Drugs Game 2015

Photograph Quiz

 

Photo no:- one more than last time.

Question:- What is so very special for Godiva Harriers about the left hand book mark? What company produced them? What was the connection to Godiva Harriers? What was the connection to Coventry Harriers? How are Godiva connected to the three different Coventry Harriers?

Dear Blog,

                That load of question should keep you busy for a while?

                Now Blog, I have got a new game for you which I have invented.

Take a piece of paper, any piece of paper. Fold it in half, it doesn’t matter which way.

You now need some newspapers at least 2 years old. You will now need some athletic recordings from the radio and television at least two years old.

On the left hand side of the paper make a list of all the famous athletes who were active more than four years ago, preferably more than 20 years ago, who have been on tap to give quotes on athletic performance / athletic topics in the newspapers, on the radio or to pontificate on the television. Take examples from the pile of old newspapers and reels of old recordings.

Now on the right hand side of the paper make a similar list of famous athletes who were active more than four years ago, preferably more than 20 years ago, who have been on tap to give quotes over the last couple of months about the drugs scandal. Award yourself one mark for any athlete on the left hand side of the paper who is not on the right hand side of the paper. Well done.

Talking of the recent drugs scandal, I have said before that it would be interesting to test samples taken 20 or 30 years ago if they were still available. I don’t suppose for one minute that they are still in storage somewhere? Great pity, don’t you think Blog.

                                            Colin

Stripped naked for all to see

Photographic Quiz.

Photo number:- 217???

 

Question:-  Why did a few of Godiva race walkers visit this pub annually some years ago?

Dear Blog,

                 I always have considered myself to be broad minded. But last Sunday, in the club changing rooms I was shocked. Absolutely flabbergasted. I just could not believe it.

               I was alone in the changing rooms, just having had a shower and I was towelling myself dry when in comes this lad of about 12 or 13 I would guess, and he starts to get undressed. Well. Something I have never experienced before in my 50 plus years in the sport of using changing rooms. Blog I kid you not, I was dumb founded .....

                Many years ago, very many years ago wen I were summat ov a lad an ad started runnin  like wi them Bingley Arriers, we allus travelled to races in ordinary clothes and got changed at the race venues which always had changing rooms of varying quality, but changing rooms there were, which everyone used. It was expected that such facilities would be provided as a matter of course. After a race whether it be a road, cross country or track event, the facilities were used and all competitors showered and changed together. All the blokes were starkers and no one gave it a second thought as we had been brought up at school to shower after sport as a matter of habit. Unlike today

               I suppose all this washing and changing business changed with the jogging boom and all your comprehensibles started taking part in jogging where it was the taking part that counted and not the winning....... People started talking about 'doing' a race, not 'racing'. You pays lots of your quids, you amble about a bit with many others and you gets your medal and you gets your bit of ribbon and you gets your goody bag [what a horrid word that is] and you go home for a wash.

              Today showers are rarely available after a race, and when they are, hardly anyone besides myself seems to use them. Runners of both sexes travel home in kit, presumably to shower and change there?? It is the same at my running club. Few athletes bother to shower after training. And the few that do ...... well Blog, what can I say ... the few that do, strip off and then cover themselves with a towel to walk to the showers. Is it me Blog, or is it me? And the blokes don't wrap a towel just around the lower half of their body, oh no! They have a massive towel to hide all of themselves in. Only a couple of us seem to prance around stark naked on the way to and from the shower.

