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08-12-2004 12:19 PM
RELEASE TIME
Treasure Elf is pleased to announce that the Grand Finale prize of a Mini Cooper S will be released at some time after 6 p.m. and all five hints will lead to it by various routes.
HUNTING TIP
The very clever Technical Elfs would like to remind you that previous ways of accelerating the hunt - such as searching on newly listed items - may not work anymore.
HINTS & HUNTS
Some hints each day will be easier to solve, while others will be more challenging. (For more details on hint times and so on, see PRIZES everyone can get http://forums.ebay.co.uk/thread.jsp?forum=2005&thread=200128850&modified=1103826398850) And don't forget, as Clue Elf Colin has said: it's a very big site! Good luck!
THE NEW YEAR’S DAY EBAY CHRISTMAS TREASURE HUNT - RESOLUTIONS
Resolutions > Keep Fit > Eat Right > Prize Listing: Fridge lock!!!
radioshed was once again on fine form with the suggestion of ‘diet’. martinmother went one stage further, from ‘weight’ to “...wait...waiting for Godot??” (Lucky’s speech, perhaps?!) which would have earned a real dose of the special plank, I’m sure. killerq_uk was onto weight too: “How about: Keep Fit > Lose Weight > Weight Watchers Leading to Weight Watchers Calorie Calculator” while albino-ferret was drawn, by a powerful force, to Star Trek: “keep fit----> gym---> jim --->james t kirk----->star trek ---->OH NO !!!!”
Meanwhile tomuk62 headed into darker waters: “how about keep fit>exercise >The Exorcist”. Hmm. Poor sparky 1664 was so close: “Funny thing is...I've been threatening my youngest with a fridge lock...haven't had the time to feed them properly...I've been too busy searching for every type of diet & exercise stuff on here...now if only I'd have stopped for a minute or two”.
High praise from rubberlads: “looking back at it, it's a cool link. And quite amusing - way to go elves... It's clever and pleasing on so many different levels.” And horus22222 had ‘lock’ in a string, too.
Resolutions > Help Others > Prize Listing: Learn to Love by Dr. Lovejoy
Lots of ‘doctors’ and ‘docs’ in strings, fewer ‘drs’. hel8itch was almost there: “i just typed the word love into a string, hadn’t finished putting string together and thought id come back here to refresh… and its gone...poo poo poo” while kennyken51 was on it but got bored: “i had love toooo, im just to slow at this… i had 3 windows open with 3 different strings in my 3rd window my only word in my string was "love" , got fed up of refreshing it”.
lily7star was quite close: “love? Oh well...I got as far as faith hope and charity and even had elf in there for good measure” (The elf says thanks!). The winner’s tale was one of failed past resolutions turning, with a bit of elf magic, into a family holiday in Disneyland Paris: “I won - YIPPEE!!! I started off with the usual type of string ie swim, walk, stop smoking and Geri!!! I then went to fridge and magnet, still no luck. I then thought about my own dismal attempts at weight loss and decided I need a fridge lock and BINGO!!!” Congratulations.
Resolutions > Learn Something New > Prize Listing > EBAY FOR FUN & PROFIT (Bill Myers superb DVD course)
Not only was ‘course’ in the item as a shortcut (you often have to take some kind of course to learn something new), but some people enjoyed the choice of course itself, which was, of course, designed to amuse.
One of my resolutions is not to witter on, so that’s it.
THE GREAT NEW YEAR’S EVE EBAY CHRISTMAS TREASURE HUNT – PARTY
Party > Hint: Get Supplies In! > Ice > Water > Prize Listing: 6 Kenwood Cartridges fit brita/kenwood jugs
Party > Hint: Tidy Up! > Wash the glasses, floor, kitchen surfaces > Water > Prizes Listing: 6 Kenwood Cartridges fit brita/kenwood jugs
Party > Hint: Get Ready! > Shower/bathe > Water > Prize Listing: 6 Kenwood Cartridges fit brita/kenwood jugs
Party > Hint: To Trafalgar Square > Fountains > Water > Prize Listing: 6 Kenwood Cartridges fit brita/kenwood jugs
Party > Hint: Auld Lang Syne > Robert Burns > Burns = Scottish for streams/rivers > Water > Prize Listing: 6 Kenwood Cartridges fit brita/kenwood jugs
A very festive air as people headed off to parties and/or wished each other a Happy New Year. Hopefully any hangovers have receded by now somewhat…
Each of the five clues led to water, some more easily than others. jimroche_uk ‘was kinda on the right lines... I was searching for water - just need to go a little further!!!! I figured water was a drink, water is needed to clean things and you use water to shower – the only thing I could think of to link all three!’
fustigator1 figured out that ‘the link was WATER... you clean up with water, you need water for a party (ice cubes, squash, mixing with shorts etc.., trafalgar square's fountain is famous’. forum_lurker, quirky as ever, reports ‘I’m still sticking with my theory it was the barbie song by aqua related’. Yes. Right.
sawes93 started ‘way off the mark. Was thinking summat to do with hair. Get ready = do hair. Tidy up = wash hair’ and stayed there. Obviously sawes93’s party preparations all revolve around The Hair Question (!). cathandwill not only showed great restraint, heading off to a party or somesuch, but was pretty much well on the way to laying out the answer: ‘I am not going to try to todays prize - NO I am not mad!!! A few clues and if I have more 'I'll be back' to try and help. Get Supplies in > Shopping, Trolley, Booze and Food (loads of strings from Booze and Food) Tidy Up > Hoover, Dishwasher - Glasses - you also need glasses for Booze, Well most folk do anyway.’
blumke99 ‘was thinking of links to the elements (earth, wind, fire & water). Water could be related to the brita filters....’ while leacups came exceedingly close before heading off out: ‘Here’s a start....I'm off out. Clue: Party Hint: > Get Supplies In > Drink (Can't Have A Party Without It) Hint: Tidy-Up > Washing Up (There's Always Lots After A Party) Conclusion:- Drink > Liquid > Washing > Detergent’.
Happy Noooooo Year!
