Near as I can figure it, through the possibly flawed perceptual filters of my own reality tunnel, the most likely answers this week, seem to me to be:
Q1. Huddersfield
Q2. Celia Johnson
(N.B. for question two the actress's full name/title is given in some references as Dame Celia Elizabeth Johnson)
The initial clues place us most likely in the vicinity of the town of Huddersfield. There are several viaducts near this settlement, the Denby Dale viaduct and the Paddock viaduct for example but the one that is a good fit for the description in the puzzle, with 32 arches, a construction date of c 1850, by a civil engineer called Sir John Hawkshaw (born c 1811), is the Lockwood viaduct, which does seem to lie on the south western outskirts of the town. A politician who spoke of 'the white heat of revolution', in reference to technological progress, was Sir Harold Wilson, who in some references, is said to have been born in the Cowlersly district of Huddersfield c 1916. Lockwood viaduct does not look to be east/north east of this area, although if the puzzle author is referring to the bearing of the town from the suburb, the directions given make a little more sense.
Several references claim that at 1600, Huddersfield has the third most listed buildings in the UK. Huddersfield station is said by some sources to have been constructed c 1846 - 1850 by architect James Piggot Pritchet and son. The station was because of its Corinthian columns, once described as 'a stately home for trains'. A rare three wheeled car built in Huddersfield between the years 1919 and 1924 is most likely the L.S.D car. In this case L.S.D does not mean that it could fly way out yonder but rather the initials are said to stand for Longbottom, Sykes and Dyson, who were the designer,manufacturer and accountant, respectively of the company which constructed the strange vehicles.
A prime minister who was schooled in Huddersfield and who is listed in some references, as being chancellor of the exchequer between 1905 and 1908, is most likely Henry Herbert Asquith and a musician/bandmaster, who was born c 1878 and who died in 1912 (because the poor sod was on the RMS Titanic) is likely to be Wallace Henry Hartley, who lived in Huddersfield for a time. An actress who made her debut at the theatre royal in Huddersfield c 1928 playing the part of Sarah, in George Bernard Shaw's 'Major Barbara', is most likely to be Celia Johnson who also starred in a David Lean film called 'Brief Encounter', along with Trevor Howard c1945. A great old British actor called James Mason, who starred as Lord Rohan in a 1943 movie called 'The Man In Grey', is said in some references to have been born in Huddersfield c 1909.
The sport of Rugby league is said to have been founded in the George Hotel, Huddersfield c 1895 and Huddersfield Town F.C are said to have won three successive league titles c 1926.
link to the competition
Where Was I?
Saturday, 14 September 2013
Saturday, 7 September 2013
Sunday Times Where Was I? Holiday Competition
Near as I can figure it, through the possibly flawed perceptual filters of my reality tunnel, the most likely answers this week, seem to me to be:
Q1. Shapinsay
Q2. Stronsay
(N.B. for question one, it is a little unclear whether the first island is Shapinsay or Mainland but as the puzzle author says the second island is Wyre and the first mention of an island is describing Shapinsay, the Eastender is taking a punt that the first one is in fact Shapinsay)
The initial clues most likely place us at Kirkwall ( a busy ferry port), on an island in the Orkneys group, which bizarrely seems to be called 'Mainland'. Some sources claim that the first dedicated armed forces newspaper, the 'Orkney Blast', was started here during world war II, by a writer and soldier called Major Eric Linklater (born c 1899). Linklater seems to have been an incredibly industrious and prolific writer (despite being shot up during world war I), who won several awards, both for his books and for his public service. Some references say that he is buried in the Harray parish kirkyard, which looks to be around ten miles or so north west of Kirkwall. He does seem to have published a book called 'Private Angelo' c 1946, which is said to be a war satire.
An island which lies to the east of some of the northern ferry routes out of Kirkwall and which has as its highest point 'Ward Hill', at two hundred and ten feet or sixty four metres, is likely to be Shapinsay. Balfour castle lies on its western tip and according to some sources, it was designed by an Edinburgh architect called David Bryce (born c 1803). Bryce was known for his baronial style designs. Hakon Hakonarson, once a king of Norway, is said to have assembled a fleet off the village of Balfour, in Elwick bay c 1263, in order to do battle with the Scots at Largs. As it turns out, they should have stayed put, because some of their fleet ran aground in a storm and the Scottish squaddies waiting on the beach at Largs, kicked seven bells out of Hakon and his team. Ayre seems to be a norse word for a strip of sea which has been cut off from the main body of water by a narrow neck of land. Shapinsay has a few, the Ayre of Vasa/Vasa Loch and Lairo water, for example. The OS map shows a swamp/nature reserve called Balaclava, to the north of Elwick bay, on Shapinsay.
The second island, which lies three and a half miles or so north west of Shapinsay, is likely to be Wyre. Edwin Muir the poet (born c 1887), is said in some of his bios, to have lived there until the age of fourteen, when he tragically had to leave his Orcadian paradise and go and live in county Hell (aka mainland Britain). Muir is said to have written a poem called 'The Horses', in some references. The oldest stone built castle in Scotland, (Cubbie Roo's Castle) is said to be on Wyre (constructed c 1145 ad), for a big bampot of a giant called Kolbein Hruga. Kolbein Hruga got banned from every pub on the island and the only place he could get a drink was at the lodge, which only opens on Wednesdays.
The fourth island is likely to be Sanday, according to the Northern Lighthouse Board, it does have a lighthouse at Start Point, which is said to have been constructed by Robert Stevenson c 1806 and is around twenty five metres or eighty two feet high. The ferry route looks to pass close to Sanday (about two miles on the map), before it turns to the south and the pier at Whitehall village, on Stronsay. From the south coast of Stronsay, it should be possible (weather permitting), to see the island of Auskerry, which some sources say is around two hundred and ten acres in area. The NLB claim that the one hundred and eleven foot lighthouse on Auskerry, was built by David and Thomas Stevenson c 1866. A 'Gloup' is said to be a partially collapsed sea cave (the word is probably onomatopoeic, gloup being the noise the sea makes as it slops in). According to the OS map, there seems to be one on Stronsay and its called the 'Vat of Kirbuster Gloup'.