           So you can understand Blog, why I was gobsmacked [what a horrid word that is] last Sunday in the changing rooms at my running club when this kid waltzes in and starts to disrobe, if you will forgive the expression. Off comes his track suit top, then his tee shirt then his running vest then his tracksuit bottoms then his shorts then his pants then his socks. And what does he do next Blog. You might well ask. You will never ever believe what I am about to reveal to you Blog. Well it was embarrassing I can tell you Blog. Yes I will. Shocked I was. He then, Blog I kid you not, then, he started carefully to turn his socks inside out then he turned his pants inside out then he turned his shorts inside out then he turned his tracksuit bottoms inside out (no joke Blog) then he turned his vest inside out  then he turned his tee shirt inside out and finally he did the same with his tracksuit top as well!!! And guess what he did then Blog? Yes, you are quite correct. He started to put his socks back on, then he put his pants back on, then he put his shorts back on and then he got into his tracksuit bottoms followed by putting his vest back on, then his tee shirt then he got into his tracksuit top, all still inside out, and then he buggered off out of the changing rooms' door. Is that as hygienic as showering I asked myself Blog .... I could not answer myself as there is obviously two sides to this question.

                                                                                  Colin

Birmingham and District League Nov 7th 2015 at Leamington

Photographic Quiz.

Photo no:- you guessed wrong last time Blog, try again.

 

Question:-  Who was this Liberal Prime Minister credited with winning the WW1? Which two harrier clubs did he compete for??? [Blog I kid you not, not a lot of people know that including all (??) athletic statisticians!!!!]

Dear Blog,

                   I went to the first Birmingham and District Cross Country on Saturday at Newbold Comyn, Leamington Spa; the fixture combines all Leagues so the fields for the two races are big, this year bigger than ever, especially the Ladies field.

                 And what a co-incidence? Blog, I kid you not. As you are well aware, being a man with historical interests above and beyond the norm, so to speak, in the 1920s the National Cross Country Championships were held here and because of bad organisation on the part of the officials, the runners were required to pass through a farm gateway after about 400 yards (400 metres to you Blog)  of running. And the inevitable happened. The field funnelled into the narrow gap at the gate, kettled as they say these days, Blog, and the runners were squashed into a confined space, all but the first few runners getting through the space unimpeded. Tempers flared and fighting broke out. THE POLICE WERE CALLED.

               On Saturday, the Women's race completed, the men's competition started. With such a large field, the runners were soon strung out around the course, and after the first lap offered the spectacle of an almost uninterrupted line of competitors all around the course - quite a sight!  Being a public park, there is the usual number of tarmac paths, which the runners had to cross as part of their 3 lap course; the solid stream of runners afforded few gaps for the public to slip through the field. No one minded. Indeed, the race offered something different on their usual Saturday afternoon stroll.

 EXCEPT.

             One gentleman on a bike with two young children took exception to having his ride interrupted and lost his temper with the marshal big time. Presumably he was in the habit of using this public path every Saturday and was not going to let a thousand runners interrupt his routine? No way Josa, or as we say in God's Own Country, 'No way hosa'! He allegedly went into a rage, throwing his bike at the runners, and then when he was told that a member of the public had called the police to the incident, got on his bike and rode off at speed. THE POLICE WERE CALLED. It must have dawned on him after a little time, that he was minus two children, which might not have gone down too well with his wife / partner over the Sunday roast . He return to the scene of the outrage and was interviewed by the boys in blue. Luckily for the poor marshal caught up in the fracas, the events were recorded on video by spectators.

               If I remember, Blog, I will tell you about another couple of complex co-incidences which have happened in the last couple of months.

                                             Colin

 

IAAF drugs revalation

Photographic Quiz.

Photo:- you guess Blog the number!

Question:-  What is the name of this athlete whose photo was recently sold on e-bay? What club did he belong to? And why don't the cups on the table fit with the gentleman in the photo?? [It may be of interest to you Blog, that I have interviewed the gentleman and he was quite tickled with the reason. Blog, I kid you not].

Dear Blog,

                Well with all the breaking  news about the shenanigans going on in the world of athletics and drug fiddling, it would be invidious of me to pile more brown stuff on the growing pile of brown stuff, wouldn't it Blog?

BUT

What goes around, comes around.......

So let us enter the world of make believe .. IMAGINE ..... a sort of 'Round Britain Quiz' on the radio set with cryptic clues to solve  ... not that any of the clues contain a single grain of truth of course, but a bit of fun anyway. Something to do as the weather is so uninviting.

