Friday 18th April, 2025 1:41 AM (17 hours ago)
There’s only one thing to tell you today and that’s that the Good Friday quiz jackpot tonight at Cross Borders is absolutely PUMPED.
Three hundred and fifty pounds and it could be yours. Brigid is hosting tonight.
Anyway, the first part of winning is to get a table booked. You can just turn up, but to be certain of a table, give Crossborders a call on 0131 629 3990
7.30 pm – Cross Borders Brewery (with Brigid)
Jackpot – £350
Free answer – PICTURE round: “ASPARAGUS“
Bookings – 0131 629 3990 or Facebook
With quiz and love,
Dr Paul
Thursday 17th April, 2025 17 Apr 2:06 AM (yesterday, 2:06 am)
One of the Brass Shore teams that change their name every week to include some sort of quiz/trivia pun went for “Hunter’s Quiz-t” last night.
I didn’t get it. Is there someone famous called Hunter Christie?
But it turns out they were attempting to make a pun on “Hunter’s Tryst’ as per the destination board which shows on the front of the Lothian Bus services 27 and 5 (Southbound).
I said I felt that “Tryst”, in terms of Hunter’s Tryst, rhymes with Christ rather than Fist, which would render the pun unworkable.
I agreed to rhyme “Quizt” with Fist for the rest of last night, just to make the pun work, but I tried to check this morning, via posts on the Facebook group and on Twitter.
Conclusion – It rhymes with Christ.
Outcome: Quiz pun has FAILED in this instance.
Anyway, see you at the quizzes tonight:
=================
6.30 pm – Brass Monkey Grange (with me)
Jackpot – £50
Free answer – PICTURE round: “PANDORA“
Book – 031 667 2335 or Facebook
7.30 pm – The Willow (with Brigid)
Jackpot – £100
Free answer – MUSIC round: “THE LAST DINNER PARTY“
Book – Willow Website or Willow Facebook
9pm – Newsroom (with me)
Jackpot – £50
Free answer – PICTURE round: “ROSE MCGOWAN”
Book: 0131 557 5286 or Newsroom online booking
=================
With quiz and love,
Dr Paul
Music Round clue for Willow tonight:
Instagramnation:
Wednesday 16th April, 2025 16 Apr 12:21 AM (2 days ago)
Isa was saying last night at the Safari Lounge that she has a cold again, now that the weather has turned. Isa is from Spain originally but has been living in Scotland for eleven years.
I asked her if she ever gets used to it, properly?
She said she doesn’t think about it too much, but when she does think about it she wishes the weather could just be better.
She said something like “Life is just different when it’s good weather.”
I agree. I lived in Greece for two years before coming to Edinburgh and once you’ve tasted that good climate, it’s kind of hard to fully accept the imperfection of Scottish weather.
I mean – I have to accept it. There’s nothing I can do. But it doesn’t stop the yearning for something better.
But like home ownership for most people these days, it’s out of reach. Come on Labour – build some houses. You know, to keep us safe from this WEATHER that we’re all going to have to endure when the price of housing tops out and no one can actually afford to live in one.
Anyway, quizzes tonight:
6 pm – The Joker & The Thief (with me)
Jackpot – £90
Free answer – PICTURE round: “OLIVIA COLMAN“
Book: 0131 556 3274 or Facebook
6 pm – Oz Bar (with Stuart F)
Jackpot – £30
Free answer – PICTURE round: “THE KILLERS“
Book: 0131 259 6295 or Facebook
7 pm – Ship Inn, Musselburgh (with Stuart D)
Jackpot – £120
Free answer – MUSIC round: “SUM 41“
Book: 0131 665 2642 or Facebook
8 pm – West Port Oracle (with Stuart F)
Jackpot – £30
Free answer – PICTURE : “THE VENGABOYS“
Book: 0131 283 1960 or Facebook
8.30 pm – Brass Monkey Shore (with me)
Jackpot – £50
Free answer – PICTURE round: “ANNIE HALL“
Book: 0131 555 7306 or Facebook
With quiz and love,
Dr Paul
Music Round clue for Ship Inn:
Slave to The Algorithm
Tuesday 15th April, 2025 14 Apr 11:21 PM (3 days ago)
There was a team of two last night at Brass Monkey Leith who called themselves “This is a First Date”.