Link to the competition
Where Was I?
Q1. Shapinsay
Q2. Stronsay
(N.B. for question one, it is a little unclear whether the first island is Shapinsay or Mainland but as the puzzle author says the second island is Wyre and the first mention of an island is describing Shapinsay, the Eastender is taking a punt that the first one is in fact Shapinsay)
The initial clues most likely place us at Kirkwall ( a busy ferry port), on an island in the Orkneys group, which bizarrely seems to be called 'Mainland'. Some sources claim that the first dedicated armed forces newspaper, the 'Orkney Blast', was started here during world war II, by a writer and soldier called Major Eric Linklater (born c 1899). Linklater seems to have been an incredibly industrious and prolific writer (despite being shot up during world war I), who won several awards, both for his books and for his public service. Some references say that he is buried in the Harray parish kirkyard, which looks to be around ten miles or so north west of Kirkwall. He does seem to have published a book called 'Private Angelo' c 1946, which is said to be a war satire.
An island which lies to the east of some of the northern ferry routes out of Kirkwall and which has as its highest point 'Ward Hill', at two hundred and ten feet or sixty four metres, is likely to be Shapinsay. Balfour castle lies on its western tip and according to some sources, it was designed by an Edinburgh architect called David Bryce (born c 1803). Bryce was known for his baronial style designs. Hakon Hakonarson, once a king of Norway, is said to have assembled a fleet off the village of Balfour, in Elwick bay c 1263, in order to do battle with the Scots at Largs. As it turns out, they should have stayed put, because some of their fleet ran aground in a storm and the Scottish squaddies waiting on the beach at Largs, kicked seven bells out of Hakon and his team. Ayre seems to be a norse word for a strip of sea which has been cut off from the main body of water by a narrow neck of land. Shapinsay has a few, the Ayre of Vasa/Vasa Loch and Lairo water, for example. The OS map shows a swamp/nature reserve called Balaclava, to the north of Elwick bay, on Shapinsay.
The second island, which lies three and a half miles or so north west of Shapinsay, is likely to be Wyre. Edwin Muir the poet (born c 1887), is said in some of his bios, to have lived there until the age of fourteen, when he tragically had to leave his Orcadian paradise and go and live in county Hell (aka mainland Britain). Muir is said to have written a poem called 'The Horses', in some references. The oldest stone built castle in Scotland, (Cubbie Roo's Castle) is said to be on Wyre (constructed c 1145 ad), for a big bampot of a giant called Kolbein Hruga. Kolbein Hruga got banned from every pub on the island and the only place he could get a drink was at the lodge, which only opens on Wednesdays.
The fourth island is likely to be Sanday, according to the Northern Lighthouse Board, it does have a lighthouse at Start Point, which is said to have been constructed by Robert Stevenson c 1806 and is around twenty five metres or eighty two feet high. The ferry route looks to pass close to Sanday (about two miles on the map), before it turns to the south and the pier at Whitehall village, on Stronsay. From the south coast of Stronsay, it should be possible (weather permitting), to see the island of Auskerry, which some sources say is around two hundred and ten acres in area. The NLB claim that the one hundred and eleven foot lighthouse on Auskerry, was built by David and Thomas Stevenson c 1866. A 'Gloup' is said to be a partially collapsed sea cave (the word is probably onomatopoeic, gloup being the noise the sea makes as it slops in). According to the OS map, there seems to be one on Stronsay and its called the 'Vat of Kirbuster Gloup'.
Link to the competition
Where Was I?
Saturday, 31 August 2013
Sunday Times Where Was I? Holiday Competition
Near as I can figure it, through the possibly flawed perceptual filters of my reality tunnel, the most likely answers this week, seem to me to be:
Q1. The Royal Sovereign Lighthouse
Q2. Eastbourne
The initial clues place us most likely in the town of Eastbourne, in the county of East Sussex. Several sources claim that the pier there was opened c 1870 and is around 1000 feet long. According to the Trinity house website, a 36 metre (118 feet) high telescopic lighthouse, called the Royal Sovereign, warns ships of the Royal Sovereign Shoal, which looks to lie five miles or so, to the south east of the town. A chain of 74 Martello towers guarded the south coast of England at one time and number 73, which is known in some circles, as the 'Wish Tower', is marked on some maps, as being in Eastbourne. The town is also famous for its carpet like flower beds, which are planted along the promenade.
The national trail is most likely to be the 'South Downs Way', which according to some references, has its highest point on Butser Hill (around 270 metres or 886 feet ), in Hampshire. The school the author is referring to, from the positional information given, could be St Bede's prepatory school, on Duke's drive. Two writers born c 1903, who were educated in Eastbourne, at St Cyprian's school were Cyril Connolly and Eric Arthur Blair (aka George Orwell). Connolly wrote a novel called 'The Rock Pool', which according to some sources, featured a town called 'Trou-Sur-Mer'. Blair knew Connolly and the latter published some of his essays. The quote "We of the sinking middle class may sink without further struggles into the working class where we belong, and probably when we get there it will not be so dreadful as we feared, for, after all, we have nothing to lose." , is attributed to George Orwell. The third writer is most likely Edna Lyall (born c 1857 aka Ada Ellen Bayly). She published a book called Donovan and lived in Eastbourne for a time. A doctor who is a good fit for the forger (and suspected serial killer) in the description, could be Dr John Bodkin Adams (born c 1899) who practised in the town for a while.