THURSDAY 30th DECEMBER EBAY CHRISTMAS TREASURE HUNT SOLUTIONS - MAGIC
MAGIC – The Simple Treasure Hunts
Magic > Mystery > Magical Mystery Tour > Prize Listing: Fab Four Quiz Book
Lots of people were on this, including the aptly named rockinrollingal who said ‘Sounds like Magical Mystery Tour - something to do with the Beatles perhaps?’ and laura_media as well as radioshed who seemed to be on fine form all day.
Magic > Three Wishes > Genie > Robin Williams (in Aladdin) > Prize Listing: Robin Williams LIVE ON VIDEO
One of radioshed’s pre-win suggestions was ‘Robin williams = the voice of genie in Disneys animated movie’ while praline_cream growled ‘grrr had it in my thread’. fenix_2k2 had the link down pat: ‘the link was magic > 3 wishes > aladdin > genie > robin williams (voice of genie)’
Magic > Hogwart’s Transport > Weasley’s Car > Ford Anglia > Prize Listing: Ford Anglia Instruction Book – 1959
Huge numbers of people were on to this, including caddette77, radioshed (again), mzdv123
who ‘ Just missed it’, bellatrix0_1 who also missed it by answering the phone, alendrie who ‘was 27th, closest I've ever been’ and 2005rick. silvertempestwolf who ‘had it in me string’and mattc444 – ‘Grrr! Just a few seconds earlier and I'd have been in there!’
sueeeee had ‘been searchin for ford anglia since clue was released’ while simple_simondup ‘had it in my search but not quick enough!!!’ simply_orange was ‘13th - first winner I have seen since day one!!!!’ like angiebw.
bazandbon ‘had that in my string’, as did norfolk-broad, halo2mom, keycavies234, lushbear and crosleypup (who ‘was only looking for two things...ford anglia and platform shoes ...reckoned they might try size 9 3/4. I was refreshing platform as the anglia one was won.’) samantha-gainsborough should have tried co-opting her 5 yr old daughter, who wasn’t impressed that she didn’t get it!
jennyhillman41 ‘only searched for Anglia. I had 247 items which i was checking from 4.45pm onwards. didn't find it. awwwwwwwwwww i am gutted soooo close!!!’ while nosila50 was also on the trail, and went ‘ drat’ (great word!)
MAGIC – The Medium Level Treasure Hunt
Magic > Round Table > Merlin > Prize Listing: Sword in the Stone DVD
The medium level treasure hunt didn’t give people too much trouble, and should probably have been classified as one of the simpler ones.
MAGIC – The More Difficult Treasure Hunt
Magic > Boz Phiz > Dickens > David Copperfield > Illusionist > Prize Listing: The Vanishing Airplane DVD
This exercised some great minds, with lady-of-crest, bubblesbargainz, racheld23, gary555silverfox, adonop417 and bubblesbargainz all getting the Dickens connection. fattrout and jaimejwalker were two of those heading straight onto David Copperfield, the magician and illusionist. alpchild was next on the case, remarking that ‘david copperfield made the statue of liberty disappear so maybe something to do with that?’
On which note, I’ll vanish in a puff of smoke.
WEDNESDAY 29th DECEMBER EBAY CHRISTMAS TREASURE HUNT SOLUTIONS - SNOW
SNOW – The Simpler Treasure Hunts
Snow > White > Snow White > Prize Listing: Pair Range Rover Wing Mirrors
Plenty of people were straight onto Snow White, understandably, and the wicked witch with her obsessive narcissistic mirror-gazing. In a modern version, she’d obviously drive a Range Rover. Aggressively.
Snow > Cold > Prize Listing: BODY WARMER chest size 42
lily7star was close ‘ ack! Was searching body warmers’ and member55jj
suggested ‘handwarmer’ which was a few bodyparts short of an answer, but well on the way. 67rbh67 was also close with ‘thermals>underwear’.
Snow > Owl > Snowy Owl > Hedwig > Prize Listing: ***HARRY POTTER CHILD'S BACK-PACK***
lmfindlay was on the case, explaining ‘potters owl is a white snow owl’
as was kaycross0 with ‘snow>owl>harry potter>’ Pity poor jay_2929 who ‘had everything to do with Hedwig but forgot Harry himself…doh!’
And more sympathy for angeleyes2768 who ‘ Got to page hit the bin button and guess wot.. not logged in! Harry Potter Child's Back-pack. Closest i have been very happy to have found it!’ Glad angeleyes2768 remains so cheerful.
SNOW – The Medium-Level Treasure Hunt
Snow > Melting > Slush > Slush Puppy > Prize Listing: Highland Terrier Puppy Calendar 2005
*tsp* ‘just had slush!!’, as did kennyken51 who ‘had it but was toooooo late’
The winner explained that ’I just got to thinking, what is melting snow? It's slush, and I could always remember drinking slush puppies when I was little, so added puppy and up it popped!’
Amusingly, and plankingly, clarkeypstar says ‘I spent all my time looking for things with john Thaw in’ while lamoye is in trouble: ‘Oops, hubby said to search slush puppy but I didn't.’
SNOW – The More Difficult Treasure Hunt
Snow > Fall > Season > Prize Listing: Art Pepper THE COLLECTION CD £6.00
carriemol figured that ‘fall = a season, pepper = a seasoning’ as did tinanrg.
Unfortunately simsimsuch had ‘thought about fall - season - salt/pepper and had it in my string but I had loads of other words too so was looking at about 60 pages!’
Now it’s time to melt away.
TUESDAY 28th DECEMBER EBAY CHRISTMAS TREASURE HUNT SOLUTIONS - CANDLES
CANDLES – The Simpler Treasure Hunts
Candles > In the Wind > Norma Jean > Prize Listing: Khaki Green Jean type Dress
kazzy1972 kindly described the candle hunts as the “best clues yet IMHO”. Thanks! There were lots of people doing well throughout the day. As gary555silverfox pointed out, this was fairly straightforward clue: “Candle in the wind - song about Marilyn Monroe aka Norma Jean before she changed her name. Is actually in 1st line of lyrics ‘Goodbye Norma Jean’”.
