Good Books

Good books are friendly things to own.
If you are busy they will wait.
They will not call you on the phone
Or wake you if the hour is late.
They stand together row by row,
Upon the low shelf or the high.
But if you're lonesome this you know:
You have a friend or two nearby.




The fellowship of books is real.
They're never noisy when you're still.
They won't disturb you at your meal.
They'll comfort you when you are ill.
The lonesome hours they'll always share.
When slighted they will not complain.
And though for them you've ceased to care
Your constant friends they'll still remain.

 

Good books your faults will never see
Or tell about them round the town.
If you would have their company
You merely have to take them down.
They'll help you pass the time away,
They'll counsel give if that you need.
He has true friends for night and day
Who has a few good books to read.

 

Edgar Guest

New Year, New You

To the New Year

 

 

With what stillness at last

you appear in the valley

your first sunlight reaching down

to touch the tips of a few

high leaves that do not stir

as though they had not noticed

and did not know you at all

then the voice of a dove calls

from far away in itself

to the hush of the morning

 

 

so this is the sound of you

here and now whether or not

anyone hears it this is

where we have come with our age

our knowledge such as it is

and our hopes such as they are

invisible before us

untouched and still possible

 

By  W. S. Merwin 

What are you waiting for ?

New Year’s Resolutions!

Why wait until the New Year ?

(click here to hear Marcus' Poem read by Himself)

 

Eat less, tweet less,

Try to pick my feet less,

Walk more, cycle often,

I will not let my belly soften,

Call my Mother, hug my Dad,

See a friend, who's feeling sad.

Be kind, shout less, read more, don't lie,

Be fair, shout more, read less, less pie.

Stop fiddling with my sodding phone

Angry Birds leave me alone!

Around the Sun - one revolution

 

And so - my New Year's resolution.

Fix the door on the washing machine,

I made that promise for Jan 13.

Let nuance in when I debate,

I will not read the Daily Hate,

I will not look at comment pages,

And therefore won't fly into rages

 

Honestly, I mean why do people do it? We're in the season now when some dolt will claim their council has banned Christmas because of the Muslims and the atheists and the health and safety people who've said it's too dangerous for fat men climb down chimneys with bags of presents and they can't insure that many reindeer on the roof at once. It's just nonsense… You see? See what happens? They've gone and put me off my rhyming couplets now…

 

Which promises will you all make?

For this New Year when you awake.

Perhaps you'll say you'll give up smoking,

Study something thought-provoking,

You'll drink less booze and join the gym,

Get fitter, swim, be slim, get trim,

 

As New Year 2014 starts

We'll all make pledges from our hearts…

But why? What purpose will it serve?

To promise then what we deserve.

We could (and this is just a thought)

Do now what then we think we ought?

Why wait until the New Year comes?

To get up off our lazy bums

And do what may make us content

When now we could give our assent

To any thought, desire or goal

That we believe may make us whole.

I'll do it then, today I mean,

I shall not wait 'till New Year's been.

Carpe Diem the Latin phrase,

Or "seize the day" no more delays.

My New Year's resolution vow

Begins today, this instant - now.

Which I will commence on Jan 1st 2014

 

Marcus Brigstocke

Christmas Quiz the Answers

These are the answers to the Christmas Quiz ! I hope you enjoyed doing it and our winners enjoy their prize !

1. The Spirit of Chartwell

2. King Richard III

3. Curiosity

4. Ecuador

5. Twenty-four

6 (C) 369

7. (B) 73

8. The 158th University Boat Race

9.  Sergio Aguero

10. (A) Bradley Wiggins 

11. Mumford & Sons

12. Mark Zuckerberg

13. Mo Farah

14. Robbie Williams

15. Luxembourg

 

16. Daniel Craig

17. Liam Neeson

18. Die Another Day

WHO SAID THAT?