Here we go ....

Welcome to Round Britain Quizzle. I  am your host for the night and the first question is for the Gone West Team, the question has been  sent in by a Mrs. Wooden Fence from Barking who has invented all the facts just for our entertainment.

"What Official is linked a rumoured failed drugs test by a gold medal winner at the last Olympics with advice given to someone who might refuse to allow their athletic testing profile to become public with the holiday plans of another gold medallist who could not be reached by the press for a quote on the said profiling refusal, and the goings on in an American athletics training camp?"

The Gone West team is a little confused so ...

A clue

Think about who was charged with keeping the press out of the equation when the imaginary positive test was provided and was also involved in finding a solution as to why a positive might occur so that the drugs testers could be kept quiet, at least until after the Games when it would be forgotten?

Still no ideas at the Gone West Team. Well I will throw it open to the other teams. North by North South, have you any thoughts as to where this might lead if it were proved to be true, which it won't be of course.

Yes Gilbert, you are correct by saying that the photographs in the press do portray a personal connection.

Yes Lady B., there is a sex scandal involved which was kept very low profile and the national press, although reporting the alleged under age goings on, never made the connection. For a bonus mark, why do you think the connection was never made? I say this is good fun, pity nothing like this ever happens in real life.

Well teams, we are not doing too well on this question, so what I think I will do, is let it be this week's question for the listeners on the radio and I will give you the answer next week. [If I can think of one 'cos it's all made up] So it good night from the teams, 'Goodnight', 'Goodnight', 'Goodnight' and its goodnight from me, your quiz master for the evening, Frank Linn Englebert. 'Goodnight'.

As your announcer, could I ask any listener who has any questions about imaginary events of the 70s like the above, to not get in touch please.

        Tarrah, Blog.

                                          Colin

 

Save the NHS

Photographic Quiz.

Photo No. 245.

 

Question:- In the first couple of years of the 19th century, a half mile track was constructed, mainly for walking competitions. This was only about five miles from the first track constructed in Coventry (NO not the Butts Blog, despite what all these local Coventry historical wallahs might say!!!) What was the name of the first winner of the first race held there? And amazingly, over a hundred years later, the European Race Walking Cup was held over the same half mile loop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What was the name of winner of the first race of the day? And what was the country the walker represented?

 Dear Blog,

                Tell Mr Cameroon and his healthy minister that the following might explain why the NHS has no spare quids ................

                 I am having a two year anniversary bash and you and your partner Blog, are cordially invited. The theme of the party will be 'Doctors and Nurses'.

                 Why is this you ask Blog. That is a very good question, if I may say. Well it is two years ago given a day here or there, that I had my mega arse over tit experience. Two months sleeping in a chair then three months in bed with my head wedged, no problem. It was my Knee stupid. An unusable left wrist [still is]. It was my right Knee stupid. Swollen calf and foot. It was my Knee stupid.

                  And so it came to pass, that six months slipped by. It was no problem injecting myself for six months. I just love needles Blog, don't you? ;It was my Knee stupid. An no real inconveniences living off warfarin and bleeding away. It was my right Knee stupid.

                 The x-rays of leg ankle, back helped to pass the time .... Hmmmmmmmmmmm. Unusual result, but no further action needed. So what is all this 'unusual' business [lease, doctor man?? It was my bloody right Knee stupid.

                 And so it came to pass, that another six months slipped by. It was a problem trying to get dressed  without the use of certain limbs to facilitate the pulling and tugging required to look my usual elegant self. It actually was my right Knee stupid.

                And so it came to pass, that  a further  six months slipped by. It was no problem  listening to all the scary noises in the scanning machine. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Lets set off with the spine. Dare I sugggest my right Knee???