Candles > Romance > Candlelit Dinner > Prize Listing: Beautiful Lace Dinner Napkins (Set of 2)
melvyn5199 was close: “ i had dinner but was way forward...i was looking at the listings for the 26th”. Poor guppiesgalore, though: “ damn....i took dinner out of my string to try to shorten it”. Ach! And loopy-lou102, apart from a lust for oysters, was very close indeed “ just signed in and i only had 2 words in my string , dinner and oysters !! still didnt get there quick enough, good to know i was on rite track this time”. Good luck later in the hunt.
Candles > Wax > Ruby Wax > Ruby Slippers > Prize Listing: THE WIZARD OF OZ Soundtrack
marklongreading was doing very well, announcing “I have correctly guessed all 4 of the last clues”, before adding the kicker, “You just need to warp your mind in the right way.” Hmm.
kittylulabelle was on course with “wax->Ruby->slippers->Wizard of OZ (was searching on it myself) BOO HOO HOO :o(” Better luck next time. lincoln19640 had it figured, while radioshed sailed perilously close to the ‘special plank’ with the remark “Well in hindsite ... Wax melts ... the witch Melts”. Good point, though.
Candles > Scent > Prize Listing: Aromatherapy Gift Set BN
flockhartx “thought of aromatherapy” as did pete0663 (“CANDLES>SCENT>AROMATHRAPY”), but hopefully he didn’t make a typo in his actual search string. snazzy* though “the 1st 3 [hunts] were easy peasy. I had 2 windows open 1 with aromatherapy 1 with incense, whilst 1 was refreshing i search the other, i was looking at the incense one when aroma was refreshing so missed it DOH!!!! Never mind 3 outta 3 aint bad for me.” Indeed, pretty impressive.
jambo_gill was happy to be back on the planet: “I'm just so happy I'm not on a different planet for a change. Decided to just pick a few words this time (aromatherapy, oil burner, cents, coin purse). Didn't see the winning listing but at least I can take my big pointy hat with a 'D' on it off.” As treasure_elf said, you can now put on a big pointy hat with an ‘E’ on it (he would say ‘E for Elf’, but I would say it’s ‘E for Expert’).
CANDLES – The More Difficult Treasure Hunt
Candles > Roman > Roman Candles > Prize Listing: Italian Metal Decorative Gold effect candelabra
j833byg had Italianate ideas that got as far as “italia 90, if i would of put italia* i might of seen the treasure”, while alpchild was a hint out unfortunately: “ i cant belive it. i was looking at the winning listing this morning for the 2nd hint. candles>romance>candlelit dinner>candelabra” hel8itch simply had this to say: “ARRRRRRGH ARGHHHHHHHH AGHRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR damn bill gates and microsoft i had candelbra in my string and my bloomin computer totally froze and i had to reboot... ooooooooooooooooh this just aint my day”.
Now, having burned the candle at both ends for a while now, time to slope off and relax with a DVD bought from Ebay!
MONDAY 27th DECEMBER EBAY CHRISTMAS TREASURE HUNT SOLUTIONS - FUN
FUN – The Simpler Treasure Hunts
Fun > Face > Funny Face > Streisand > Prize Listing: BARBARA STREISAND! The Way We Were CD
There were some grumbles (from Streisand fans?) that the Barbra-formerly-known-as-Barbara was misspelled, but with around 16% of Ebay listings for the diva making the same ‘error’, hiding it that way was just being cunning. The more technical questions involving search strings and so on have been put to the scary Technical Elf, Scotty, who wants to know if ‘everyone is searching everywhere’ because if they’re not, he says in his Private Fraser from Dad’s Army voice, “yeee’re aaaaall dooooomed!” As you can guess, technical queries are only pressed on Scotty the Technical Elf in emergencies.
Fun > Summer > Prize Listing: *New* Designer Bikini size 14
This was meant to be almost as simple as a prize listing like ‘summer fun P&P inc. £3.99’ but for reasons unknown the hunt appeared to last almost 5 hours. The Irish Elves in charge of some technical element involved in listing, revising, releasing and so on – complex stuff far beyond the ken of the clue maker – may have been remiss and listed late, but in all other cases they’ve been on the button, so perhaps it was just a strange inability to think of summer fun when it’s cold and dark?
Not so for dianesmirror (Is this handle really named after a book? Which one? Couldn’t find it when I truffled…) who said, apropos an extra hint delivered just a few minutes too late, “warm wet wriggles toes... swimming in the sea/paddling in the seas... easy”
Fun > House > House of Fun > Madness > Mad Hatter > Item Listing: 2 lovely Alice in Wonderland tea cups
purpleangel almost went all the way, but was derailed by the curse of Noel Edmonds: “welcome to the house of fun..... song used on Noel Edmonds Saturday night show... House Party.” It’s faintly disturbing that purpleangel associates this song with Noel Edmonds rather than Madness, but it was an excellent start, generously shared with the board five minutes before it was won.
If a lurker won it as a result of purpleangel’s generosity, and as a general remark to lurkers, it would be widely welcomed if lurking winners felt able to drop by on the Community’s Ebay Christmas Treasure Hunt board to share their experiences. This was happening earlier in the hunt and adds to the overall jollity factor. jdd1990 did very well, too, getting as far as madness (the band, not the side effect of excessive treasure hunting) but not the Mad Hatter.
FUN – The Medium-Level Treasure Hunt
Fun > Fair > Rides > Dizzy > Item Listing: FANTASTIC DIZZY COMPLETE MEGA DRIVE
If you got as far as feeling dizzy by going on exciting funfair rides, you were home and dry as the urge to be a Rascal and go further down the line was resisted as the ‘special plank’ hoved into view.
FUN – The More Difficult Treasure Hunt
Fun > Run > Fun Run > Charity > ‘Charidee’ > Item Listing: BBC HARRY ENFIELD AND CHUMS VIDEO
kitty168birdsbirds got this in one go: ‘fun-run-charity-smashy and nicey (it's all for charity) Harry Enfield’ and had it in a search string: so sorry you didn’t win it, but don’t forget Scotty the Technical Elf’s advice about searching (above).
Well after all that fun, it’s time for a rest and some of this eggnog the Elves keep pressing on me, with a disturbingly wicked glint in their eyes...