Scenes from the film Quadrophenia (c 1979) which was based on the 1973 Who album of the same name, were shot in and around Eastbourne. Little Jimmy (played by Phil Daniels) drives the character played by Sting's scooter, off the cliffs, near the town. The South Downs National Park,is said to be around six hundred and eighteen square miles in area and the highest point on the headland mentioned in the puzzle, at 164 metres or 538 feet, is likely to be the sea cliff at Beachy Head. The writer and NCF probably stop at Birling Gap, which looks to be around two miles or so from Beachy Head and looking north west from there, could bring the Seven Sisters chalk sea cliffs into view. There is an area within the Seven Sisters cliffs, marked as 'Rough Bottom' on the OS map.
link to competition
Where Was I?
Q1. The Royal Sovereign Lighthouse
Q2. Eastbourne
The initial clues place us most likely in the town of Eastbourne, in the county of East Sussex. Several sources claim that the pier there was opened c 1870 and is around 1000 feet long. According to the Trinity house website, a 36 metre (118 feet) high telescopic lighthouse, called the Royal Sovereign, warns ships of the Royal Sovereign Shoal, which looks to lie five miles or so, to the south east of the town. A chain of 74 Martello towers guarded the south coast of England at one time and number 73, which is known in some circles, as the 'Wish Tower', is marked on some maps, as being in Eastbourne. The town is also famous for its carpet like flower beds, which are planted along the promenade.
The national trail is most likely to be the 'South Downs Way', which according to some references, has its highest point on Butser Hill (around 270 metres or 886 feet ), in Hampshire. The school the author is referring to, from the positional information given, could be St Bede's prepatory school, on Duke's drive. Two writers born c 1903, who were educated in Eastbourne, at St Cyprian's school were Cyril Connolly and Eric Arthur Blair (aka George Orwell). Connolly wrote a novel called 'The Rock Pool', which according to some sources, featured a town called 'Trou-Sur-Mer'. Blair knew Connolly and the latter published some of his essays. The quote "We of the sinking middle class may sink without further struggles into the working class where we belong, and probably when we get there it will not be so dreadful as we feared, for, after all, we have nothing to lose." , is attributed to George Orwell. The third writer is most likely Edna Lyall (born c 1857 aka Ada Ellen Bayly). She published a book called Donovan and lived in Eastbourne for a time. A doctor who is a good fit for the forger (and suspected serial killer) in the description, could be Dr John Bodkin Adams (born c 1899) who practised in the town for a while.
Scenes from the film Quadrophenia (c 1979) which was based on the 1973 Who album of the same name, were shot in and around Eastbourne. Little Jimmy (played by Phil Daniels) drives the character played by Sting's scooter, off the cliffs, near the town. The South Downs National Park,is said to be around six hundred and eighteen square miles in area and the highest point on the headland mentioned in the puzzle, at 164 metres or 538 feet, is likely to be the sea cliff at Beachy Head. The writer and NCF probably stop at Birling Gap, which looks to be around two miles or so from Beachy Head and looking north west from there, could bring the Seven Sisters chalk sea cliffs into view. There is an area within the Seven Sisters cliffs, marked as 'Rough Bottom' on the OS map.
link to competition
Where Was I?
Saturday, 24 August 2013
Sunday Times Where Was I? Holiday Competition
Near as I can figure it, through the possibly flawed perceptual filters of my reality tunnel, the most likely answers this week, seem to me to be:
Q1. Monmouth
Q2. St Briavel's Castle
(N.B. for question 1, the name of the town is marked on some maps as Monmouth/Trefynwy)
The initial clues most likely place us in the town on Monmouth, in Wales . A royal who was born in the gatehouse of Monmouth castle c 1387, is likely to be Henry V. His brother was called Humphrey but their maternal grandfather, according to some references, was called Humphrey de Bohun, 7th Earl of Hereford. Some sources claim that Monmouth castle was constructed between 1067 and 1071. The town does have an Agincourt square, where there seems to be a statue of the aviation pioneer Charles Rolls, said in some references, to be the first Briton to have died in a powered aircraft accident.
Traces were found of a Roman fort called 'Blestium' in Monmouth and on some maps, there is a street shown, called 'Blestium Street'. Walking south west from the castle would bring us to the river Monnow and the Monnow bridge, with its medieval fortified gate tower (allegedly built c 1272 or 1262 depending on which source you believe).
The aviator Charles Rolls, is said to be buried in the village of Llangattock-Vibon-Avel, which lies about two miles or so north west of Monmouth. A singer/songwriter who lived and died in Monmouth and who produced an album called 'Live Performance' c 1971 (EMI Records), is likely to be Jake Thackery.
Driving south\south east from Monmouth on the A466 would take us into the Wye Valley and close to the Offa's Dyke National Trail and the Wye Valley Walk but it is the Offa's Dyke National Trail which according to some sources has its highest point at 2297ft (700 m). There looks to be a junction off the A466 around five miles south/south east of Monmouth and if followed to the east, would bring you to St Briavel's castle, which according to English heritage, was constructed c 12 century.The gatehouse was built c 1292 by a power crazed sociopath called Edward I (who was allegedly a cousin of Henry of Almain). It seems to be a borderline decision on the author's part, because St Briavel's is in England and the village he ends up visiting, looks like it's in Wales.
Tintern Abbey (second cistercian foundation in Britain, said to have been founded c1131 by Walter de Clare, Lord of Chepstow), in said village was again put out of business by the notorious 'enry the Eighth and it's visitors centre seems to have been a station, which closed c 1959. The photographs of the abbey do indeed show that it is roofless. The lines "rolling from their mountain-springs/With a soft inland murmer" appear to originate from William Wordsworth, who may have composed them , a few miles above Tintern Abbey, on the banks of the Wye, during a tour c 13th July 1798.