               Shall we now waste further National Health money and scan your ankle??? Try the right Knee stupid! And the leg scan?? At least visiting different hospitals gave me an insight about how the National Health Service works in different parts of the country. The quality of the cups of tea vary so much ... and the price ... and the quantity. I do prefer china cup to a polystyrene mug, don't you Blog?

              Mr Cameroon says the National Health Service has pots and pots of money so we will use up a bit of it to scan your right knee.

              Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. We have another new specialist or two for you to see.

             Yes infarction  of the tibia and fibia. It was my right the Knee stupid.

             And after many moon rises, waxes and wanings, the surgeon shows me the scan of the remains of the tear of the medial ligament and the distorted bone growth of the bone which should be removed by surgery. Wot did I say two years ago????????????????? JUST WOT DID I SAY??????

            And the surgeons are impressed by my 18 inch leg scar and the scar where two of the bones in my right foot were extracted many moons ago and the scars of my half dozen abductor operations and the operation scar left after my medial ligament on my left leg was operated on .... which I cannot recall!!!!!!!!!!!! And they invite other doctors to havaluk.

           And the  new consultant was good, and he referred me to the Physio who is Brilliant with a capital 'B'.  And watch out Blog, because there could be a runner running somewhere near you soon.  Something that has  been missing in 2014 and 2015 apparently. Or so I am told. But I could be wrong. For my impeding birthday, I shall no longer use my trudges; I shall throw away my trudges and walk tall like a man and run like a gazelle. And the Lord saw that it was my right Knee.

            And with a bit of luck I will be a free agent sometime soon! And I shall give the NHS back to Mr Cameroon so he can help those that need help.

                                            Colin

P.S. Just how many quids in the last 24 months has the NHS wasted on me when a little listen to the experience of over 50 years of trudging on my right knee here and  there and everywhere would have given a solution in minutes and saved two years of a bloody lot of PAIN!

Don't moan, Colin, have an apple.

Photographic Quiz.

Photo No. 244.

 

Question:- What is so unusual about the photo of this particular Godiva runner and the photographer? And at his funeral, what didn't his relatives understand??

Dear Blog,

              So after my moans and groans in my last missive to you Blog, I promise that this letter to you will be a moan free posting.

               Proud to say that in the local Horticultural and Whatever Show about three weeks ago, I managed about half a dozen thirds, same number of seconds and ONE FIRST for my various fruit and vegetable entries!!!! So a big well done to me for all the careful attention and time and loving care I have lavished on my fruit and veg during the year.

BUT.

AND A BIG BUT.

              My only first was for my desert apples, that is, my eating apples to you Blog. Was I chuffed you ask me Blog. WAS I? Well I have to admit to you Blog, that I was given the apple tree from which the 5 apples were selected by a family friend because the tree was a nuisance and got in the way of her washing line. I dug the tree up about 4 years ago, not expecting it to survive the up- rooting!! Survive it did. Flourish it did. Win a prize it did. So I spend hours and hours on my produce and do sod all for the fruit tree. And what wins???????????? The sodding apple tree for which I made bugger all effort!

             I did offer the lady the certificate and the prize money, but she declined my kind offer! Story of my life --  a lady rejecting my offers!! Tell me about it, Blog.  Am I irresistible or am I irresistible to the opposite sex??? Tell me about it Blog.

          I do tend to criticise the local authority when I feel criticism is due so it is only right that I redress the balance when I feel the opposite is true. Such a case occurred over the weekend at Lake View Park when the Coventry  Parks Department (?) mounted an Apple Day. Most interesting .... and the important gentleman using a fruit press and promoting a display of many apples recognised me from the days of yore ... 40 years at least!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And the following day, just the opposite occurred.  Out 'running' (shuffling, trudging and so on and so forth to you Blog) on Sunday morning I saw a runner approaching me whom I have know for 40 odd years. I said 'hello' and asked after his health as you do in such circumstances, but was met with a grunt ... and that was it!!!!! Puzzling or what??? Was it because he was with a posh friend and preferred to not let on about the company he kept? Was it because I smelled????  Was it because I hadn't paid my council tax or was it simply a case of him being  bedazzled  by the sheer beauty of my stylish running?  It was a mile or so later that the penny suddenly dropped. For the last quarter of a century , he had got used to seeing me with a  face full of hair and a mouth full of teeth .... as of last week, my facial hair has been shorn and I now run without my false choppers in. Looking in the mirror when I got back to the changing rooms, I didn't recognise me so he had no bloody chance Blog.

