Over the next nine days, 46 questions will be posed, one for each letter of the alphabet plus 20 others (There will be six one day). The 20 others appear as duplicate letters, and these duplicates spell out the name of the Roman Fortification which in CE 150 to 160 was the furthest boundary from the city of Rome, and the country that it was situated in. It is a three-word answer with eight letters in the first part of the name and four in the second part; the country has eight letters in its name. BTWFit, as used in the post title, is an archaic term meaning ‘a division of a song, ballad, or story’.
Sixteen
The Petronas Towers are in what city?
Seventeen
In 1915, the RMS Lusitania was torpedoed 11 miles off the coast of which country?
Eighteen
Complete this: Nyotaimori is the Japanese practice of serving sushi on the …
Nineteen
Which Old Testament book tells the story of the ten plagues of Egypt?
Twenty
The following dogs all have the same five-lettered name: Cuthullin’s hunting dog in Ossian’s Fingal; Robert Burns’ Border Collie in The Twa Dogs; J.M. Barrie’s Newfoundland that inspired Nana in Peter Pan; and the Labrador retriever in both Sheila Burnford’s The Incredible Journey and the 1963 film adaptation. What name?
Good luck! I’ll post the answers once all the questions have been asked.
Over the next nine days, 46 questions will be posed, one for each letter of the alphabet plus 20 others (There will be six one day). The 20 others appear as duplicate letters, and these duplicates spell out the name of the Roman Fortification which in CE 150 to 160 was the furthest boundary from the city of Rome, and the country that it was situated in. It is a three-word answer with eight letters in the first part of the name and four in the second part; the country has eight letters in its name. BTW Fit, as used in the post title, is an archaic term meaning ‘a division of a song, ballad, or story’.
Eleven
In what sport are the men’s world team championships contested for the Swaythling Cup?
Answer: Table tennis.
Twelve
Grand-Bassam and Bingerville are former capitals of which French African colony, now a country?
Answer: Ivory Coast.
Thirteen
What Japanese sash is also the partial name of a character from Star Wars?
Answer: Obi.
Fourteen
Which 1973 Tina Turner song features the name of a Tennessee town which was a childhood home for her?
Answer: Nutbush.
Fifteen
In the Solar System, which of these planets is nearest to the Sun: Jupiter, Saturn or Uranus?
Answer: Jupiter.
Good luck! I’ll post the answers once all the questions have been asked.
Tallinn old town during sunrise. View from Patkul viewing platform in September 2018. Wikipedia Picture of the Day 5 September 2026. Image Hendrik Mändla.via Wikimedia Commons
Today: carpe diem! Following on from yesterday, we again have five questions but ten answers.
One
The above picture is of a national capital city (population population of 452,563), sitting on its country’s north coast and on the Gulf of Finland. What is the city, and of what country is it the capital?
Answers: Tallinn; Estonia.
Tallinn is Estonia’s capital and main centre, with 452,563 residents in 2026 and a 2024 metropolitan estimate of 646,315. Historically known as Reval, it gained Lübeck rights in 1248 and hosts the EU IT agency and NATO Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence. The picture above is by Hendrik Mändla and shows Tallinn old town during sunrise. It was taken from the Patkul viewing platform in September 2018 and was a Wikipedia Picture of the Day on 5 September 2026. The image is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Two
The Moon landing in November 1969 landed in one of the Moon’s maria: what was the landing site named, and what mission was it?
Answers: Oceanus Procellarum aka Ocean of Storms; Apollo 12.
Award yourself a bonus point if you answered Oceanus Procellarum. The landing site for the Apollo 12 mission in 1969, Oceanus Procellarum, which translates from Latin as the ‘Ocean of Storms’, is the largest of the dark plains (maria) on the near side of the Moon, and unique in being the only one to be named an ocean. It covers roughly 10.5% of the total lunar surface and was formed by ancient volcanic eruptions that flooded the area with solidified magma.
Three
… 45 is a 170 m high tourist attraction in a desert in the Sossusvlei area of Namibia, which gets its name from being at the 45th kilometre on the Sesriem–Sossusvlei road. What word is missing from … 45, and what desert is it in?
Answer: Dune; Namib Desert.
