Hello again. Funny old world, isn\u2019t it. As I sit typing this (on 11 March) I have just been reminded (by Breakfast TV) that a year ago today Covid-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation and a year ago yesterday was my 70th birthday. An awful lot has happened in that year and quite a lot of it awful\u2026 Still, one advantage of getting older is that I\u2019ve probably forgotten a lot of the awfulness. Ho-hum!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00a0Sorry about that; will a non-rhyming limerick brighten things up? \u00a0Here\u2019s one from June 1988 (blimey! 33 years ago) by Mike Gigg and Chris Leftley:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A football team coming from Slough
Had gallantly fought their way through
To play Middlesbrough.
But lost the match though,
'Cos their tactics weren't thorough enough.<\/pre>\n\n\n\nLet\u2019s get on with something to pass the time, sadly not in a quiet corner of the balloon bar with a glass of something nice beside us, but maybe you\u2019ve got a bottle (or firkin?) of something nice at home. Here are some number puzzles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2 S on a CS
2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 3 BS
3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 19 is ONO on a DB
4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 5 is the AN of R
5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 5050 is the S of the N from O to a H
6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 3 NOH by MM
7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1686 L of LF
8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 5 D is Z in MC
9.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2 T in the BS
10.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 20 FS is the W-T<\/p>\n\n\n\nNow for 5BY4. I don\u2019t know why but the thought came to me to use the code names for allied operations of World War 2. Here are ten of them; can you match them up?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Market Garden\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0The capture of Northern Burma\n2. Overlord\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0Plan for invasion of Japanese homelands (halted after bombing of Hiroshima)\n3.\u00a0Carthage\u00a0\u00a0 C.\u00a0Development of the Bouncing Bomb and Ruhr Valley dams raid\n4.\u00a0Crossbow\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0D.\u00a0Normandy Invasions (D-Day) and battle for France\n5.\u00a0Dynamo\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0E.\u00a0The invasion of Sicily\n6.\u00a0Husky\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F.\u00a0Invasions of North Africa Nov 1942 to May 1943\n7.\u00a0Downfall\u00a0 G. The evacuation of Dunkirk\n8.\u00a0Chastise\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 H.\u00a0Netherlands campaign stalled at Arnhem (\u201cA Bridge Too Far\u201d)\n9.\u00a0Capital\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I. RAF bombing of Gestapo headquarters in Copenhagen\n10. Torch\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 J. Operations against German V-Weapon installations<\/pre>\n\n\n\nGetting lazy in my old age, I thought I would continue on from the last edition with events which happened in years ending with the number one. I have advanced through the year a bit and all of this month\u2019s are from June, July or August:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. The Duke of Edinburgh was born on 10 July 1921 \u2013 on what island?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. In what year (on 7 July) did Solar Challenger, piloted by Steve Ptacek, become the first solar powered aircraft to cross the English Channel?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. The Royal Liver Building was opened on 19 July; in what year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Britain\u2019s first trolleybus service started running on 20 June 1911. In which city did it operate?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Whom did Sherriff Pat Garrett shoot in New Mexico on 15 July 1881?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. The first Royal Ascot race meeting was held on 11 August 1711. Who was the monarch in attendance?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
7. Of what Commonwealth country did Dom Mintoff become Prime Minister on 21 June 1971 following a Labour Party general election victory?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
8. Who was enthroned as the 100th Archbishop of Canterbury on 27 June 1961?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
9. On 28 July 1821 which South American country was proclaimed an independent nation, having been liberated from Spanish rule by the forces of San Martin?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
10. On 17t July in what year was the Humber Estuary Bridge officially opened by HM The Queen?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Well, that\u2019s about it for this time. By the time you read this you should be getting close to being allowed to visit pubs (well, pub gardens) again. And by the time the next edition comes out you may even be allowed INSIDE pubs! That\u2019s all assuming, of course, that all the politicians trying to get places open before it\u2019s safe, don\u2019t win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Have fun and stay safe (hopefully they aren\u2019t mutually exclusive).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Andy Pirson<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
As usual, here are the solutions to the puzzles set in the February Idle Moments column.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
NUMBER PUZZLES:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 17 Platforms at Clapham Junction Station
2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 206 Bones in the (Adult) Human Body
3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 5 Violin Concertos by Mozart
4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 29 is the Atomic Number of Copper
5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1441 Foundation of King\u2019s College, Cambridge
6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2 Violins in a String Quartet
7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 31 is the Highest Number whose Square is Under One Thousand<\/a>
8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2 Stars in a Binary Pair
9.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6 Top Ten Hits of Gerry and the Pacemakers
10.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 8 Arches of the Wharncliffe Viaduct at Hanwell<\/p>\n\n\n\n