I’ve always thought the quiz is an ideal first date. The questions and answers give you plenty of material to keep the conversation going, And being on a pub quiz team with someone is probably a very good way of quickly working out whether or not someone is going to turn out to be a good person or a red flag.
For example, she was handing in answers near the end and I said “I hope your date is going well,” and she said “Yeah – it’s OK. He’s terrible at quizzes though.”
The disappointment with which she said it made me think: I don’t see that one lasting.
Anyway, bring your life partner, your other half, your first date, your secret crush to the quiz tonight. Who knows? Maybe your skill on a tiebreaker question will win their heart forever?
Here are the details for tonight’s quizzes:
6 pm – Old Eastway Tap (with Stuart F)
Jackpot – £90
Free answer – PICTURE round: “BOBBY ROBSON“
Book: 0131 259 3495 or Facebook
6.30 pm – Brass Monkey Gorgie (with me)
Jackpot – £100
Free answer – PICTURE round: “HERMANN GORING“
Book: 0131 327 0543 or message their Instagram
6.30 pm – Porty Tap (with Isla)
Jackpot – £60
Free answer – MUSIC round: “TOM PETTY“
Book: 0131 629 6266 or Facebook
8 pm – Waverley Bar (with Stuart F)
Jackpot – £90
Free answer – PICTURE round: “THE NETHERLANDS“
Book: 0131 557 9855 or Facebook
9 pm – Safari Lounge (with me)
Jackpot – £60
Free answer: PICTURE round: “CLAW“
Book: 0131 661 4741 or Facebook
With quiz and love,
Dr Paul
Music Round Knowledge:
Instagram Horse:
Monday 14th April, 2025 14 Apr 2:48 AM (4 days ago)
Dawn breaks on another week in Britain. The tension is palpable. What next? What fresh outrage will the news machine bring us this Monday?
How can our lives be once again dis-improved by an almost imperceptible degree by yet another tiny crime?
And how tall is this stack of crimes now, as the heavy-heavy monster pile of such degradations slowly builds up to a pyramid of ultimate dismay?
So, what is this week’s tiny crime?
Well, apparently they’re going to remake ‘Threads’. Oh terrific. Well, I can guarantee you this right now: It’ll be shite.
There you go, you can always get the truth from your old pal, Dr Paul.
More truths tonight at these spectacular Monday outings:
6.30pm – Brass Monkey Leith Walk (with me)
Jackpot – £50
Free answer – PICTURE round: “EX-MACHINA“
Book: 0131 554 5286 or Facebook or the Monkey’s online booking system
8pm – Amber Rose (with Alan)
Jackpot – £100
Free answer: PICTURE round : “YAK“
Book: 0131 226 1224 or Facebook
8pm – Kitty O’Shea’s (with Bonni)
Jackpot – £50
Free answer: PICTURE round : “MARY“
Book: 0131 226 1224 or Facebook
9pm – Brass Monkey Drummond St (with me)
Jackpot – £50
Free answer – MUSIC round: “ARTEMAS“
No bookings but you can call the pub for info: – 0131 556 1961
With quiz and love,
Dr Paul
Music Round clue for Brass Monkey Drummond St tonight:
Sunday 13th April 13 Apr 1:45 AM (5 days ago)
There’s a wild week ahead. Jesus is getting killed on Friday (Good) and then is coming back from the dead on Sunday.
Then there’s the Ascension which is weird: That’s the bit where having conquered death, old Jeebus just kind of floats up to heaven some time after resurrection (same day or 40 days later, depending on source)… which all seems a little sus.
“So you’re telling me that he came back from the dead?”
“That’s right”
“And you saw him?”
“Yep, saw him right here. He was chatting about stuff.”
