The all new, revised and easier quiz! (mod note posts 1 and 2042)

garancafan

They wouldn't have plagiarised either of the names of our two goldfish, Finian and Gilbert (Fin and Gill to their friends) would they?

beer enigma

If memory serves it was Charlie Steptoe

Jellybaby1

And Andip's memory serves him/her very well. Charlie it was. Your turn to post a question now.

beer enigma

A he last time I looked ok, had this in a pub quiz last week:

What traditionally does a barbers pole signify & what's the link with one Irish counties gaa team

garancafan

Andip wrote: »

A he last time I looked ok, had this in a pub quiz last week:

What traditionally does a barbers pole signify & what's the link with one Irish counties gaa team

See post #1370 et seq. I presume the county is Cork.

beer enigma

county is cork yes

Sudance

Vague memories of reading about this....

Is it because barbers used to do surgery as well and the red represented blood or something...

Naw i'ts not coming back to me.

beer enigma

Sudance wrote: »

Vague memories of reading about this....

Is it because barbers used to do surgery as well and the red represented blood or something...

Naw i'ts not coming back to me.

Sudance, its you're lucky day as I'm away for a few days, so in fairness I'll pass the baton - you're very close anyway.

Some barbers did indeed used to do surgery along with hair & shaving. This was particularly popular around the ports where sailors would land with gangrene and head to the barbers for a haircut, shave and amputation. The barbers who practiced this had a red and white pole outside signifying 'Blood and Bandages'.

Blood and bandages being the name by which the Cork gaa lads are still known.

Sudance

Andip wrote: »

Sudance, its you're lucky day as I'm away for a few days, so in fairness I'll pass the baton - you're very close anyway.

Some barbers did indeed used to do surgery along with hair & shaving. This was particularly popular around the ports where sailors would land with gangrene and head to the barbers for a haircut, shave and amputation. The barbers who practiced this had a red and white pole outside signifying 'Blood and Bandages'.

Blood and bandages being the name by which the Cork gaa lads are still known.

Wow, can't believe it,I finally won something...ooh I'll live on this fer a week lol

Just remembered I used to go to Sweeney Todds for their pies. God I'd give anything for one of their pies now. Sweeney Todd was a barber. He set up an underthetable business arrangement with the lady restaurant owner next door.

Customers in for a hair cut would end up being the filler for the restaurant pies. Infamous in the UK, but damn....the pies...the pies....


Ok, now that everyone;s face has fallen into their keyboard


In what country is it a part of their custom to draw/paint phallic symbols on the front of ones home????

garancafan

We were trying to run three questions simultaneously but seem to have reverted to one. Let me try to resurrect one stemming from post #1279 which seems to have fizzled out:-

The phrase "taken aback" is used and understood to mean "surprised, lost for words, nonplussed etc". From what does the phrase derive?

looksee

Good detective work Garacafan! I was trying to keep track of them but then was away for a few days and lost touch!

Both of the questions have me baffled, though I imagine the 'taken aback' one might refer to being captured by being crept up on from behind?

garancafan

looksee wrote: »

Good detective work Garacafan! I was trying to keep track of them but then was away for a few days and lost touch!

Both of the questions have me baffled, though I imagine the 'taken aback' one might refer to being captured by being crept up on from behind?

Like all the best detective work the secret is in footslogging.
'Fraid "taken aback" does not come from being crept up on.

Sudance

garancafan wrote: »

We were trying to run three questions simultaneously but seem to have reverted to one. Let me try to resurrect one stemming from post #1279 which seems to have fizzled out:-

The phrase "taken aback" is used and understood to mean "surprised, lost for words, nonplussed etc". From what does the phrase derive?

There's nothing like someone being rude to take the wind out of your sail.

BrensBenz

garancafan wrote: »

The phrase "taken aback" is used and understood to mean "surprised, lost for words, nonplussed etc". From what does the phrase derive?