The Eastender's Javascripts detect that the Thunderball machine continues to output words on the theme of deities, not content with generating ZEUS, ISIS, NIKE and LOKI it now produces
RAMA: any of Vishnu's three incarnations
Fri 23 Aug 13 [A] H J Y 39 G
Wed 21 Aug 13 E F [M] T 38 N
Sat 17 Aug 13 [A] D F 30 37 B
Fri 16 Aug 13 D [R] 28 32 35 K
Original data substituted as follows, shown below
1=A,2=B,3=C,4=D,5=E,6=F,7=G,8=H,I=9,J=10,K=11,L=12,M=13,N=14,O=15,P=16,Q=17,R=18,S=19,T=20,U=21,V=22,W=23,X=24,Y=25,Z=26
Fri 23 Aug 13 [01] 08 10 25 39 07
Wed 21 Aug 13 05 06 [13] 20 38 14
Sat 17 Aug 13 [01] 04 06 30 37 02
Fri 16 Aug 13 04 [18] 28 32 35 11
If you see the name of a god or goddess appearing in your data, taking a punt on the 'letter' which completes it, showing up in the next game, could on past performance, produce a positive result. Read more about this here.
Lotto Codewords in the Thunderball Game
link to the competition
Where Was I
Q1. Monmouth
Q2. St Briavel's Castle
(N.B. for question 1, the name of the town is marked on some maps as Monmouth/Trefynwy)
The initial clues most likely place us in the town on Monmouth, in Wales . A royal who was born in the gatehouse of Monmouth castle c 1387, is likely to be Henry V. His brother was called Humphrey but their maternal grandfather, according to some references, was called Humphrey de Bohun, 7th Earl of Hereford. Some sources claim that Monmouth castle was constructed between 1067 and 1071. The town does have an Agincourt square, where there seems to be a statue of the aviation pioneer Charles Rolls, said in some references, to be the first Briton to have died in a powered aircraft accident.
Traces were found of a Roman fort called 'Blestium' in Monmouth and on some maps, there is a street shown, called 'Blestium Street'. Walking south west from the castle would bring us to the river Monnow and the Monnow bridge, with its medieval fortified gate tower (allegedly built c 1272 or 1262 depending on which source you believe).
The aviator Charles Rolls, is said to be buried in the village of Llangattock-Vibon-Avel, which lies about two miles or so north west of Monmouth. A singer/songwriter who lived and died in Monmouth and who produced an album called 'Live Performance' c 1971 (EMI Records), is likely to be Jake Thackery.
Driving south\south east from Monmouth on the A466 would take us into the Wye Valley and close to the Offa's Dyke National Trail and the Wye Valley Walk but it is the Offa's Dyke National Trail which according to some sources has its highest point at 2297ft (700 m). There looks to be a junction off the A466 around five miles south/south east of Monmouth and if followed to the east, would bring you to St Briavel's castle, which according to English heritage, was constructed c 12 century.The gatehouse was built c 1292 by a power crazed sociopath called Edward I (who was allegedly a cousin of Henry of Almain). It seems to be a borderline decision on the author's part, because St Briavel's is in England and the village he ends up visiting, looks like it's in Wales.
Tintern Abbey (second cistercian foundation in Britain, said to have been founded c1131 by Walter de Clare, Lord of Chepstow), in said village was again put out of business by the notorious 'enry the Eighth and it's visitors centre seems to have been a station, which closed c 1959. The photographs of the abbey do indeed show that it is roofless. The lines "rolling from their mountain-springs/With a soft inland murmer" appear to originate from William Wordsworth, who may have composed them , a few miles above Tintern Abbey, on the banks of the Wye, during a tour c 13th July 1798.
The Eastender's Javascripts detect that the Thunderball machine continues to output words on the theme of deities, not content with generating ZEUS, ISIS, NIKE and LOKI it now produces
RAMA: any of Vishnu's three incarnations
Fri 23 Aug 13 [A] H J Y 39 G
Wed 21 Aug 13 E F [M] T 38 N
Sat 17 Aug 13 [A] D F 30 37 B
Fri 16 Aug 13 D [R] 28 32 35 K
Original data substituted as follows, shown below
1=A,2=B,3=C,4=D,5=E,6=F,7=G,8=H,I=9,J=10,K=11,L=12,M=13,N=14,O=15,P=16,Q=17,R=18,S=19,T=20,U=21,V=22,W=23,X=24,Y=25,Z=26
Fri 23 Aug 13 [01] 08 10 25 39 07
Wed 21 Aug 13 05 06 [13] 20 38 14
Sat 17 Aug 13 [01] 04 06 30 37 02
Fri 16 Aug 13 04 [18] 28 32 35 11
If you see the name of a god or goddess appearing in your data, taking a punt on the 'letter' which completes it, showing up in the next game, could on past performance, produce a positive result. Read more about this here.
Lotto Codewords in the Thunderball Game
link to the competition
Where Was I
Saturday, 17 August 2013
Sunday Times Where Was I? Holiday Competition
Near as I can figure it, through the possibly flawed perceptual filters of my own reality tunnel, the most likely answers this week, seem to me to be:
Q1. Loch Harport
Q2. Soay
(N.B. for question one, there are several inlets on Skye, which match the description given but there don't seem to be lighthouses shown near them on the OS map, so the Eastender is taking a punt on the answer being the one with the Ardtreck lighthouse, which was built c 2000, on a headland at Loch Harport)
The initial clues place us most likely on the shore of Loch Harport, on the Isle of Skye, in Scotland. Loch Harport is around five miles long. There are other inlets of similar length on the island, Loch Dunvegan and Loch Snizort Beag, for example but these do not seem to have lighthouses on a headland near them. The Northern Lighthouse Board's website however, claims that the Ardtreck lighthouse, which lies on a headland, which can likely be seen from the northern shore of Loch Harport, was built c 2000. It is unclear whether the author is on the northern shore of Loch Harport, looking south across the water to the Ardtreck light, or whether he is on the southern shore looking across the northern tip of headland where the light is situated.