Dune 45 is a star dune in Namibia’s Sossusvlei area, named after the 45th kilometre of the Sesriem–Sossusvlei road. Over 170 m high, it comprises 5-million-year-old sand from the Orange River and Kalahari Desert. It is frequently photographed and climbed.
Four
What 2009 film became the first film to gross more than $2 billion, and who directed it?
Answers: Avatar; James Cameron.
James Cameron’s 2009 film Avatar depicts humans mining Pandora and using genetically engineered bodies to interact with the Na’vi. It used new visual effects, earned over $2 billion, won three Academy Awards and became the highest-grossing film.
Five
The Wallis WA-116 featured in a James Bond film: what film, and what was it?
Answers: You Only Live Twice; autogyro.
Sean Connery’s James Bond is sent to Japan after American and Soviet spacecraft disappear. On a remote island, he confronts SPECTRE’s Ernst Stavro Blofeld, who is inciting Cold War conflict for an unnamed Asian power. During his investigation of Blofeld’s base Bond uses the autogyro Little Nellie on a reconnaissance mission.
Today: Carpe Diem
This post is headed ‘Today: Carpe Diem‘ (seize the day). My intention is that you seize the specific ‘day’ mentioned: Today. The answers therefore begin with the letters T, O, D, A, Y.
Tallinn old town during sunrise. View from Patkul viewing platform in September 2018. Image Hendrik Mändla.via Wikimedia Commons
Today: carpe diem! Following on from yesterday, we again have five questions but ten answers.
One
The above picture is of a national capital city (population population of 452,563), sitting on its country’s north coast and on the Gulf of Finland. What is the city, and of what country is it the capital?
Two
The Moon landing in November 1969 landed in one of the Moon’s maria: what was the landing site named, and what mission was it?
Three
… 45 is a 170 m high tourist attraction in a desert in the Sossusvlei area of Namibia, which gets its name from being at the 45th kilometre on the Sesriem–Sossusvlei road. What word is missing from … 45, and what desert is it in?
Four
What 2009 film became the first film to gross more than $2 billion, and who directed it?
Five
The Wallis WA-116 featured in a James Bond film: what film, and what was it?
Camerlengo Patrick McKenna was played by whom in a 2009 film?
Answer: Ewan McGregor,
In Angels & Demons (2009), which was based on Dan Brown’s 2000 novel of the same name, Ewan McGregor portrayed Father Patrick McKenna, the Camerlengo. In the Catholic Church, the Camerlengo (Chamberlain) is the official responsible for the temporal and administrative affairs of the Vatican and the Papacy during the period when the office of the Pope is vacant (sede vacante), following a Pope’s death and before a successor has been elected.
Two
What make of car has a name which comes from the Latin meaning ‘roll, cause to roll’?
Answer: Volvo.
The name Volvo is derived from the Latin verb volvere, which means “to roll” or “to turn.” This root gives the car brand its connection to rolling motion.
roll, cause to roll; travel in circle/circuit; bring around/about; revolve;
— Oxford Latin Dictionary
Three
What eight-letter noun describes any one of these three historic figures: Jacques Cartier, Edward John Eyre and Henry Hudson?
Answer: Explorer.
Jacques Cartier became the first European to venture inland across North America, asserting French authority over the territory he surveyed in 1534. Edward John Eyre was an English explorer of the Australian continent, colonial administrator, Lieutenant-Governor of New Zealand’s New Munster province, and Governor of Jamaica. Henry Hudson explored what is now New York and northeastern Canada. Today he has both a river and bay named after him.
Four
Sitting at the mouth of the river Bou Regreg on the Atlantic Ocean this capital city of an African country is one of that country’s four imperial cities. It was founded in the 12th century by the Almohad dynasty and became the official capital in 1956 after the country gained independence from France. What is this city?
Answer: Rabat.
Rabat, founded by the Almohads in the 12th century, is Morocco’s capital and the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region’s centre. On the Atlantic at the Bou Regreg rivermouth, it became the French protectorate’s administrative hub in 1912 and the capital in 1956.
Five
If an airport runway is designated 18 in which direction is it orientated?