"Taken aback" is an old nautical term. Imagine a square rigger - a tall ship with loads of "square" or squarish sails. Its sails only work when the wind is coming from behind(ish). If the ship turns 180 degrees or if the wind changes direction by 180 degrees, the sails hit the mast and the ship's forward motion stops and may even be pushed "aback" or backwards. "Arrr, me 'earties, me oul ship was taken aback by that there wind change, arrr."

garancafan

BrensBenz wrote: »

"Taken aback" is an old nautical term. Imagine a square rigger - a tall ship with loads of "square" or squarish sails. Its sails only work when the wind is coming from behind(ish). If the ship turns 180 degrees or if the wind changes direction by 180 degrees, the sails hit the mast and the ship's forward motion stops and may even be pushed "aback" or backwards. "Arrr, me 'earties, me oul ship was taken aback by that there wind change, arrr."

Nailed it BrensBenz. Splice the mainbrace.
Over to you.

garancafan

Sudance wrote: »

There's nothing like someone being rude to take the wind out of your sail.

A most excellent answer

BrensBenz

garancafan wrote: »

Nailed it BrensBenz. Splice the mainbrace.
Over to you.

Oooops, I forgot that answering a question required a new question!

OK, an easily Googleable question but I bet you won't remember what Eileen Collins achieved in 1995!

BrensBenz

BrensBenz wrote: »

OK, an easily Googleable question but I bet you won't remember what Eileen Collins achieved in 1995!

Oh how quickly we forget! Eileen Collins, whose parents originally hailed from County Cork, was the first female commander of the Space Shuttle Discovery.
During her flight in 1995, she piloted the shuttle through a full rotation so that the crew of the International Space Station could photograph the Shuttle's underside to check for possible damage. This was the first time that the Shuttle was put through this maneouvre. Good girl yourself!

garancafan

BrensBenz wrote: »

Oh how quickly we forget! Eileen Collins, whose parents originally hailed from County Cork, was the first female commander of the Space Shuttle Discovery.
During her flight in 1995, she piloted the shuttle through a full rotation so that the crew of the International Space Station could photograph the Shuttle's underside to check for possible damage. This was the first time that the Shuttle was put through this maneouvre. Good girl yourself!

Thanks BB - good question. Mrs gf and I had some fun with it. Interestingly we were both focused on matters related to military and aviation. Clearly there were some vestigial memory cells still gasping. Looking forward to your next one.

BrensBenz

garancafan wrote: »

... some vestigial memory cells still gasping. Looking forward to your next one.

Vestigial memory cells??? I may have pills for that!
And whoooops, I forgot about the next question.

Well, can you remember the names of the three banks which, in 1966, went to form Allied Irish Bank?

Rubecula

BrensBenz wrote: »

Vestigial memory cells??? I may have pills for that!
And whoooops, I forgot about the next question.

Well, can you remember the names of the three banks which, in 1966, went to form Allied Irish Bank?

No

Steve

BrensBenz wrote: »

Well, can you remember the names of the three banks which, in 1966, went to form Allied Irish Bank?

Ah feck, I was minus 4 years old then, no hope of getting that one!

Maybe I'm too young to be posting here! (please agree!!):D

Jellybaby1

I saw documentary about it recently and no, I can't remember it either.

garancafan

I can (I believe) remember one. My account was with B of I so it didn't affect me. I'll keep working on it.

looksee

There was a Scottish one wasn't there? Was it something like Scottish Widows or is that whisky? :P No idea about the others, probably bunches of initials.

BrensBenz

looksee wrote: »

There was a Scottish one wasn't there? Was it something like Scottish Widows or is that whisky? :P No idea about the others, probably bunches of initials.

No, not Scottish Anything and they all had proper names.
Hint: One of the banks was the Munster and Leinster Bank.

looksee

Yes, now I think of it, the clue is in the name - Allied IRISH Bank. In that case I don't have the faintest idea, don't know what I am remembering!

Rubecula

I am sure I am right. you asked IF I can remember the names, I answered NO so surely I am right

garancafan

One of them was the Munster & Leinster. A second had the epithet "Royal" possibly the Royal Irish Bank. I have no idea of the third.

BrensBenz

garancafan wrote: »

One of them was the Munster & Leinster. A second had the epithet "Royal" possibly the Royal Irish Bank. I have no idea of the third.

Completely ignoring the insinuation that my questioning skills are waning, yes, one was called the Royal Bank of Ireland. The third and final bank was also called "Something" Bank of Ireland. Perhaps "Munster and Leinster" would give you a clue!