From the description given, the puzzle writer has most likely travelled to Glen Brittle, which is bounded to the east by the Cuillin mountain range. The highest peak in the Cuillins, is said by some sources, to be Sgurr Alasdair, at 992 metres or 3255 feet, which makes it a Munro. The mountain is said to be named after a Gaelic scholar and sheriff, called Alexander Nicolson. There is a reference to one of Nicolson's poems ('The Isle of Skye'), in 'The Clarion of Skye' newspaper, Issue 46, November 1954, page 12.
Travelling back up Glen Brittle and heading east, would bring us to the vicinity of Loch Sligachan and a twin peaked mountain called 'Glamaig'. The peaks which are referred to in the text at 2543 feet or 775 metres and 2208 feet or 673 metres respectively, are most likely Sgurr Mhairi and An Coileach and they lie south of the road on the southern shore of Loch Sligachan. Going east to the end of the road would bring you into sight of the Eyre Point lighthouse, which the NLB says was constructed by Charles Alexander Stevenson (born c 1855), c 1938.
Around nine miles south east of Loch Sligachan, lies Broadford bay and from here, you can likely see the island of Pabay, which according to several sources, does seem to issue its own stamps. Driving southwest from Broadford bay on the 8083,would bring you to a dorp called Elgol but it doesn't look anything like a twenty mile trip as the crow flies. From the village you can likely see the island of Soay, which according to some references, was purchased c 1944 by an eccentric author called Gavin Maxwell (born c 1914). Maxwell was a real character, he kept a pet otter, went exploring with Wilfred Thessiger and was in the Special Operations Executive (SOE) during the war. He would probably be in jail today though, for destroying the basking shark population around Skye, which is what his book on the time he spent on Soay, is about ('Harpoon at a Venture' , published c 1952). Maxwell owned another island called Eilean Ban but this is in the wrong position to match the directions given and now has a bridge going over it. 2560 acres, equates to around 1035/1036 hectares and several references claim these dimensions for Soay, as well as it being home to the first solar powered telephone exchange.
Nine miles south from Broadford bay would bring us to the vicinity of one of clan Donald's strongholds, ie the fifteenth century Knock Castle (they also had castles at Dunscaith and Armadale but Knock seems to be a good fit for the clues given).
After finding the name ZEUS (father of the gods) in the Thunderball data a few weeks back, the Eastender's Javascripts have also uncovered some lesser deities concealed within the data, namely ISIS (Egyptian goddess), NIKE(Greek Goddess of victory) and LOKI (Norse trickster god and father of the Fenris wolf).
LOKI
Sat 10 Aug 13 10 R J [I] E 12
Fri 09 Aug 13 02 05 Y R [K] 07
Wed 07 Aug 13 04 V U [O] I 05
Sat 03 Aug 13 Q N [L] E B 10
NIKE
Sat 10 Aug 13 10 R J I [E] 12
Fri 09 Aug 13 02 05 Y R [K] 07
Wed 07 Aug 13 04 V U O [I] 05
Sat 03 Aug 13 Q [N] L E B 10
Original data, substituted as shown below:
39 = A, 38 = B, 37 = C, 36 = D, 35 = E, 34 = F, 33 = G, 32 = H, 31 = I, 30 = J, 29 = K, 28 = L, 27 = M, 26 = N, 25 = O, 24 = P, 23 = Q, 22 = R, 21 = S, 20 = T, 19 = U, 18 = V, 17 = W, 16 = X, 15 = Y, 14 = Z
Sat 10 Aug 13 10 22 30 31 35 12
Fri 09 Aug 13 02 05 15 22 29 07
Wed 07 Aug 13 04 18 19 25 31 05
Sat 03 Aug 13 23 26 28 35 38 10
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ISIS
Fri 19 Apr 13 G [I] J M 29 E
Wed 17 Apr 13 B L [S] Y 29 B
Sat 13 Apr 13 C [I] K O S L
Fri 12 Apr 13 F H [S] 36 37 K
Original data, substituted as follows, shown below:
A=1,B=2,C=3,D=4,E=5,F=6,G=7,H=8,I=9,J=10,K=11,L=12,M=13,N=14,O=15,P=16,Q=17,R=18,S=19,T=20,U=21,V=22,W=23,X=24,Y=25,Z=26
Fri 19 Apr 13 07 09 10 13 29 05
Wed 17 Apr 13 02 12 19 25 29 02
Sat 13 Apr 13 03 09 11 15 19 12
Fri 12 Apr 13 06 08 19 36 37 11
Read more about the words generated by Lotto machines, here:
Lotto Coderwords in the Thunderball game
Link to the competition:
Where Was I?
Q1. Loch Harport
Q2. Soay
(N.B. for question one, there are several inlets on Skye, which match the description given but there don't seem to be lighthouses shown near them on the OS map, so the Eastender is taking a punt on the answer being the one with the Ardtreck lighthouse, which was built c 2000, on a headland at Loch Harport)
The initial clues place us most likely on the shore of Loch Harport, on the Isle of Skye, in Scotland. Loch Harport is around five miles long. There are other inlets of similar length on the island, Loch Dunvegan and Loch Snizort Beag, for example but these do not seem to have lighthouses on a headland near them. The Northern Lighthouse Board's website however, claims that the Ardtreck lighthouse, which lies on a headland, which can likely be seen from the northern shore of Loch Harport, was built c 2000. It is unclear whether the author is on the northern shore of Loch Harport, looking south across the water to the Ardtreck light, or whether he is on the southern shore looking across the northern tip of headland where the light is situated.