BOXING DAY EBAY CHRISTMAS TREASURE HUNT SOLUTIONS - STAR
The Simpler Treasure Hunts
Star > Morning > Morning Star > UK Communist Party Newspaper > Prize Listing: Lenin 1916 Ceramic Art Tile
webwey was on fine form yesterday, sharing the link to Marxism. It is a short beard to make the connection from Karl to Lenin…
Star > Nearest > Sun > Rising Sun > Prize Listing: Giant Japan Flag £9.99 inc P+P
praline_cream had sunrise, which was a good start, but bennily (politely putting it down to tiredness rather than excess!) was surprised at how long it took many to settle on the sun as our nearest star. But as garysilverfox555 punned, ‘we are all starting to flag’.
No doubt infuriatingly, dianesmirror had ‘rising’ and ‘sun’ in his string, but not Japan, and mdj101 seems to have been tantalisingly close, too. commander-vimes was also very close, but blaming the beer for pickling his brain cells. woofles_uk came up the interesting fact that ‘nearest’ is an anagram of ‘eastern’, which was not deliberate. glitzz0 was also spot on with the correct trail, but added ‘I’ll get me coat’: hardly necessary, but showing an excellent taste for The Fast Show!
Star > Evening > Venus > Prize Listing: Botticelli Print
Venus is both morning and evening star, and the most famous image of Venus in fine art – and one of the most famous paintings full stop – is Botticelli’s ‘Birth of Venus’.
STAR – The Medium-Level Treasure Hunt
Star > Hollywood A List > Jack Nicholson > One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest > Prize Listing: Cuckoo Clock AUTHENTIC SWISS!
Among living actors, Jack Nicholson is quite possibly the movie star’s movie star, with three Oscars to his name. He also has more Academy Award nominations than any other actor in history. He won his first best actor Oscar for ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’.
Poor tammyjuk missed it by a whisker, saying “i did have cuckoo in my search string (as well as jack and nicholson) but had to go do family stuff and have only just come back online...ah well never mind”. Impressively phlegmatic, tammyjuk!
STAR – The Difficult Treasure Hunt
Star > Board > Starboard > POSH (Port Out, Starboard Home) > P&O boats to and from India at time of Raj > Prize Listing: Wild Willy Barrett (no Otway) Tales from the Raj
martinmother and bellatrix0_1 were both on the ball with this one, just falling short of the final solution. An apparently fallacious but widely-held belief has it that the term ‘posh’ (deeply admired occupant of several spicy answers earlier in the hunt) derives from ‘Port Out, Starboard Home’ i.e. keeping to the shady side of the deck, supposedly stamped on the tickets to and from India belonging to the wealthier patrons of P&O ships in the days of the Raj.
Tootlepip!
Christmas Day Ebay Christmas Treasure Hunt Solutions
PRESENTS: The Simpler Treasure Hunts
Presents > Hint: Special Occasion > Wedding > Usher > Item Listing: Burn CD Single
purple_black was spot on: ‘Presents > Special Occasion > Wedding > Usher at a wedding 'presents' the guests and shows them to their seats? > Usher - Burn CD single’. I believe ushers also collect any wedding presents that arrive with guests. zoks was there too.
Penwhitton went a stage further, into ‘special plank’ territory, with the idea that ‘special occasion’ referred to ‘BURNS NIGHT !!!’ but perhaps that was Scottish patriotism speaking? Who knows. Certainly Usher is more popular than Burns these days among the younger crowd. The name ‘usher’ was kept out of the final listing to keep the hunt up for a wee while longer.
Presents > Hint: Home Made > Item Listing: Maternity cardigan - size 12
This was, ah, fairly simple and straightforward. Once you’d stuffed your mind with home made cakes and chocolates, home made woollies, scarves, mittens, jumpers, pullovers and sweaters can’t be far behind, along with cardies. The maternity reference had nothing to do with the fact it was Christ Mass. Just a touch of serendipitydoodah.
PRESENTS – The More Difficult Treasure Hunt
Presents > Hint: Nice Things > Goodies > Tim Brooke-Taylor > Item Listing: Mens Savoy Tailors Guild S/Breasted Suit 40" Chest
There was a suggestion that this clue was ageist, but curiously this observation wasn’t applied to the (equally ageist) first hunt culminating in Usher. But as someone courteously pointed out, a family-friendly prize and treasure hunt day should appeal to a variety of ages.
It seemed to, and certainly the Festive Spirit that pervaded the board like a sweet aroma was a real pleasure and much enjoyed. Thank you.
Friday’s Ebay Christmas Treasure Hunt Solutions
SANTA– The Simpler Treasure Hunts
Santa > Hint: Sleigh > Slay > Prize Listing: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Complete Season 3 (VHS)
Almost a present from Santa, this was such an easy soundalike! You have to feel sorry for poor old monochromeworld, who said “I saw sleigh, thought, ‘slay > slayer > buffy..’ searched and didn't find the item, but only because i was too lazy to look in every single one!!!!” Better luck next time.
Santa > Hint: Chimney > Sweep > Prize Listing: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (U) VHS Dick Van Dyke
A fairly simple one: Santa comes down the chimney; sweeps go up it. Dick Van Dyke made an unlikely chimney sweep in Mary Poppins, but that seemed a touch too easy, so we went for another famous Dick Van Dyke movie, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – which was on TV that day anyway.
Santa > Hint: Lapland > Laptop > Prize Listing: USB Infrared Adaptor for Notebook £8.00
This was very easy – but with a twist, going that last stage beyond Laptop to Notebook. Simon-Hawking was terribly close: “Well mine was lapland>LAP>santa lands on roofTOP = laptop. Didn't think of notebook though.” Good luck in future.
SANTA – The Medium-Level Treasure Hunt
Santa > Hint: Ho! Ho! Ho! > Prize Listing: Life of Brian Vintage Poster T-shirt £ 5.99
Santa likes a laugh, and Life of Brian was declared Britain’s favourite film comedy this year, and the story is – at least a bit – seasonal. Nalaa28 – again – was so close: “although had monty python on the last one just didnt take it one step further to get life of brian”. At this rate, nalaa28 stands every chance of winning… go for it!
