Greetings people and welcome to Idle Moments. By the time you read this you should be able to do these puzzles with a pint of your favourite beside you in your favourite corner of your local pub \u2013 though, sadly, only if you have your tablet and a Wi-Fi connection as we are not yet back on paper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s kick off with a classic non-rhyming limerick. This one, from Mike Gigg, first appeared in March 1992:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A pretty young girl called Penelope\n Found a wallet while flying to Europe.\n She asked the air steward,\n \u201cWill I get a reward?\u201d\n But he just replied, \u201cYou\u2019ve got a hope.\u201d<\/pre>\n\n\n\nRight, let\u2019s have some Number Puzzles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- 80 C in a M<\/li>
- 3 A in an AMC<\/li>
- 100 H in a SK<\/li>
- 5 PM of the UNSC<\/li>
- 1688 GR<\/li>
- 6 E of a T<\/li>
- 100 L of MTG<\/li>
- 1111 in B is F in H<\/li>
- 100 H in a SK<\/li>
- 361 is NS<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
This time for 5BY4, I have reverted to Avian Taxonomy (Last time, I promise). I am using up some birds whose species name is the same as their genus (that sounds like fun doesn\u2019t it! Oh well, suit yourself). Can you pair this lot up?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Quail A. Vanellus<\/li>
- Corncrake B. Lagopus<\/li>
- Goldcrest C. Milvus<\/li>
- Magpie D. Coturnix<\/li>
- Buzzard E. Regulus<\/li>
- Red Grouse F. Pica<\/li>
- Lapwing G. Buteo<\/li>
- Red Kite H. Crex<\/li>
- Greylag Goose I. Riparia<\/li>
- Sand Martin J. Anser<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Oh well, never mind; have a go at the General Trivia questions. The recent passing of Michael Collins at the ripe old age of 90 prompted me to dig out some questions about the Apollo missions and specifically those which left Earth orbit and went round the Moon<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Among the ten Apollo space missions to leave Earth orbit (Nos. 8 to 17), how many people flew on two missions?<\/li>
- Of the above two-mission astronauts, only one did not walk on the Moon on either mission. Who was he? (Clue \u2013 his second mission was Apollo 13)<\/li>
- Which Apollo mission was the first to employ a lunar rover?<\/li>
- With the recent demise of Michael Collins, who is the last surviving member of the Apollo 11 crew?<\/li>
- Who was the oldest person to walk on the moon (at the time he did so), and on what mission?<\/li>
- And who was the youngest person to walk on the moon, and on what mission
Well, that\u2019s milked the Apollo project pretty well; let\u2019s have some questions on speed (No, not the narcotic):<\/li>- Who was the first person to set the world land speed record at over 200 mph in his twin engined 1000hp\u2019 Sunbeam on 29 March 1927?<\/li>
- Who was the first person to set the world land speed record at over 300 mph (on 3 September 1935)?<\/li>
- And who was the first person to hold the world land and water speed records simultaneously?<\/li>
- Finally, who was the last person to hold the world land and water speed records simultaneously?<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Well, that\u2019s about it; time to get this lot over to the editor to see if he likes it. Maybe we\u2019ll be back on paper soon. In the meantime have fun and stay safe (and hopefully they\u2019re not mutually exclusive).
Andy Pirson<\/em><\/strong>
As usual, here are the solutions to the puzzles set in the April\/May Idle Moments column<\/p>\n\n\n\nNumber Puzzles<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- 2 Stripes on a Corporal\u2019s Sleeve<\/li>
- 3 Beverley Sisters<\/li>
- 19 is Opposite Number One on a Darts Board<\/li>
- 5 is the Atomic Number of Rubidium<\/li>
- 5050 is the Sum of the Numbers from One to a Hundred<\/li>
- 3 Number One Hits by Manfred Mann<\/li>
- 1686 Lloyds of London Founded<\/li>
- 5 Dashes is Zero in Morse Code<\/li>
- 2 Twins in the Beverley Sisters<\/li>
- 20 Fenchurch Street is the Walkie-Talkie<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
5BY4<\/strong>: (Allied operations of World War 2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Market Garden \u2013 Netherlands campaign stalled at Arnhem (\u2018A Bridge Too Far\u2019)<\/li>
- Overlord \u2013 Normandy Invasions (D-Day) and battle for France<\/li>
- Carthage \u2013 RAF bombing of Gestapo headquarters in Copenhagen<\/li>
- Crossbow \u2013 operations against German V-Weapon installations<\/li>
- Dynamo \u2013 the evacuation of Dunkirk<\/li>
- Husky \u2013 the invasion of Sicily<\/li>
- Downfall \u2013 the plan for invasion of Japanese home islands (halted after bombing of Hiroshima)<\/li>
- Chastise \u2013 development of the Bouncing Bomb and Ruhr Valley dams raid<\/li>
- Capital \u2013 the capture of Northern Burma<\/li>
- Torch \u2013 invasions of North Africa November 1942 to May 1943<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
General Knowledge:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- The Duke of Edinburgh was born on 10 July 1921 on Corfu. When I wrote this question I little realised that he would sadly be leaving us so soon after its publication.<\/li>
- Solar Challenger, piloted by Steve Ptacek, became the first solar powered aircraft to cross the English Channel on 7 July \u2013 in 1981.<\/li>
- The Royal Liver Building was opened on 19 July, in 1911.<\/li>
- Britain\u2019s First trolleybus service started running on 20 June 1911 \u2013 in Leeds.<\/li>
- The man shot by Sherriff Pat Garrett in New Mexico on 15th July 1881 was William H Bonney, aka Billy the Kid.<\/li>
- The monarch in attendance at first Royal Ascot horse race meeting on 11 August 1711 was Queen Anne.<\/li>
- Dom Mintoff become Prime Minister of Malta on 21 June 1971 following a Labour Party general election victory.<\/li>
- The 100th Archbishop of Canterbury, enthroned on 27 June 1961, was Michael Ramsey.<\/li>
- On 28 July 1821, the South American country which was proclaimed an independent nation (having been liberated from Spanish rule by the forces of San Martin) was Peru.<\/li>
- The Humber Estuary Bridge was officially opened by HM the Queen on 17 July in 1981.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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