Results & Match Reports

Albert romped home comfortably against a lacklustre Ethel Rodin at the Fletcher Moss.

Electric Pigs won handsomely against an out-of-form Snoopy's Friends.

Quiz Paper Verdict

As indicated last week, I feel I should take a more restrained view of the paper.  I am in the perfect position to do so as a non-contestant this week who has not as yet set eyes on the paper.

However, I should pass on the congratulations of Napier Girls to X-Pats. Clearly the paper suited them.  They were particularly complimentary about the carefully crafted themes.

The Question of the Week

This week's QOTW award goes to R3 Q1:

Click here to see the answers to this and the rest of the week's questions and answers.

Fr Megson

Tony Blair v Clement Attlee

A Chairde,

Like the unfortunate, and for me undervalued, Alan Pardew, Fr. Megson does not have a game this week.  Or was that last week? I'm never sure these days. One of the pitfalls of going to work in my new parish of Gorton is that travelling so far eastwards inevitably means passing through so many time zones that, by the time the 169 bus has wended its eccentric way to  Gorton Shopping Centre - Manchester City Council-speak for a derelict working men's club, a Turf Accountant's, a library, a post office and a butty shop - you  invariably find yourself 61 years behind Didsbury Mean Time.

This is not necessarily a bad thing.  The locals genuinely appreciate the  services of what (I would have to say) is the friendliest post office I have ever slept in - and Clement Atlee is a far better Prime Minister than Tony Blair can ever hope to be - but it does play havoc with my already Rip Van Winklesque grasp of time and place. I was just about to start doing a scintillating piece on our extremely enjoyable recent tussle with The History Men but my housekeeper has just pointed out that that was last week and not last night and who am I to doubt the word of such a redoubtable figure of a woman ...Ah well, maybe I'll get it right next year....

One matter arising that might be worthy of mention however, is the proposal for a new weekly website slot that was unanimously passed by ourselves and The History Boys, to wit: THE ANSWER  OF THE WEEK.  This should run in tandem, or perhaps even replace, THE QUESTION OF THE WEEK.  The first ever winner of this prestigious competition was Damian who correctly stated (SPARES number 5) that the distinction shared by Claire Rayner and Marilyn Monroe was in fact a proclivity for airing their views whilst standing over a manhole cover.  Well spotted, Damo.  Any future nominations will be gratefully accepted by Mike and his temporary vicar on Earth, that reckless muncher of polonium enriched potato peelings aka Ivan Denisovich.

Fr. Megson would hate to be taken seriously by anybody but would nevertheless like to make one heartfelt plea as we sink to our knees and suck a well deserved orange at the half time stage of yet another season.  The quiz itself is still rightfully the highlight of  the week but logging onto our  excellent website every Thursday evening has, for most of us, become part of the ritual that makes our league so enjoyable.  Everybody is unanimous in their praise for the efforts, dedication and skill shown by both Mike and John for making this possible every week.  For their part it would be hard to improve on perfection.  I do feel however that the experience could be improved by having more contributions from everybody else out there.  The site is perfectly set up to be an open forum, particularly since the easy to use message board was added.  I have to say that our silent majority has been growing by the week this season.  When we meet up on a Wednesday night everyone seems to have strong, witty and sometimes polarised views about everything quizzical; yet given 12 hours sobering up time everyone seems to go quiet.  Political Correctness?......Apathy?...... Shyness?......Surely not.

So come on everybody.  Make a New Year resolution to release the inner bollocks part of your psyche that lurks beneath the surface of even the most sophisticated quizzer and let's get a bit of good natured banter and occasional controversy back into our increasingly anaemic Withquiz forum.  You have nothing to lose but your friends and your self respect.  A free Fr. Megson tee-shirt and a night out with (The) Napier Girls for the best piece of invective published between now and the whistle for the second half of our season.
                                                                       
Nollaig go brea,                                                                            

Fr. Megson