        And a little more pluses for the Council. The previous week they mounted a public meeting on the Thursday evening at 5pm for an hour when everyone was struggling home from work, to explain what measurers they were being taken on traffic calming at the junction at the bottom of our Lane. Basically they are turning both my Lane and the on opposite lane, a cul de sac, into the preferential main routes and sticking a traffic island in the middle of the cross roads ... quite ingenious. They do not seem to understand, however, that we have 18 wheeled lorries delivering up the narrow country lane to the farms, the furniture factory and the animal food suppliers. It will be impossible for them to turn 270 degrees on the traffic island. But what do I know? The same situation arose when the council built the high concrete retaining barrier along the lane six months ago to stop erosion and flooding. I told them that the barriers would merely channel the water along the Lane and cause worse flooding in the winter, worse than we usually have. But what do I know?? I was wrong, however. The barriers have been in place for 6 months and they did channel the water and cause flooding worse than we usually have ... and it is only autumn and it was only after a single day of heavy rain. So Blog, I shall write to you by the first class postal system when the traffic island is destroyed by the heavy goods vehicles, given that it hasn't been  washed away by the flooding first!!!

                                                    Colin

P.S. OK Blog, I did not quite stick to my first terms of engagement. So there is no surprise there then!!!

 

Coventry Fun Run 2015

Picture Quiz:-
                     Go on Blog, guess who??? Nice picky what, courtesy of the Coventry Telegraph.

 

Dear Blog,

                 Long time, no moan ... so to counter balance that situation, pin back your lug holes mon ami. Je pence that is a bit of froggy stuff for 'mate' et 'I think', I think??? I could be wrong???

                 Just over a week ago, my daughter was entered to take part in the Coventry Fun Run, a three mile run around the city form the War Memorial Park to the War Memorial Park. She was to take part pushing my disable grandson in his wheelchair along with a dozen or so other pupils from his Special School. They were scheduled to start at 10am just outside the park on the tarmac, while the main Run was pencilled in to commence at 10:30 on the grass inside the Park.

                 Gets there in good time and get all the school numbers, but no official knew anything about the early start or the different start place!! Great!! After a great deal of fuss and the kiddies being kept in the cold shade of the early Sunday morning, it transpired that the start was to be 10:30 immediately before the main start. So 10:30 comes and goes, as does 10:31, 10:32 etc.. You get the picture Blog??

                 At about 10:41 or 2 or 3 .... sorry Blog, I was losing the will to live by then  ..... they set off. My daughter starts off with my grandson and fully expects the main field to start passing her soon, after all the two starts were on about 300 yards (metres to you Blog) apart. Did they get passed??? Oh no they didn't. No, not anywhere!!! I assume the main Run might have started at 11:00, but hey, who cares??? Except for a blind bloke running by himself having started at the same time as my daughter, my daughter and my grandson were passed by no one and won the wheelchair event with only this blind bloke way in front!!!!

                They were told that there was a presentation about 90 minutes later so besides having to wait 45 minutes freezing her tits off for the start, she was expected to hang about with her son for another age and a bit. And him needing a feed. I don't think so after all we are talking about a disable child here, are we not?

               Oh yes, and they won a cup which was promised in a day or so .... or 10 or 20????

             For an organising company which may have been employed by the Rotary to run the event, I may be wrong Blog, but it leaves a little to be desired. Do you want to buy my shares in the Company, Blog??? Yours at a discount!!!

                                Colin