

If nothing else, though, I think a few people have been given a book they wouldn’t have though of reading.

I think that’s something.

Now … 

Where DO I get rid of the last copies … ?

*        According to Archbishop James Usher and his aides, Creation was on 21st October, 4004BC.   The only logical conclusion … is that Earth’s a Libra … 

The Daily Teaser — 24-4-2012

 Yep, THERE we go.

I can now officially tell you the book I was handing out, yesterday, for World Book Night.

There we go … 

The special edition of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s Good Omens.

The only unfortunate thing … ?

Is I have two copies left.

Hmmm … 

Now what to do with them … ?

Let’s move on, while I think that over … 

⌘⌘⌘

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi putting in her answers: along with admitting she’s bookmarked a few videos from yours truly, for her Life on the Midlistª blog,  also bagging 9 out of 10*.

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

Q1) 24th April, 1970, saw the launch of the Chinese Dong Fang Hong I satellite.   For how many days did it stay in orbit: 16, 26 or 36 … ?

Q2) 24th April, 1184 BC, is the traditional given date for the end of the Trojan War: which science fiction writer famously — and rather facetiously — defined the milliHelen … ?   (A milliHelen is enough feminine beauty to launch one ship.)

Q3) 24th April, 1975, saw members of the Baader Meinhof gang attack the West German Embassy in Sweden.   How was that gang also known … ?

Q4) 24th April, 2007 which which country announce that Norway would assume portions of its peacetime defenses … ?

Q5) And finally … 24th April, 2005, saw the birth of the world’s first cloned dog: in which country … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) Saint Georges Day is informally celebrated in which North American country … ?   A1) Canada.

Q2) More to the point, in which of that country’s provinces is it an official holiday … ?   A2) Newfoundland.

Q3) In many Orthodox countries, Saint Georges Day is celebrated on which date: 9th April, 23rd April, or May 6th … ?   A3) May 6th.

Q4) Which famous George was created by John Le Carre?A4) George Smiley.

Q5) Who wrote the play Pygmalion?   A5) George Bernard Shaw.

Q6) Name any of the three famous writers — one English, one Spanish, one Peruvian — who died on 23rd April, 1616.   A6) William Shakespeare, Miguel Cervantes, or Garcilaso de la Vega, known also as El Inca.

Q7) Because of those three men, 23rd April is considered World Book Day: organized by which UN body … ?   A7) UNESCO: the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.   (Or L'Organisation des Nations unies pour l’éducation, la science et la culture, of you prefer it in French.)

Q8) More to the point … Name any of the 25 UK World Book Night Books for this year …    A8) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, IainM.Banks’ The Player of Games, Sleepyhead by Mark Billingham, Notes From a Small Island by Bill Bryson, The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho, Martina Cole’s The Take, Harlequin by Bernard Cornwell, Some Like You by Roald Dahl, A Tale Of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, Room by Emma Donohue, Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca, The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro, Misery by Stephen King, The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella, Small Island by Andrea Levy, Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist, The Road by Cormac McCarthy, The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O’Farrell, The Damned United by David Pearce, How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff, Joe Simpson’s Touching the Void, I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and FINALLY Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman … !

Q9) Moving on … 23rd April, 1661, saw Charles 2nd crowned as king of England, Ireland and Scotland: in which church … ?   A9) Westminster Abbey.

Q10) And finally … 23rd April, 1993, saw which part of Ethiopia vote for its independence … ?   A10) Eritrea.

Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll leave you to Captain Sensible’s tender mercies, shall I … ?

*        I know, that’s controversial, Debbi: I should have maybe phrase the question better … !     But unfortunately, a lot of places are still on the old Julian calendar …

ª        Something I know I’ve permanently bookmarked: and have in my RSS feeds.

The Saint Georges Day Teaser — 23-4-2012

Hmm …

Now that’s something … !

I’ve got to admit, I WAS going to start by telling you about the seriously vivid dream I had last night.

Where I was wondering around what felt like a seriously gothic version of London Below Neverwhere.

But, easily distractable so-and-so that I am … ?

I’ve just heard on Radio 4 that Ronnie O’Sullivan’s first round opponent in this year’s Snooker World Championship is to be Peter Ebdon.

Which SHOULD be on HELL of a match … !

Let’s get moving on, shall we … ?

While I wish those of us that celebrate it, a Happy — and Literate — Saint Georges Day …

☱☲☴☲☱

Yesterday’s Teaser saw both Tim and Debbi putting in their answers: with Debbi admitting she was chasing down more footage from Rumpole of the Bailey*, it saw her bagging 6 out of 6, and Tim scoring 2ª.

Let’s see how they — and you — do with today’s Teaser: here’s those questions, along with the ‘How To’, License and video … 

Q1) Saint Georges Day is informally celebrated in which North American country … ?

Q2) More to the point, in which of that country’s provinces is it an official holiday … ?

Q3) In many Orthodox countries, Saint Georges Day is celebrated on which date: 9th April, 23rd April, or May 6th … ?