Link the author to the first line of his or her  autobiography:

19. “I’m going nowhere fast.” – Between the Lines by Victoria Pendleton, 2012

20 “Bang! Everything goes dead mad, dead quick.” – My Decade in the Premier League by Wayne Rooney, 2012

21“The real loser is never the person who crosses the finish line last.” – Blade Runner: My Story by Oscar Pistorius, 2012

22 “I was born into a year of famine.” – Total Recall by Arnold Schwarzenegger, 2012

23 “We call it ‘doing a runner,’ and it’s the best way on earth to beat the traffic after a show.” – Rod Stewart: The Autobiography,2012

 24  “May I begin by offering my sincere apologies.” – Camp David by David Walliams, 2012

25 “As I write I am sitting in Monte Carlo with my wife Kristina.” – Bond on Bond by Roger Moore, 2012

26 “My Dear Reader Chum, a very hearty hello to you.” – Is It Just Me? by Miranda Hart

 27 “This is one of those misery memoirs.” – Back Story: A Memoir by David Mitchell

28 “I’m in my hotel room in London and I can’t stop crying.” – Starting Over by Denise Welch, 2012

29 “This is the day that I have dreamt about for years.” – Unbelievable by Jessica Ennis

30. Gotye

31. Janelle Monáe

32. Rizzle Kicks

33. Muse

34  962 – The total number of medals won at the London 2012 Olympics

35. 4 – The number of years former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was sentenced to for tax fraud, before the sentence was subsequently reduced 

36. 634 – The height in metres of the Tokyo Skytree, the tallest tower in the world

37. 76 – The number of goals scored at the Euro 2012 finals

38. 78 – The number of minutes that former Bolton Wanderers player Fabrice Muamba was declared “in effect dead” after suffering a cardiac arrest in an FA Cup match in March

39  6 – The number of Grammy Awards singer Adele won in February

40 . 1908 and 1948

41. (B) Qatar

42. Nicola Adams

43. (C) A Teletubby and a Dalek

44. Extinguishing the Paralympic flame

45. The Tempest

46. Oscar Pistorious

47. J.K Rowling

48. Clare Balding

49. (C) Walt Boggis

50. (C) The execution of Anne Boleyn

51 What is the name of the father of Cinderella and the Ugly Sisters ? - Baron Hard-up.

 52 In which pantomime does Robin Hood and Maid Marion appear? - Babes in the Wood.

53 What is the name of Aladdin's brother ? - Wishee Washee.

54 What phrase does the Giant in “Jack and the Beanstalk” use when he can smell Jack ? - Fe Fi Fo Fum I Smell the Blood of an Englishman.

55 In pantomime who is Princess Marcella ? - Sleeping Beauty.

56 What is the name of Prince Charming's assistant ? - Dandini.

57 Norway

58 The day after Christmas, 26^th December.

59 He is said to have come from Turkey

60 The gifts would total 364

61 Nothing to do with baking it was Christmas crackers.

62 There are 2 Christmas Islands, but the Australian one lies in the Indian Ocean.

63 Written by Louisa May Alcott, the lines come from “Little Women”.

64 Nadolig.

65 The Epsom Derby

66 Narnia

67 A Visit from Saint Nicholas (also known as The Night Before Christmas).

68 An Invisibility cloak

69 Six

70 Advent (as in advent calendars - the 'coming' basically refers to the birth of Christ)

71 (B) 38

72 (C) The Thames last frooze in 1837 but  the key change isn’t air temperature. With the removal of London Bridge in 1831and embanking and dredging has increased the waters flow therefore stopping freezing.

73. (C) Curglaff is a scottish word used to describe the shock of lowering yourself into cold water

74 16 each verse; “Fa, la, la, la,la, la, la, la, la” and 6 verses = 96

75 A trick question to finish because we are never told

 

 

 

 

Christmas Quiz 5th and Final day!

Well done everyone, please get your answers (all 75) to the Library by the end of the day ready for marking! (watch out for No. 75! it might not be as obvious as you think)

61 What Christmas item was invented by London baker Tom Smith in 1847?

62 In which ocean does the Australian territory of Christmas Island lie?

63 “Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents” is the opening line from which classic novel?