SANTA – The More Difficult Treasure Hunt
Santa > Hint: Naughty or Nice > Naughty but Nice > ad phrase coined by Salman Rushdie > Prize Listing: Salman Rushdie: Haroun and the Sea of Stories – Hardback
Simon Hawking was on a roll with this too and, between cream cakes, could have pounced. If you didn’t know it, you would have to have trawled around variations on the theme (some of which were amusing; some, I suspect, unprintable!). Anyway, the idea is to leave the most difficult clue to the end of the day, so you’ve got an evening of fun browsing Ebay, thinking up ideas, chatting on the board.
Now I’m back to this marvellous eggnog the Elves are passing around.
Thursday's Ebay Christmas Treasure Hunt Solutions
ELF CLUES! 🙂 ELF CLUES! 🙂 ELF CLUES! 🙂
As a special request, and after judicious application of the ‘special plank’, I have agreed to let Treasure Elf and Colin the Clue Elf explain the clues. Back tomorrow.
ELF CLUES! 🙂 ELF CLUES! 🙂 ELF CLUES! 🙂 ELF CLUES! 🙂 ELF CLUES! 🙂 ELF CLUES! 🙂 ELF CLUES! 🙂 ELF CLUES! 🙂 ELF CLUES! 🙂
Hello humans! Elves is happy because all these clues means special Ebay humans now know much much more about Elves and Elvish things than you did before. To show Ebay humans we like them Elves used special magic to make more prizes appear. (But don’t tell anyone, or Elves will get in trouble)
ELVES – The Simpler Treasure Hunts
Simpler especially if you is Elves! Lucky for you all Elves is very busy on important business at this time of year or Elves would win everything in sight!
Elves > Hint: Mr Potter! > Dobby > Item Listing: 12 PAIRS QUALITY NON ELASTIC SOCKS
Dobby is house elf. Dobby is funny. Dobby likes socks. “Socks are Dobby's favourite, favourite clothes, Sir” he tells Mr Potter. Mr Potter is Harry Potter. If you don’t know who Mr Potter is it’s not our fault.
Elves > Hint: Little not Large > Prize Listing: The Little House on the Prairie – Season 1 VHS
Not all Elves is little, but some is, and they like little things. Little House on the Prairie is our favourite retro show. We like it because it’s nice. Like us!
Elves > Hint: Little not Large > Prize Listing: TItchy and sCratchy mobile
Little Elves like Titchy. Titchy is funny. And little.
Elves > Hint: Little not Large > Prize Listing: No Holds Barred with Tiny “ZeuS” LISter
Granny Elves love wrestling, and especially Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister Jr. (but not because he was called the Human Wrecking Machine. Oh, no.) Elves like him because he is very big, but he is called Tiny. Funny!
Elves > Hint: Little not Large > Item Listing: HELLO KITTY PETITE WRISTWATCH BN
Little Lady Elves like anything ‘petite’ which is a lady way of saying little. Hello Kitty is a favourite, because Elves is good friends with cats. We have most interesting conversations together.
Elves > Hint: Where We Live > Dell > Delboy > Item Listing: Only fools and horses (leopard skin) fridge magnet
Elves live in nature and like dells a lot. Which is one reason we find Delboy funny. But because Elves know everyone seemed to want ‘Only Fools and Horses’ to be a solution, we made the clue maker agree. (We just showed him the ‘special plank’). And you found it!
Elves > Hint: Where We Live > Woods > Item Listing: PS2 Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 (As New)
We also live in woods. Like Tigers, which are big cats, and also very interesting to talk to. So we like Tiger Woods, even though he isn’t a tiger or a wood or an elf. He has a nice smile. We like that.
Elves > Hint: Little Not Large > Baby Booties > Item Listing: Sheepskin baby booties, New - made in New Zealand
Elves like babies lots and lots because they are even more interesting to talk with than cats, and because we can share clothes. We like booties too. Especially made in New Zealand. New Zealand is where they filmed ‘Lord of the Elven Smiths’ Rings’ you know. Very pretty. Almost as pretty as Faerie.
Treasure Elf was looking at some Puma Viper Football Boots in Child Size 1 for one of his nephews, and Colin is very taken with the personalised fleece baby blankets. Nice and soft, just like Colin!
Elves > Hint: Santa’s Little Helpers > Workshop > Item Listing: Small hammer with screwdriver
Little elves is very good at making toys for children and use special small tools to make them. Small because little elves is small.
Elves > Hint: Santa’s Little Helpers > Workshop > Item Listing: 20 x PRITT MINI GLUE ROLLERS
Many of our special toys need to be glued together with mini glue rollers. Mini like Elves!
ELVES – The Medium-Level Treasure Hunts
Elves > Hint: Little not Large > Item Listing: wooden cot bed with drawers
Even big little Elves sleep in cots. They are just the right size. We like wooden ones because we live in the woods. Drawers are where we keep our special things. Like planks.
Elves also like bunk beds. There are lots of nice ones on Ebay. This is not a clue.
Elves > Hint: Where We Live > Outside > Item Listing: GEORGE MICHAEL OUTSIDE CD SINGLE DIGI PACK
Elves live outside. No surprise then that George’s song was number one in the Elvish charts for many moons.
Elves > Hint: Where We Live > Forest > Item Listing: Forrest Gump - Original Soundtrack (CD)
Elves live in forests. Forrest Whittaker is one of our favourite actors, and Forrest Gump is one of our favourite films. It makes Colin cry. Colin is a very sensitive Elf. The soundtrack is great. One of the sellers offering this item has even put the full track listing on. Which is nice.
Also nice is Bonsai trees, we like them. They are on Ebay too. Very pretty.
Elves > Hint: Where We Live> Magic Kingdom >Item Listings: *** DISNEY MAGIC KINGDOM Snow Globe***
It’s very easy for humans to forget that Elves are basically magical creatures with special powers and lots of secrets. Magic Kingdom isn’t as magic as Elfland, but we like it too. We also like snow globes because they remind us of Lapland where there is lots of snow.