From the description given, the puzzle writer has most likely travelled to Glen Brittle, which is bounded to the east by the Cuillin mountain range. The highest peak in the Cuillins, is said by some sources, to be Sgurr Alasdair, at 992 metres or 3255 feet, which makes it a Munro. The mountain is said to be named after a Gaelic scholar and sheriff, called Alexander Nicolson. There is a reference to one of Nicolson's poems ('The Isle of Skye'), in 'The Clarion of Skye' newspaper, Issue 46, November 1954, page 12.
Travelling back up Glen Brittle and heading east, would bring us to the vicinity of Loch Sligachan and a twin peaked mountain called 'Glamaig'. The peaks which are referred to in the text at 2543 feet or 775 metres and 2208 feet or 673 metres respectively, are most likely Sgurr Mhairi and An Coileach and they lie south of the road on the southern shore of Loch Sligachan. Going east to the end of the road would bring you into sight of the Eyre Point lighthouse, which the NLB says was constructed by Charles Alexander Stevenson (born c 1855), c 1938.
Around nine miles south east of Loch Sligachan, lies Broadford bay and from here, you can likely see the island of Pabay, which according to several sources, does seem to issue its own stamps. Driving southwest from Broadford bay on the 8083,would bring you to a dorp called Elgol but it doesn't look anything like a twenty mile trip as the crow flies. From the village you can likely see the island of Soay, which according to some references, was purchased c 1944 by an eccentric author called Gavin Maxwell (born c 1914). Maxwell was a real character, he kept a pet otter, went exploring with Wilfred Thessiger and was in the Special Operations Executive (SOE) during the war. He would probably be in jail today though, for destroying the basking shark population around Skye, which is what his book on the time he spent on Soay, is about ('Harpoon at a Venture' , published c 1952). Maxwell owned another island called Eilean Ban but this is in the wrong position to match the directions given and now has a bridge going over it. 2560 acres, equates to around 1035/1036 hectares and several references claim these dimensions for Soay, as well as it being home to the first solar powered telephone exchange.
Nine miles south from Broadford bay would bring us to the vicinity of one of clan Donald's strongholds, ie the fifteenth century Knock Castle (they also had castles at Dunscaith and Armadale but Knock seems to be a good fit for the clues given).
After finding the name ZEUS (father of the gods) in the Thunderball data a few weeks back, the Eastender's Javascripts have also uncovered some lesser deities concealed within the data, namely ISIS (Egyptian goddess), NIKE(Greek Goddess of victory) and LOKI (Norse trickster god and father of the Fenris wolf).
LOKI
Sat 10 Aug 13 10 R J [I] E 12
Fri 09 Aug 13 02 05 Y R [K] 07
Wed 07 Aug 13 04 V U [O] I 05
Sat 03 Aug 13 Q N [L] E B 10
NIKE
Sat 10 Aug 13 10 R J I [E] 12
Fri 09 Aug 13 02 05 Y R [K] 07
Wed 07 Aug 13 04 V U O [I] 05
Sat 03 Aug 13 Q [N] L E B 10
Original data, substituted as shown below:
39 = A, 38 = B, 37 = C, 36 = D, 35 = E, 34 = F, 33 = G, 32 = H, 31 = I, 30 = J, 29 = K, 28 = L, 27 = M, 26 = N, 25 = O, 24 = P, 23 = Q, 22 = R, 21 = S, 20 = T, 19 = U, 18 = V, 17 = W, 16 = X, 15 = Y, 14 = Z
Sat 10 Aug 13 10 22 30 31 35 12
Fri 09 Aug 13 02 05 15 22 29 07
Wed 07 Aug 13 04 18 19 25 31 05
Sat 03 Aug 13 23 26 28 35 38 10
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ISIS
Fri 19 Apr 13 G [I] J M 29 E
Wed 17 Apr 13 B L [S] Y 29 B
Sat 13 Apr 13 C [I] K O S L
Fri 12 Apr 13 F H [S] 36 37 K
Original data, substituted as follows, shown below:
A=1,B=2,C=3,D=4,E=5,F=6,G=7,H=8,I=9,J=10,K=11,L=12,M=13,N=14,O=15,P=16,Q=17,R=18,S=19,T=20,U=21,V=22,W=23,X=24,Y=25,Z=26
Fri 19 Apr 13 07 09 10 13 29 05
Wed 17 Apr 13 02 12 19 25 29 02
Sat 13 Apr 13 03 09 11 15 19 12
Fri 12 Apr 13 06 08 19 36 37 11
Read more about the words generated by Lotto machines, here:
Lotto Coderwords in the Thunderball game
Link to the competition:
Where Was I?
Saturday, 10 August 2013
Sunday Times Where Was I? Holiday Competition
Near as I can figure it, through the possibly flawed perceptual filters of my own reality tunnel, the most likely answers this week, seem to me to be:
Q1. Nottingham
Q2. (Sir) Peter de la Mare
The initial clues place us on a street called 'The Gt Northern', in the city of Nottingham. The Great Northern Railway was according to some sources, established by the Great Northern Railway act c 1846. Some references claim that London road high level and London road low level stations in Nottingham, were constructed by the GNR and opened c 1857. The low level station was said to have been closed to passenger c 1944 and the high level closed to passengers c 1967. Travelling west on 'The Gt Northern' street and crossing over London road, brings us to Station street and Nottingham station .
Travelling north from the station takes us across Nottingham canal (the other canal referred to in the puzzle, is most likely the Erewash canal, which lies to the west of the city and is said in some references to have opened c 1779 and to be 12 miles long.
