Christmas Jumpers

My friend Beth had a birthday quiz at The White Horse in Richmond on Saturday night. The dress code was "Christmas Jumpers," which not all of us rose to but here we are - looking fully festive I think.

Great Christmas buffet. Great Quiz. Just a shame that without Jonny sat by my side my team came last. We even drafted in help from actor John Hannah, who was in the pub with his very beautiful wife. He tried to help us out with our Disney round but couldn't remember much either. Nice man.

Happy Birthday Beth-star.

Global Warming

I know embarrassingly little about the subject of global warming. However, in my non expert opinion, I think we are undergoing some sort of global warming here in Sheen at the moment.

Seriously, today is 27th October 2009. I am sat here in the conservatory with the back door wide open and my washing drying in the sunshine on the line. My summer bedding plants are still in bloom. I felt like boil in the bag earlier when I walked to the Post Office (yes, again) in my waterproof jacket and a t-shirt.

I can remember when I was a child it being really cold this time of year. My mum would wrap me up in layers and scarves and mittens when it was Halloween or fireworks night. Now I know my medication can bring on the old hot flushes, but this is something else. It is really warm. Shame we can't pretend it is still summer as it is getting dark at just gone 5pm now the clocks have gone back. Oh and the fact that yesterday I was considering being super organised and ordering my Christmas cards.

Second in the second quiz night at The Plough

Team "Quiz Akabusi" was back for a second week running last night at The Plough. Seems slightly over dramatic to refer to ourselves at the defending champions, but as that is what we were - why not hey? Last night we were a slightly different mix of team members: Jonny as lead brain, Will as music and geography expert (that boy has hitch hiked across the world you know, and I am not joking,) Josh on general knowledge, Beth "I don't know anything" Ward turned out to be a star player and....me. Jo Blogz. The scribe. But can I just say, I did get the Strictly Come Dancing question right.

We did well. We improved massively on our appalling geography and history round from last week, and The Plough did well too - once again they managed to fill their pub. But we came second this week. Let's hope in week 3 we aren't third, and week 4 fourth etc. That would not be a good trend.

Amusing moments of the night included me washing down my peachy pills with a white wine spritzer, Will's comedy "brain" hat, another teams answer sheet, and this very cute dog who went CRAZY mad when I took his picture:

Pub Quiz Winners at The Plough

Last night our local pub The Plough re-launched its quiz night. They used to run quiz nights before they closed this pub for about a year for refurbishment. It's always looked rather empty since it re-opened to be honest, mainly because they came back with a rather posh and expensive menu, which I think annoyed quite a lot of locals. In the meantime it's competitor, The Victoria, has come under new ownership and done pretty well as a gastro pub.

But last night they got it right. The place was packed with quiz teams. Food was right on cue and delicious - beef and mash for a fiver - and a quid to enter the quiz. Our team - "Quiz Akabusi" - Gen and I (main role scribes, ahem) and Adam, Jonny and David (the brains) thought we wouldn't have a hope but it would be a fun night.

But, despite not even getting a mention in the "league" in between rounds, we were totally stunned to be announced we were the winners! The prize was a cheque written out to a charity of the winning teams choice from all the proceeds from those who entered the quiz. So, we got a £60 cheque towards my £500 Christmas target for Breast Cancer Campaign. We also got a voucher for a free round of drinks.

We must go down in history as the only quiz team to question that we don't think we could have actually won - we got 5 out of 15 on one round. But apparently we stormed it on the films sheet that was on our table and we were, indeed, victorious.

Well done to The Plough for filling your pub on a Monday night at last, and well done to our team for a fun night and a bonus cheque towards my Charity target. The JC's came home with smiles on their faces.

Silly Joke

A friend texted me this one last night:

Why did George Michael have chocolate on his shirt?

Because he was a careless with his whisper.

hee hee