Elves > Hint: The Rings! > Lady Galdriel > Mirror > Item Listing: BEAUTIFUL Estee Lauder LADIES COMPACT CASE
Gracevictor was on the trail... Isn’t she beautiful? Lady Galadriel? We all like her. Colin has a crush on her. Yes you have, Colin, you told me. Her mirror is very special and powerful. Colin thinks she would like this as a present, especially as Estee is a popular Elf name.
Elves > Hint: Little not Large > Item Listing: MINI COOPER Valve Caps and Locking Key
We like Minis they are special and little and friendly like us. We don’t know what valve caps are, but expect they will look good if we wear them at parties, especially if they are green. We like green.
Elves also like mini fridges, mini discs and mini cameras, so we are often browsing in those areas of the site. That is not a clue, just an Elf fact.
tartandoodles was a very clever treasure hunter. tartandoodles said “only thing I can think of is something to do with mini. there was a car known as a riley elf and also one known as a wolsley hornet. Both of these cars were considered to be 'luxury' minis.” Very clever.
Elves > Hint: Mr Potter! > Dobby > Toby Jones > Item Listing: BESWICK TOBY JUG
Toby Jones is the voice of Dobby. He is funny. Toby Jugs are funny too.
Elves> Hint: The Rings! The Rings! The Rings!> Legolas Greenleaf > Lego > Item Listing: BIONICLE T-SHIRT TRANSFER
Prince Legolas Greenleaf is a big elf among big elves. We like him. We like Lego too, and especially the bionicles they make. Lego was invented in Denmark which is full of elves.
Elves > Hint: Little not Large > Santa Claus: The Movie – DVD – Dudley Moore!
Dudley makes us laugh. He is like a big Elf. He is very Dudleyish in Santa Claus which we liked too.
Elves > Hint: Mr Potter! > House Elves > Item Listing: BRAND NEW BATH TOWEL
House Elves like to wear towels and tea cosies, but they get dirty. So we thought a brand new huge big bath towel would make any house elf very happy.
Elves > Hint: Little not Large > The One Minute Manger – Teaching copy
This made us laugh and laugh. Like cots, we like sleeping in mangers, especially wooden ones. And ‘minute’ means very little. But because Colin stole an ‘a’ from manager, it was all muddled up.
Elves > Hint: Little not Large > Santa Claus: The Movie – DVD – Dudley Moore!
Dudley makes us laugh. He is like a big Elf. He is very Dudleyish in Santa Claus which made all elves laugh and is the second biggest grossing movie in Elfland after the Lord of the Elven Smith Rings films. (The Elf in Elf is not a proper Elf, but we quite liked that too, but not as much).
ELVES – The More Difficult Treasure Hunts
Elves > Hint: Mr Potter! > Hermione > S.P.E.W. > Item Listing: RARE Avro Vulcan Bomber Toy Aircraft
We like Hermione and her Society for the Protection of Elvish Welfare. Very kind of her. Did you know volcanoes spew? Colin told me that. Also Colin says volcanoes are named after Vulcans? They are very powerful spirits of the underworld. We do not see them very much. We are good at making Airfix models.
We are also very good at making Harry Potter Lego, surprise surprise. There is lots and lots on Ebay, which is happy making.
Elves > Hint: The Rings! The Rings! > Our Friends the Rohan >Item Listing: ROHAN KONVERTA JACKET LINED FLEECE
Our friends the Rohan in ‘Lord of the (Elven Smiths’) Rings’ are very brave. We like to wear their clothing when we can. Help out a bit, you know.
Elves > Hint: Where We Live > Lapland > Finland > Item Listing: Nokia 6230 Fascia Cover CHROME TURQUIOSE
Elves from Lapland and Finland are very proud that their magic goes into little mobile phones which go all around the world and talk to each other. Turquoise is a nice colour, but Colin can’t spell very well.
Elves > Hint: The Rings! The Rings! > Figwit > Item Listing: VERY LOVELY FIG SHAPED SERVING DISH WITH LID
Figwit (“Frodo is great… who is that?”) is an Elf hero. He only appears in ‘Lord of the (Elven Smiths’) Rings’ for 3 whole seconds and that was enough to make him famous around the world. That is how powerful some Elves can be! He is big. He is beautiful. He is important. More we cannot reveal. Except if you want his autograph, it’s on Ebay. That we can reveal.
Some Elf girls like Body Shop fig things. They think Figwit will like the smell. We are not sure, but we do like Body Shop things. They smell nice. When you look at them on Ebay you cannot smell them, but you can when they arrive at your home.
Elves > Hint: Little not Large > ELF Garages > Item Listing: Playmobil SHELL Garage
ELF is our favourite garage, and Elf children love playing with toy ELF garages. But as these are handed down from generation to generation they rarely make it onto Ebay. But Shell Garages are fun too. Clever ferrariracerbabe worked this one out!
Elves > Hint: Little not Large > Happy Little Elves > Item Listing: The Simpsons Lunchbox RARE!!!!
Lisa’s lunchbox has the Happy Little Elves on it. We tried to help with this clue by being happy little elves going Elf Clues! Elf Clues! for half an hour but no one seemed to get the hint. But Treasure Elf enjoyed himself.
Elves > Hint: Little not Large > Intricate wooden toy soldier L@@K
Santa’s Elves are clever and make clever little toys which are often quite intricate.
Elves > Hint: Santa’s Little Helpers > Workshop > Item Listing: ***Postman Pat Pillar Box***
Elves is good friends with Postman Pat because Santa gets sent millions of letters every year, and poor old postmen have to trudge up the hill in all weathers. We like postmen.
Elves > Hint: Santa’s Little Helpers > Workshop > Item Listing: 8 HUMBROL ENAMEL POTS
Elves are special strong and small and need paint that is the same. We like these.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Elves has left the building.
Tuesday's Ebay Christmas Treasure Hunt Solutions
WRAPPING – The Simpler Treasure Hunts
Wrapper > Ribbon > Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree > Item: Acorn Risc OS advanced computer guide (original)
Proof that brains beats brawn, the winner came on, saw the clue, remembered the song, thought acorn, searched under just ‘acorn’ – then immediately found the listing and won. Well done!