Moving west along Canal street takes us to Castle street and Nottingham castle, which was constructed by William the Conqueror as a motte and bailey wooden structure c 1067. The current edifice, is believed to have been built by the Duke of Newcastle, Henry Cavendish c1674 - 1679. A queen born c 1295 who was holed up here with her lover, Roger de Mortimer (born c 1287), was queen Isabella. They were arrested by Edward III and his goon squad, after they used 'Mortimer's hole', allegedly an underground way into the castle, to gain access. Some references claim that Edward III founded the order of the garter.
A king (parents Annabella Drummond and Robert III of Scotland) who was incarcerated in Nottingham castle for around two years, after his ship got into difficulties and ran aground off Flamborough head, was James I of Scotland. Two people were elected speaker of the House of Commons in 1377, Sir Thomas Hungerford and Sir Peter de la Mare. I couldn't find a reference on Hungerford being locked up in the castle but found several which claim that Sir Peter de la Mare was, by John of Gaunt (for something involving the King's mistress). A tobacco manufacturer (born c 1839) who trademarked an image of the castle, is likely to be John Player.
Wandering north east from the castle takes you across Maid Marrian way and towards the Victoria shopping centre, which is built on the site of the old Victoria station and does seem to have a 100 foot clock tower close to it.
Lotto machines generate words as a co product of their normal operations, the Eastender's data mining explorations have found that there can be as many as twenty two possible letters which could form words, if they appeared in the next game and combine with the existing data and it is no good betting when this is the case, however, charting the number of possible letters vs number of letters which actually appear, shows that there are instances, where the number of possible letters, comes close to converging with the number which actually appear and it is here that a low cost bet can sometimes produce positive results. You can also sometimes let your unconscious mind/intuition suggest a word, in the case below, taking a punt on the letters that complete the word DORSEY, from the game played on Wed 07 Aug 13, would have gotten you two winning numbers in the game played on Fri 09 Aug 13...(don't discount the power of the unconscious mind, it is very good at seeing patterns in data)
DORSEY - Tommy Dorsey, American Jazz Trombonist.
[O] [E]
[D] [R][S] [Y]
Fri 09 Aug 13 B [E] [O] V 29 G
Wed 07 Aug 13 [D] [R] [S] [Y] 31 E
Here's a phrase that showed up in previous games
DEJA VU - from the French, literally, 'already seen'
Fri 06 Apr 12 [A] Q [V] X 37 L
Wed 04 Apr 12 [ D E J] [U] 34 E
The original UK Thunderball data below, was substituted as follows:
A=1, B=2, C=3, D=4, E=5, F=6, G=7, H=8, I=9, J=10, K=11, L=12, M=13, N=14, O=15,P=16
Q=17, R=18, S=19, T=20, U=21, V=22, W=23, X=24, Y=25, Z=26
Fri 09 Aug 13 02 05 15 22 29 07
Wed 07 Aug 13 04 18 19 25 31 05
Link to the competition
Where Was I?
Q1. Nottingham
Q2. (Sir) Peter de la Mare
The initial clues place us on a street called 'The Gt Northern', in the city of Nottingham. The Great Northern Railway was according to some sources, established by the Great Northern Railway act c 1846. Some references claim that London road high level and London road low level stations in Nottingham, were constructed by the GNR and opened c 1857. The low level station was said to have been closed to passenger c 1944 and the high level closed to passengers c 1967. Travelling west on 'The Gt Northern' street and crossing over London road, brings us to Station street and Nottingham station .
Travelling north from the station takes us across Nottingham canal (the other canal referred to in the puzzle, is most likely the Erewash canal, which lies to the west of the city and is said in some references to have opened c 1779 and to be 12 miles long.
Moving west along Canal street takes us to Castle street and Nottingham castle, which was constructed by William the Conqueror as a motte and bailey wooden structure c 1067. The current edifice, is believed to have been built by the Duke of Newcastle, Henry Cavendish c1674 - 1679. A queen born c 1295 who was holed up here with her lover, Roger de Mortimer (born c 1287), was queen Isabella. They were arrested by Edward III and his goon squad, after they used 'Mortimer's hole', allegedly an underground way into the castle, to gain access. Some references claim that Edward III founded the order of the garter.
A king (parents Annabella Drummond and Robert III of Scotland) who was incarcerated in Nottingham castle for around two years, after his ship got into difficulties and ran aground off Flamborough head, was James I of Scotland. Two people were elected speaker of the House of Commons in 1377, Sir Thomas Hungerford and Sir Peter de la Mare. I couldn't find a reference on Hungerford being locked up in the castle but found several which claim that Sir Peter de la Mare was, by John of Gaunt (for something involving the King's mistress). A tobacco manufacturer (born c 1839) who trademarked an image of the castle, is likely to be John Player.
Wandering north east from the castle takes you across Maid Marrian way and towards the Victoria shopping centre, which is built on the site of the old Victoria station and does seem to have a 100 foot clock tower close to it.
Lotto machines generate words as a co product of their normal operations, the Eastender's data mining explorations have found that there can be as many as twenty two possible letters which could form words, if they appeared in the next game and combine with the existing data and it is no good betting when this is the case, however, charting the number of possible letters vs number of letters which actually appear, shows that there are instances, where the number of possible letters, comes close to converging with the number which actually appear and it is here that a low cost bet can sometimes produce positive results. You can also sometimes let your unconscious mind/intuition suggest a word, in the case below, taking a punt on the letters that complete the word DORSEY, from the game played on Wed 07 Aug 13, would have gotten you two winning numbers in the game played on Fri 09 Aug 13...(don't discount the power of the unconscious mind, it is very good at seeing patterns in data)
DORSEY - Tommy Dorsey, American Jazz Trombonist.