Answer: South
Runway 18 is oriented south, meaning that aircraft taking off or landing on it are heading in a southerly direction. The opposite end of this runway would be designated as Runway 36, which points north. These numbers refer to south being 180º on a compass and north 360º.
Bonus Question
The first letter of each answer, assuming you have answered the five questions correctly, will form a word which is the maiden name of a character in Dutch translations of Harry Potter; the first, second and fifth characters are the same as that used in the English language versions. What character?
Answer: (Any of) Lily Potter, Lily Evans or Lily Evers.
See below
Chapter and Verse
At the start you were told to ‘subverse the verse’, which I hoped you would read as a prompt to scramble the word ‘verse’ and reorder its letters. Those letters would serve as the initial letters of today’s answers. If solved correctly, you would have an anagram of verse as your first letters: E, V, E, R and S. Harry Potter’s mother Lily has the maiden name Evans in the English books, which became Evers in the Dutch version.
Camerlengo Patrick McKenna was played by whom in a 2009 film?
Two
What make of car has a name which comes from the Latin meaning ‘roll, cause to roll’?
Three
What eight-letter noun describes any one of these three historic figures: Jacques Cartier, Edward John Eyre and Henry Hudson?
Four
Sitting at the mouth of the river Bou Regreg on the Atlantic Ocean this capital city of an African country is one of that country’s four imperial cities. It was founded in the 12th century by the Almohad dynasty and became the official capital in 1956 after the country gained independence from France. What is this city?
Five
If an airport runway is designated 18 in which direction is it orientated?
Bonus Question
The first letter of each answer, assuming you have answered the five questions correctly, will form a word which is the maiden name of a character in Dutch translations of Harry Potter; the first, second and fifth characters are the same as that used in the English language versions. What character?
No more can be said than ‘sense lapsang souchong meeting Laphroaig’.
One
What dinosaur species is pictured?
Answer: Stegosaurus.
Stegosaurus, a Late Jurassic herbivorous quadruped from the western United States and Portugal, had kite-shaped plates and tail spikes likely used for display and defence although the plates may have regulated heat. Three species are recognised and remains exceed 80 individuals.
Two
Buonapart Ignace Gallia is the real name of which villain from an early James Bond novel by Ian Fleming?
Answer: Mr. Big.
Mr. Big serves as the alias for the central antagonist in the novel Live and Let Die and its 1973 film version. In the book, his actual name is Buonapart Ignace Gallia. Within Fleming’s narrative, Mr. Big acts as a SMERSH operative and leads the ‘Black Widow Voodoo Cult’, as it smuggles and launders 17th-century gold coins for the benefit of SMERSH.
Three
A highly poisonous plant of the dogbane family; an Australian wattle tree; and part of the title of a 2002 film featuring Billy Connolly. One eight-lettered word fits all three things above: what word?
Answer: Oleander.
Nerium oleander is native from the Mediterranean to southern Asia and cultivated widely. It is highly poisonous yet rarely ingested due to bitterness; ingestion causes gastrointestinal and cardiac effects, and sap causes irritation. Acacia neriifolia, known as oleander, silver or pechy wattle, is a tree native to north-eastern Australia and common in the Moonbi Ranges. The Billy Connolly film is White Oleander which also stars Michelle Pfeiffer and Renée Zellweger.
Four
What songwriter composed Help Me Make It Through the Night?
Answer: Kris Kristofferson.
Kristofferson claims that his inspiration for the song came from Frank Sinatra’s answer to an interview question asking what he believed in. Sinatra replied, ‘Booze, broads, or a bible…whatever helps me make it through the night.’ As well as Kristofferson’s recordings versions of the song has been released by several artists, including Sammi Smith, Brenda Lee, Gladys Knight, Elvis Presley, Tammy Wynette, Johnny Cash and many more.
Five
What links George Williams in 1844 London with a 1978 song written by Jacques Morali and Victor Willis?
Answer: Y.M.C.A.
Founded in London in 1844 by George Williams, YMCA is a Protestant parachurch federation based in Vernier, Switzerland, promoting Christian values through youth development. With 12,000 branches and 64 million beneficiaries, it follows principles known as the Paris Basis. Jacques Morali and Victor Willis were the songwriters who wrote the chart-topping Y.M.C.A. for the Village People.