Many others had searched ‘oak’ but crucially overlooked that last ‘little’ twist which was that from little acorns grow mighty oaks. Still, it will have given you an opportunity to browse eBay’s fine selection of furniture, wouldn’t it?
Wrapping > Tape > Video Tape > Item Listing: VHS/PAL (UK): VIDEO OF JACKIE CHAN IN RUSH HOUR – BOX UNOPENED!
Lots of you figured it had to be a cassette or video, and the rush was on. But there’s an enormous selection of videos on eBay, so it would have taken some patient digging. The title was chosen, incidentally, as a wee nod to the impressive speed with which Treasure Hunters are chasing the prizes.
It took a little while, though, and just as a possible nudge to help you along in the right direction was being contemplated, it was found.
Wrapper > Rapper > Goldie Looking Chain/Bling Bling > Item Listing: 9ct GOLD CHAIN!! TOTAL bARGAIN!!!!
This one had people gnashing their teeth as they listed rappers by the dozen – including ‘Goldie Looking Chain’! As well as, ah, interesting lyrics and lifestyles, the image of rappers is famously bling bling. Though a 9 carat gold chain would obviously only be for a minor rapper.
Still, if you were looking for Bling (there’s not yet an eBay category of that name – perhaps there should be?) you would have seen lots of jewellery – contemporary costume, men’s, vintage and antique, contemporary fine, watches and ethnic & tribal – clothing and a bunch of other items – including a car or two. So you could purchase a whole lifestyle in one sitting direct from eBay. Just have to write the rap song, now, don’t you?
WRAPPING – The Medium-Level Treasure Hunt
Wrapper > Shiny Paper > Shiny Happy People (REM) > Item Listing: REM (R.E.M.) DAY SLEEPER SINGLE
It’s a short hop from ‘shiny paper’ to ‘shiny people’ – and REM’s huge hit, ‘Shiny Happy People’ (which could be an anthem for eBay Treasure Hunters!), but you had to think beyond the paper as it were. Chocschicken was brilliantly spot on.
A variety of weird, wonderful and interesting ideas came from the likes of Mr.Aytch, jules19719 and fattrout, who suggested shiny toilet paper! Still, ollym1 was with you on Izal (hope the spaghetti was good). Then there was saffyslim and condoms – obviously getting into the Christmas spirit!
WRAPPING – The More Difficult Treasure Hunt
Wrapper > Present > TV Presenter > David Attenborough > Item Listing: VHS/PAL (UK): LIFE ON EARTH *COMPLETE SERIES!!!* BBC
This was a twister: to move from present as a noun to the verb, and then onto TV presenters. Possibly the most celebrated, and probably the finest, TV presenter we have is the urbane and charming David Attenborough, most famous for Life on Earth.
It's a wrap. Next up, Elf clues, which seems to have excited the little beasts (ouch!) beyond all reason...
Tuesday's Ebay Christmas Treasure Hunt Solutions
TWINKLE – The Simpler Treasure Hunts
Twinkle > Hint: Toes > “Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes” > Bells > Item Listing: CAT COLLAR (RED) WITH BELL. CUTE!
To win a Treasure Hunt, you need to be nimble on your feet – twinkle toed. ‘Twinkle toes’ is a popular name for cats, that most nimble of creatures. Alternatively a short jump to the classic line from the nursery rhyme “Ride a Cock-Horse to Banbury Fair” led to bells. And where more natural to put a bell than on a cute cat collar?
Twinkle > Hint: Star > Sun > Item Listing: Dolce Gobbana DESIGNER SHADES – NEW!
Stars twinkle, and if you were several thousand million miles away, so would the sun. Any closer and shades are advisable.
Twinkle > Hint: Shining > Torch > Item Listing: NEW Ultra led TORCH KEYRING £1.99 inc. P&P
Astute Treasure Hunters (i.e. most of you) will have noticed that prize item listings are no longer quite as grammatically neat as before. Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) often twinkle, and we often shine torches. Take either direction and you would have won.
TWINKLE – The Medium-Level Treasure Hunt
Twinkle > Mince Pies > Eyes > Ayes > Item Listing: PaRLIAMENT JIGSAW PUZZLE – 500 PIECES
The dreaded mince pies, again. Cockney rhyming slang for ‘eyes’ which sounds like ‘ayes’. ‘Ayes’ are usually heard in regional dialect (e.g. Scotty’s ‘Aye, aye, Captain’ in Star Trek), but nationally are associated with the House of Commons (‘Ayes to the right’) in PaRLIAMENT (and yes, the ‘accidental’ mix of upper and lower case was deliberate). A chamber of learned individuals coming together to weigh issues of great moment that reminds me of…the Community Treasure Hunt Board!
TWINKLE – The More Difficult Treasure Hunt
Twinkle > Hint: Little > Twinkle Twinkle Little Star > Musical variations by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart > Wolfgang > Pack > Item Listing: 2PAC / TUPAC LARGE POSTER
A ‘little’ known fact is that Mozart wrote the music we associate with ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ (It was news to me too: I cribbed this from QI). The difficult bit was going from ‘wolf gang’ to ‘pack’ and then, sticking to music (though of a different calibre and genre) dropping the ‘k’ to get to Tupac – or 2PAC – the late legendary rap artist.
Now, twinkle toed, I shall skip off for another day before the Treasure Elf arrives and announces, with a twinkle in his eye, that it’s time for the ‘special plank’.
Monday's Ebay Christmas Treasure Hunt Solutions
STOCKING
STOCKING – The Simpler Treasure Hunts
Stocking > Hint: Fruit > Orange > Prize Listing: Brand new Orange SPV E200 mains charger BUY NOW
Er, couldn’t be simpler really, could it?
Stocking > Hint: Fruit > Tomato > Ketchup > Catsup > Prize Listing: Cat Dish MIB
A little bit more cunning, and you needed to figure out either the origin of ketchup or my cat obsession (clues to the latter below).
Stocking > Hint: Sweets > Butterscotch > Prize Listing: butter dish (Scottish)
An old-fashioned sweet but no less tasty for that.