[O] [E]
[D] [R][S] [Y]
Fri 09 Aug 13 B [E] [O] V 29 G
Wed 07 Aug 13 [D] [R] [S] [Y] 31 E
Here's a phrase that showed up in previous games
DEJA VU - from the French, literally, 'already seen'
Fri 06 Apr 12 [A] Q [V] X 37 L
Wed 04 Apr 12 [ D E J] [U] 34 E
The original UK Thunderball data below, was substituted as follows:
A=1, B=2, C=3, D=4, E=5, F=6, G=7, H=8, I=9, J=10, K=11, L=12, M=13, N=14, O=15,P=16
Q=17, R=18, S=19, T=20, U=21, V=22, W=23, X=24, Y=25, Z=26
Fri 09 Aug 13 02 05 15 22 29 07
Wed 07 Aug 13 04 18 19 25 31 05
Fri 6 Apr 2012 01 17 22 24 37 12
Wed 4 Apr 2012 04 05 10 21 34 05
Wed 4 Apr 2012 04 05 10 21 34 05
Read more about this here:
Link to the competition
Where Was I?
Saturday, 3 August 2013
The Sunday Times Where Was I? Holiday Competition
Quite a bit to research this week, near as I can figure it through the possibly flawed perceptual filters of my own reality tunnel, the most likely answers seem to me to be:
Q1. John Zoffany (aka Johann Zoffany)
Q2. Syon House
(N.B. for question one, this artist is known variously as John Zoffany, Johann Zoffany, Zoffani, Zauphaly and Zauffelij but as he was German born but lived in England, it is probably the English version of the name they are looking for as the answer)
The initial clues place us at St Anne's church in the marvellous Kew Gardens, in the borough of Richmond, in London. I found several references which claim that the church was built c 1714 and that it was named after queen Anne. There are several artists buried in the grounds but the ones which most fit with the clues are Johann Zoffany (born c 1773 - died c 1810) and known to have painted a work called 'Venice Preserv'd' and Thomas Gainsborough (born c 1727 - died c 1788), known to have painted a work called 'The Mall in St James's Park'. 'Venice Preserv'd' seems to be the name of a play by Thomas Otway and Zoffany's painting, shows an actor called David Garrick, starring in it.
The world heritage site which the church overlooks, is the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, which was awarded this status c 2003. The extraordinarily creative and productive architect who designed the Pagoda and some of the temples in Kew gardens, was most likely Sir William Chambers, born c 1722 - 1723, depending on which source you want to believe. He is said to have designed the temples of Bellona and Aeolus. The 52,500 square foot building which is undergoing restoration, is most likely 'The Temperate House', which was designed by the second architect, Decimus Burton (born c 1800).
A riverside palace located in Kew Gardens, is 'The Dutch House' or as it is also known 'Kew Palace'. Several sources claim that this was constructed c 1631 by a merchant called Samuel Fortry. The upstart Hanoverians laid claim to it and it became for many years a royal residence . Queen Charlotte, who's mother was Princess Elizabeth Albertine of Saxe-Hilburghausen and father Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, is said in some references to have died there c 1818.
The only bridge in close vicinity to Kew Gardens, is Kew bridge and the author most likely crossed the Thames here, before walking south west into Brentford, where on the 12th of November 1642, the battle of Brentford was fought between the Parliamentarian forces and the Royalists. Some accounts claim it was more of a skirmish, with the Roundheads being caught unawares, after becoming a bit too chilled out while camping there and having a few beers and a barbecue.
The skirmish was fought in the ground of what is now Syon house, this is indeed built in the Italian renaissance style and is now home to the Duke of Northumberland. There was once an abbey there but it was destroyed by 'enry the eighth, who was said to be so fond of the pies, that he needed a mobility scooter to get around. A queen (for nine days allegedly) who was offered the crown at Syon house, is most likely lady Jane Grey (mother Lady Frances Brandon). I have not yet ascertained who the fourth queen who stayed in Syon was but it is said that Henry the Eighth's corpse fell out of the coffin while resting at Syon house on the way to Windsor castle and was licked by dogs, an event attributed to divine retribution by many ex Monastery inhabitants.
Lotto machines generate words as a co product of their normal operations, the Eastender's data mining exploits have found that there can be as many as twenty two possible letters which could form words, if they appeared in the next game and combine with the existing data and it is no good betting when this is the case, however, charting the number of possible letters vs number of letters which actually appear, shows that there are instances, where the number of possible letters, comes close to converging with the number which actually appear and it is here that a low cost bet can sometimes produce positive results. Here is a very nice example of such a convergence, which occurred this week, in the UK Thunderball results data:
ZEUS - Father of the gods
If you saw the sequence [Z][E][U] appearing in your carefully kept and monitored data files, which letter would you take a punt on to appear in the next game and complete the word? S perhaps? where S = 19.............
If you saw the sequence [Z][E][U] appearing in your carefully kept and monitored data files, which letter would you take a punt on to appear in the next game and complete the word? S perhaps? where S = 19.............
Wed 31 Jul 13 N P [S] U 31 C
Sat 27 Jul 13 P R [U] X 34 F
Fri 26 Jul 13 [E] P M 30 39 G
Wed 24 Jul 13 H K Y [Z] 29 D
The original UK Thunderball data below, was substituted as follows:
A=1, B=2, C=3, D=4, E=5, F=6, G=7, H=8, I=9, J=10, K=11, L=12, M=13, N=14, O=15,P=16
Q=17, R=18, S=19, T=20, U=21, V=22, W=23, X=24, Y=25, Z=26
Wed 31 Jul 13 14 16 19 21 31 03
Sat 27 Jul 13 16 18 21 24 34 06
Fri 26 Jul 13 05 16 19 30 39 07
Wed 24 Jul 13 08 11 25 26 29 04
Read more about this here:
Link to the competition
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