Sense Lapsang Souchong Meeting Laphroaig
Lapsang souchong is a well-known black tea which originated from Fujian Province, China and Laphroaig is a malt whisky from the Scottish island of Islay. Both of these drinks share a smoky aroma and taste and that is a small clue to today’s answers which begin with the letters S, M, O, K and Y
No more can be said than ‘sense lapsang souchong meeting Laphroaig’.
One
What dinosaur species is pictured?
Two
Buonapart Ignace Gallia is the real name of which villain from an early James Bond novel by Ian Fleming?
Three
A highly poisonous plant of the dogbane family; an Australian wattle tree; and part of the title of a 2002 film featuring Billy Connolly. One eight-lettered word fits all three things above: what word?
Four
What songwriter composed Help Me Make It Through the Night?
Five
What links George Williams in 1844 London with a 1978 song written by Jacques Morali and Victor Willis?
Today’s title could be the antithesis to the answers.
One
What martyr, who lived circa AD 255 – c. AD 288, is the patron saint of archery?
Answer: Sebastian.
Sebastian, an early Christian martyr, survived arrow wounds after being tied to a post and shot with arrows during the Diocletianic Persecution. He was healed by Irene of Rome but then clubbed to death after warning Diocletian about his sins; he is venerated as the patron of athletics, archery and plagues.
Two
This fisherman is known by his first name; he is known by some the ‘First-called’; and his cross forms part of the Union Flag of the United Kingdom. Who is he?
Answer: Andrew.
Andrew the Apostle, a fisherman and one of the Twelve Apostles, is titled First-Called in Eastern Orthodox tradition for following Jesus and introducing Simon Peter; the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople is his successor. He is the patron saint of Scotland hence his cross being included in the Union Flag.
Three
The third of the Weasley children, Percy, shares his middle name with the first name of a saint who founded the Jesuits (Society of Jesus) in 1534. What is the name they have in common?
Answer: Ignatius.
In Harry Potter Percy Ignatius Weasley was the very serious brother of Fred, George, Ron and Ginny. Ignatius of Loyola, born in 1491, was a Basque Catholic saint and founder of the Society of Jesus. Ignatius founded the Jesuit order through vows in Paris and an organisation approved by Pope Paul III. Innovations included a black robe, centralised authority, long probation, obedience to the pope and flexibility for global ministries.
Four
An early saint from what is now modern Turkey who was known for genorosity and gift giving. He is amongst others the Patron Saint of Children. This line of poetry may help, ‘’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house’. Who is he?
Answer: Nicholas.
St Nicholas, a fourth-century figure from Myra, is a widely honoured minor saint linked to Christmas and patron of children and sailors; gifts are given on 6 December in many countries.
Five
Which saint shown above is portrayed as being in seventh heaven?
Answer: Teresa.
The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa, completed in 1652 by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the white marble altarpiece in Rome’s Cornaro Chapel, depicts Saint Teresa of Ávila swooning in ecstasy beneath an angel with a spear. Some scholars describe the work as showing Teresa in religious ecstasy; others suggest that the work carries sexual implications.
The Sinners Are Much More Fun
The is from Billy Joel’s Only The Good Die Young, here is the full verse which ends with it:
And they say there’s a heaven for those who will wait
And some say it’s better, but I say it ain’t
I’d rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints
The sinners are much more fun
The sinners are, according to Mr Joel, much more fun than the saints, and S A I N T singular is what should have been leading you today as the initial letters of the answers — Sebastian, Andrew, Ignatius, Nicholas and Teresa.
Today’s title could be the antithesis to the answers.
One
What martyr, who lived circa AD 255 – c. AD 288, is the patron saint of archery?
Two
This fisherman is known by his first name; he is known by some the ‘First-called’; and his cross forms part of the Union Flag of the United Kingdom. Who is he?
Three
The third of the Weasley children, Percy, shares his middle name with the first name of a saint who founded the Jesuits (Society of Jesus) in 1534. What is the name they have in common?
Four
An early saint from what is now modern Turkey who was known for genorosity and gift giving. He is amongst others the Patron Saint of Children. This line of poetry may help, ‘’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house’. Who is he?
Five
Which saint shown above is portrayed as being in seventh heaven?