64 What is the Welsh for Christmas ?

65 What did Santa Claus win in 1964 ?

66 In which fictional land is it always winter but never Christmas ?

67 Which poem written by Clement C Moore first named Santa's reindeer ?

68 What present did Harry Potter receive from Prof. Dumbledore for his first Christmas at Hogwarts ?

69 How many points does a snowflake have?

70 The Latin word meaning 'coming' gave us what term which still refers to the Christmas period, and also to a particular tradition popular with children?

71 How many white Christmases have there been in the last 52 years ?

(A)   4

(B)   38

(C)   10

72 Why Does the Thames no longer freeze over ?

(A)   It Never gets cold enought

(B)   The water is too poluted

(C)   It is to fast flowing

73 Which cold sensation is described with the ,sadly obsolete word “ CURGLAFF”

(A)   A headache caused by eating cold food too quickly

(B)   The feel of your partnerscold  feet in bed

(C)   The shock felt when lowering yourself into cold water

74 How many las in a line of “Deck the halls”? (in total for the whole song!)

 

75. Who told Mary and Joseph that there was no room at the inn?

Christmas Quiz Day 4

Almost there ! Some easier ones and some Festive ones!

46. Which Paralympic athlete won the final event in the Olympic stadium?

47. Who used the name Robert Galbraith to pen their first detective novel ?

48. Which television presenter’s memoir is called My Animals and Other Family?

49. Charles Dickens’ bicentenary was celebrated in February. Which of the following is not a character created by Dickens?

A) Serjeant Buzfuz

B) Alfred Jingle

C) Walt Boggis

50. Hilary Mantel’s 2012 Man Booker  Prize-winning novel Bring up the Bodies examines which event?

A) The sinking of the Mary Rose

B) The dissolution of the monasteries

C) The execution of Anne Boleyn

 

51. What is the name of the father of Cinderella and the Ugly Sisters ?

52. In which pantomime does Robin Hood and Maid Marion appear?

53. What is the name of Aladdin's brother ?

54. What phrase does the Giant in “Jack and the Beanstalk” use when he can smell Jack ?

55. In pantomime who is Princess Marcella ?

56. What is the name of Prince Charming's assistant ?

57 The Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square,London is an annual gift from which nation?

58 According to the Christmas carol, “Good King Wencelas looked out on the Feast of Stephen”. On what date does the Feast of Stephen fall?

59 From which country did Saint Nicholas originate?

60 If a person was given all the gifts in the song “The Twelve days of Christmas”, how many gifts in total would they receive?

Christmas Quiz Day 3

Will the fun just never stop!!! (Don't panic they will start to get easier from tomorrow)

31.  American indie band Fun’s massive-selling hit “We Are Young” featured which American soul musician?

32. Urban duo Jordan Stephens and Harley Alexander-Sule are better-known by which cigarette-paper-inspired stage name?

33. Which band provided the official song for the London 2012 Olympic Games?

Match the correct number  to the answer

 78 / 634 / 4  / 76 / 6 / 962

34. – The total number of medals won at the London 2012 Olympics.

35. – The number of years the former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was sentenced to for tax fraud before the sentence was later reduced. 

36. – The height in metres of the Tokyo Skytree, the tallest tower in the world.

37. – The number of goals scored at the Euro 2012 finals.

38. – The number of minutes that the former Bolton Wanderers player Fabrice Muamba was declared “in effect dead” after suffering a cardiac arrest in an FA Cup match.

39. – The number of Grammy Awards that singer Adele won in 2012.

 

40. London became the first city to hold the Summer Olympics three times, having previously hosted them in which years?

41. Three countries made history by allowing female competitors to enter the London 2012 games: Saudi Arabia, Brunei and _____?

A) Oman

B) Qatar

C) Yemen

42. Which Briton became the first woman to win an Olympic gold medal in Women’s Boxing?

43. The 2012 Games’ mascots Wenlock and Mandeville were described by one Canadian news outlet as a product of a “drunken one-night stand” between which two television characters:

A) A Womble and a Tweenie

B) A Fraggle and a Smurf

C) A Teletubby and a Dalek

44. Ellie Simmonds and Jonnie Peacock were granted which honour at the closing ceremony of the Paralympics?

45. The opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics was inspired by which Shakespeare play?