22nd October 2017

Dear All,

Highlight of this week was the annual Quiz as part of the chapel’s support for the Day care centre. I think this was the 8^th we have presented, Kate thinks up all the questions and I am quizmaster. There were about 70 participants at £6 per head plus a raffle so it raises a little cash which they need as they are losing a substantial local government grant.

As usual there were 8 rounds of 10 questions plus two marathon rounds of 20 questions, one in each half of the quiz. I know you will be itching to try some of the questions so here goes:

Round 1. Window Shopping Q8 Which coffee chain has most shops in the UK? a. Caffe Nero, b. Starbucks, c. Costa? (answers at the end of the letter)

Round 2. Link Words Q5 Which word links: Bran………….washer

Round 3. Here Today Gone Tomorrow Q1 What was the nickname for Teddy boys crepe soled shoes?

Round 4. Firsts Q8 Who was the first Roman Emperor?

Marathon round A. Addresses Q4 Who lives at 742 Evergreen Terrace, Springfield?

Round 5. Well Travelled Q5 Where in Britain was designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 2017?

Round 6. Body Parts (thanks to Esther) Q3 A useless actor and a bit or twine?

Round 7. A Bit Dated Q10 How many years since the death of Elvis?

Round 8. Pot Luck Q10 What is Britain’s fastest land animal?

Marathon round B was pictures of food plants so you are spared that one!

We covered “Alliums” in “Just Vegetating” this week with emphasis on Onions and Leeks.

On Wednesday there was a ceremony at the graveyard to inter the ashes of Lily and Michael Firth who died within 100 days of each other.

Firth Clan plus

The Thursday walk started at Litlington NW of Royston and took in Guilden Morden, Steeple Morden and Abington Pigotts. It had rained the night before and was the first really sticky walk of the season. Needless to say it involved crossing at least 5 ploughed or cultivated fields.

Near Litlington

Abington Pigotts

Tough going

“Biographies” topic this week was “William Wilberforce” who I guess you will know all about? After I met up with a couple of ex NIAB colleagues Paul Nelson and John Beckett, the latter of whom I had not seen for 40 years.

Mary-Ann seems to be finding her way round Stockholm a little and has discovered a library with English books and English story time and an English speaking playschool as well as exploring several parks. The temperature was down to 4°C. Their address should anyone need it is: c/o Maim, Folkingagatan 59, 11622 Stockholm, Sweden.

Love

Mike & Kate

Quiz answers:

Round 1 Costa 2000, Starbucks 792, Nero 620

Round 2 Dish

Round 3 Brothel Creepers

Round 4 Augustus

Marathon A The Simpsons

Round 5 The Lake District

Round 6 Hamstring

Round 7 40 years

Round 8 The Hare

Never mind I expect you would have got the other 111 questions correct!