Q4) Which famous George was created by John Le Carre?

Q5) Who wrote the play Pygmalion?

Q6) Name any of the three famous writers — one English, one Spanish, one Peruvian — who died on 23rd April, 1616.

Q7) Because of those three men, 23rd April is considered World Book Day: organized by which UN body … ?

Q8) More to the point … Name any of the 25 UK World Book Night Books for this year … 

Q9) Moving on … 23rd April, 1661, saw Charles 2nd crowned as king of England, Ireland and Scotland: in which church … ?

Q10) And finally … 23rd April, 1993, saw which part of Ethiopia vote for its independence … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 22nd April is — according to the United Nations — International what day … ?  

A1) International Mother Earth Day.

Q2) More to the point, which South American country introduced the UN resolution that founded the day … ?  

A2) Bolivia.

Q3) 22nd April, 2000, was Big Number Change Day, marking Britain’s most recent change of dialling codes.   What — after that change — was the dialling code for London … ?  

A3) 020.   (Or +4420, from outside the UK)

Q4) 22nd April, 1998, saw Disney open Animal World: but in Disney World, Disney Land … or Shanghai Disney … ?  

A4) Disney World.

Q5) 22nd April, 1994, saw the death of former US president, Richard Nixon: who played him, in the 2008 film, Frost/Nixon … ?  

A5) Frank Langella.

Q6) And finally … 22nd April, 1930, saw the signing of the London Navy Treaty: name any of the three countries who signed it.  

A6) The UK, the USA and Japan.

Enjoy those, everyone.

As it’s Saint George’s day … ?

I’ll leave you with a hymn about a city in the Middle East … 

*        Remind me to keep an eye peeled, Debbi: I’m now officially curiousº … 

º        I seem to recall the original Rumpole pilot was recorded under the Play for the Day banner, in case that’s any help.

ª        And that’s me being generous, Tim: but have a try at today’s … !

The Daily Teaser — 22-4-2012

Well, it’s now officially official.

I’ve managed to get a box of books over to my place, for World Book Night.

Which is tomorrow night, just in case you didn’t know.

And I’ll be honest … ?

I would tell you which book I’m giving out … 

But to be perfectly frank … ?    I hate giving clues away to questions, before the day, I really do … !

Let’s get moving on, shall we … ?

Yes, let’s … !

☰☱☲☴☲☱☰

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi putting putting in her answers: who, along with admitting she’d not be forcing me into a corset, also admitted that she — and a certain Ms McRæ — loved Horace Rumpole*, AND bagged 6 out of 6.

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

Q1) 22nd April is — according to the United Nations — International what day … ?

Q2) More to the point, which South American country introduced the UN resolution that founded the day … ?

Q3) 22nd April, 2000, was Big Number Change Day, marking Britain’s most recent change of dialling codes.   What — after that change — was the dialling code for London … ?

Q4) 22nd April, 1998, saw Disney open Animal World: but in Disney World, Disney Land … or Shanghai Disney … ?

Q5) 22nd April, 1994, saw the death of former US president, Richard Nixon: who played him, in the 2008 film, Frost/Nixon … ?

Q6) And finally … 22nd April, 1930, saw the signing of the London Navy Treaty: name any of the three countries who signed it.

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 21st April, 753 BC, is the traditional founding date of the city of Rome: what did AUC stand for, in the Roman Calendar … ?   A1) Ab Urbis Conditæ: ‘Since the founding of the City’, if you}d prefer it in English.

Q2) More to the point, what’s the year 2012 AD, in AUC … ?   A2) 2765.

Q3) 21st April, 1945, saw the Red Army enter which city … ?   A3) Berlin.   (Which is possibly cue for a song … )

Q4) 21st April, 1994, saw the discovery of the first what: anti-matter, extra-solar planets, or artificial life … ?   A4) Extra-solar planets.

Q5) 21st April, 1923, saw the birth of barrister, screen writer and author, Sir John Mortimer: which fictional legal figure did he famously create … ?   A5) Rumpole of the Bailey.

Q6) And finally … 21st April, 1934, saw the publication — in the Daily Mail — of the first photo that apparently showed what … ?   A6) The Loch Ness Monster.

Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll leave you with a tune from Peter Frampton … 

*        Of course, you realise who played him on TV, Debbi, don’t you … ?   And that — by a pure coincidence — Peter Bowles, the actor playing the prosecutor in this clip, cropped up in A, B and C … ?

The World Book Night Pick-up …

Hmmm ...

Look’s like Blogger'as not exactly compatible with the version of Internet Explorer*, anymore.

Which is ...

Well, it does make for a certain amount of awkwardness, uploading the photos I meant to show you.

But, at least, I've now managed to get hold of the books I'll be handing out, on World Book Night, this coming Saint Georges Day.

Of course, the one problem, at the moment … ?

Is how exactly to get them home.

The box is a BIT bigger than I was expecting … !!!

*        I initially posted this from Brentwood Library, where the books I’m due to hand out had been delivered …