“And he wasn’t dead?”
“No – he was fine. Couple of scratches”
“But he’s not here now?”
“Yeah”
“So what happened?”
“Well he kind of… floated up… like, to heaven”
“Hmmmm…”
It’s a bit like that time you won the quiz but your best player wasn’t there that week. And now s/he doesn’t believe that you won. And the Doc never posted any pictures.
Sometime you just have to believe. Eat a hot cross bun. Eat an egg. Have faith.
Anyway, you can believe in the fact that Sunday = Percy:
6pm – Persevere (with me)
Jackpot – £30
Free answer – PICTURE round: “SUNSTROKE PROJECT“
Book: 0131 554 0271 or get in touch with them on Facebook
With quiz and love,
Dr Paul
Music Round clue for Percy tonight:
Instagram:
Thursday 10th April, 2025 10 Apr 3:17 AM (8 days ago)
I am OK. Thanks for asking. I played badminton this morning for the first time in years. I’m OK. I didn’t die. I WILL be at the quizzes tonight.
Apart from that, let me tell you about a top-class wrong answer from the doulbe-or-bust round last night at the Joker & The Thief. I asked which three countries are hosting next year’s FIFA Men’s World Cup.
Correct answer is USA, Mexico and Canada.
Butone team went for USA, Mexico and DUBAI.
A strange-to-say-the-least left-turn at the last minute there. I asked the guy. He said “I just thought it was all corrupt countries, you know?”
Fair enough, I suppose, but there is a proximity issue. Of course, the female half of the team had suggested Canada, but machismo won (and lost) the day. You often see it.
Anyway, see you at the quizzes tonight:
=================
6.30 pm – Brass Monkey Grange (with me)
Jackpot – £50
Free answer – PICTURE round: “NEFERTITI“
Book – 031 667 2335 or Facebook
7.30 pm – The Willow (with Brigid)
Jackpot – £50
Free answer – PICTURE round: “TAKE THAT“
Book – Willow Website or Willow Facebook
9pm – Newsroom (with me)
Jackpot – £50
Free answer – MUSIC round: “CULTURE CLUB”
Book: 0131 557 5286 or Newsroom online booking
=================
With quiz and love,
Dr Paul
Music Round clue for Newsroom tonight:
Instagram Violence:
Wednesday 9th April, 2025 9 Apr 3:39 AM (9 days ago)
It’s so satisfying when the buses work properly, aint it?
I got out of Brass Gorgie last night just early enough to be able to get buses over to Safari instead of a taxi. Very exciting.
Had to change at Shandwick Place. Off the 3 and on the 44. It took less than 2 minutes. It was so smooth. But not rushed.
There could not have been a smoother bus interchange if Stephen Hawking had planned it with the help of the A-Team. Or Johnny Ball.
Funnily enough, now that I mention it, I’m sure Johnny Ball appeared in a dream I had the other night. And, I’ve just remembered, I’m pretty sure I told him to “Think of a number.” which is a pretty dire piece of chat. I’m glad I dropped that clanger in a dream, rather than in real life.
If I do hit you with the dire chat in real life, feel free to point it out. I can handle it and it’s always better to know.
Anyway, quizzes tonight:
6 pm – The Joker & The Thief (with me)
Jackpot – £60
Free answer – PICTURE round: “THE WOMBLES“
Book: 0131 556 3274 or Facebook
6 pm – Oz Bar (with Stuart F)
Jackpot – £30
Free answer – PICTURE round: “THUNDERBALL“
Book: 0131 259 6295 or Facebook
7 pm – Ship Inn, Musselburgh (with Stuart D)
Jackpot – £90
Free answer – PICTURE round: “TERRY PRATCHETT“
Book: 0131 665 2642 or Facebook
8 pm – West Port Oracle (with Stuart F)
Jackpot – £30
Free answer – PICTURE : “PITBULL“
Book: 0131 283 1960 or Facebook
8.30 pm – Brass Monkey Shore (with me)
Jackpot – £150
Free answer – MUSIC round: “MOUSSE T“
Book: 0131 555 7306 or Facebook
With quiz and love,
Dr Paul
Music Round clue for Brass Monkey Shore tonight:
Instagram Double Chow
Tuesday 8th April, 2025 8 Apr 1:53 AM (10 days ago)
I was asking some drinkers to keep the noise down last night in the Brass Monkey on Drummond Street.
Just to let the people hear the questions in the money round.
They were nice about it and fairly compliant but the interesting thing was that they justified their being very loud in the first place by telling me that they were “from Yorkshire”
I think Yorkshire is one of those places where people genuinely think they are better than everywhere else, despite a lack of solid empirical evidence. Or that somehow being from a particular place makes you lovable and popular and brilliant.
Other jurisdictions whose people fall into this trap (in my limited experience of the world and it’s concentrations of location-fuelled hubris) are: Australia, London, Glasgow, Ireland, Newcastle, The USA, Italy, Greece, Liverpool, New Zealand.
Am I right? Or sorely misguided? Let me know.
Anyway, here’s the details for tonight’s quizzes:
6 pm – Old Eastway Tap (with Bonni)
Jackpot – £60
Free answer – PICTURE round: “GUCCI“
Book: 0131 259 3495 or Facebook
6.30 pm – Brass Monkey Gorgie (with me)
Jackpot – £50
Free answer – PICTURE round: “SENEGAL“
Book: 0131 327 0543 or message their Instagram
6.30 pm – Porty Tap (with Isla)
Jackpot – £30
Free answer – PICTURE round: “DOPEY“
Book: 0131 629 6266 or Facebook
8 pm – Waverley Bar (with Bonni)
Jackpot – £60
Free answer – PICTURE round: “CRAPS“
Book: 0131 557 9855 or Facebook
9 pm – Safari Lounge (with me)
Jackpot – £60
Free answer: MUSIC round: “BLONDIE“
Book: 0131 661 4741 or Facebook
With quiz and love,
Dr Paul
Music Round clue for Safari Lounge tonight:
Instagram Nights:
Monday 7th April, 2025 7 Apr 12:16 AM (11 days ago)
Southside Monkeys SWAPPED days/times last week, putting them back to the days they were before last August:
Brass Monkey DRUMMOND ST is now Monday 9pm
Brass Monkey GRANGE is now Thursday 6.30 pm
By the way, I went to West Lothian on Friday. Here are the things that stuck in my mind from the visit:
Palettes – a big industrial yard, full of them. Pallets up to the sky. It was like Manhattan, but made out of pallets.
Pony: A cool wee pony or small horse (I’m not sure what the difference is), leaning over the wall and saying hello. Good horse!
Abandoned bus stop. When we attempted to return to the city, we found a bus stop where the X27 goes. And it actually had a timetable in the bus stop, which doesn’t always happen when you’re out in the back of beyond. Due in ten minutes? Great. So we waited. Then we discovered the bus stop was defunct. The X27 doesn’t go this way anymore. Wasted time. Thanks Lothian, ya pricks.
Anyway, my general advice on West Lothian is: ONLY IF YOU HAVE TO.
Meanwhile: jackpots and free answers for tonight
6.30pm – Brass Monkey Leith Walk (with me)
Jackpot – £50
Free answer – PICTURE round: “BURT LANCASTER“
Book: 0131 554 5286 or Facebook or the Monkey’s online booking system
8pm – Amber Rose (with Alan)
Jackpot – £50
Free answer: MUSIC round : “USHER“
Book: 0131 226 1224 or Facebook
8pm – Kitty O’Shea’s (with Bonni)
Jackpot – £100
Free answer: PICTURE round : “ICELAND“
Book: 0131 226 1224 or Facebook
9pm – Brass Monkey Drummond St (with me)
Jackpot – £50
Free answer – PICTURE round: “DUBAI“
No bookings but you can call the pub for info: – 0131 556 1961
With quiz and love,
Dr Paul
Music Round clue for the Amber Rose tonight:
West Lothian (above)