Stocking > Hint: Sweets > Prize Listing: Cornershop – Brimful of Asha (single
There used to be sweetshops, but now its more likely to be a cornershop, brimful of sweeties…
Stocking > Hint: Trinkets > The Bangles – Walk Like An Egyptian > Prize Listing: Egyptian Papyrus ANTIQUE
Bangles are a common trinket, and Walk Like An Egyptian was probably The Bangles biggest hit.
Stocking > Hint: Nuts > Peanuts > Prize Listing: Snoopy Mug
The temptation to go one stage further to Snoop Doggy Dog was resisted.
Stocking > Hint: Nuts > Squirrels hide nuts > Prize Listing: Howard Jones 12” Vinyl Hide and Seek
Squirrels get to do treasure hunts all the time. Limited range of prizes, the message board isn’t as much fun, but hey, who knows, in another few lifetimes…
STOCKING – The Medium-Level Treasure Hunts
Stocking > Hint: Fruit > Jam > Paul Weller > Style Council > Prize Listing: Trinny and Susannah What Not To Wear
Always a stylish boy, our Paul. A credit to Woking. But these days he’s gone hippy, only taking the mod hair with him. Nowadays a more offensive kind of style counsel is offered by Trinny and Susannah.
Stocking > Hint: Sweets > Kit Kat > ‘You’re not a salmon’ > Prize Listing: Kilt - no sporren
More surreptitious chocolate-coated cat propaganda Kit Kat’s new ads saying ‘You’re not a salmon’ are only correct, obviously, if you’re not a salmon. But with an attention span of around 4 seconds, it doesn’t really matter if fish are watching the ad on TV, because they will have forgotten it by the time it’s over. So they won’t get too anxious or depressed.
Stocking > Hint: Sweets > Humbugs > Ebenezer Scrooge > Ebenezer – Geezer > Bloke > Prize Listing: Men's Trousers W28 L32
Ebenezer and Scrooge made an appearance on Carols day, so after saying ‘Bah, humbug!’ a few times (curiously satisfying), it was a question of swerving from Ebenezer to Geezer, meaning ‘bloke’. Of course it is recognized that many women wear trousers (and/or the trousers), usually with great élan.
Stocking > Hint: Sweets > Sherbet > Fizzy > Prize Listing: Sodastream Machine
It was tempting to go to Herbert from Sherbet, then there would have been a prize Herbert. This urge was resisted in favour of getting fizzy instead.
Stocking > Hint: Trinkets > Locket > Hair > Prize Listing: Wig - Long Blonde hardly worn
Another popular trinket, some beautiful examples of which can be found on eBay, are the lockets that those, whose hearts were joined in loving thought, used to wear close to their person. See, I’ve come over all Victorian at the mere thought. Anyway, for some bizarre reason they would often stick some of the loved ones hair in it. And it’s a short brush from hair to wig.
Stocking > Hint: Nuts > Monkey Business > Marx Brothers > Harpo > Prize Listing: Celtic Harp unplayed
Stocking > Hint: Trinkets > Lucky Charm > Irish > Prize Listing: Guinness Toucan Poster
The luck or the charm of the Irish would have you well on your way to finding this prize. The black and white milk the Irish call Guinness is just one of their national symbols...
Stocking > Hint: Red and White > Candy Cane > Prize Listing: Wicker Chair
As it happens, The Wicker Man is on the box this New Year’s Eve, but we’ll all be too busy with the exciting prizes in the treasure hunt I expect. Still, assuming your brains were still sweet from thinking about confections for six hours in the morning, this was meant to be fairly easy. A red and white striped candy, cane leading to wicker. Ah well.
Stocking > Hint: Red & White > Toy Soldiers > Nutcracker > Prize Listing: Ballet Slippers BNWT
Again a rather old-fashioned kind of toy soldier would be the red and white ones stuffed in the stocking, the kind that appear in the Nutcracker. Today’s version presumably come in camouflage and armed with hand grenades, flame-throwers and AK47s, but there we go.
Stocking > Hint: Red and White > Barber’s Pole > Sweeney Todd, Demon Barber of Fleet Street > Hacks > Item Listing: Hack Saw with 6 extra blades
Slightly less sweet than the red and white striped candy cane, barbers’ poles reflects their history as early surgeons. (To this day surgeons, still slighting from the leech-giving Doctors snobbery all those years ago, still insist on being called ‘Mister’). Sweeney Todd is the most famous barber who was also a pie merchant. He did his grisly business in Fleet, alongside the hacks, who did theirs.
STOCKING – The Difficult Treasure Hunts
Stocking > Hint: Fruit > Cake > Sugar > Spoonful of… > Mary Poppins > Julie Andrews > Sound of Music > Prize Listing: Digital Radio with warranty
From jellied fruits to cake, fruit and sugar combine at Christmas until it’s too much. Even more sugary is Julie Andrews, who nannied us in Mary Poppins and sung in the Sound of Music. One place to listen to a broad range of music and comedy is on your new digital radio, stuffed with channels no one else can get. Alternatively you do the sensible thing and browse the amazing eBay listings where you will find music and comedy you’d forgotten you loved.
Stocking > Hint: Fruit > Bowl > ‘Bowling for Columbine’ > Prize Listing: Charlton Heston “Planet of the Apes” VIDEO
A courteous Charlton Heston is diced and sliced by Michael Moore in his docu-something, ‘Bowling for Columbine’. Charlton also aped an ape in Planet of the Apes.
Stocking > Hint: Sweets > Sweet Life > La Dolce Vita > Item Listing: Italian Confectionery Selection (In Tin Box)
Came over all Italian. Must have been that pizza I shared with the Treasure Elf. You don’t want to know what his toppings were, I promise you.
If you didn't get what you wanted in your stocking this year, it's probably because you've been too naughty. Or at least, that's what the Treasure Elf tells me.
Sunday's Ebay Christmas Treasure Hunt Solutions
TREE – The Simpler Treasure Hunts
Tree > Big > Big Christmas Tree > Gift from Norway-UK every year > Trafalgar Square > Prize Listing: Book: Nelson Mandela ‘Long Walk to Freedom’
Every year the Norwegian give Britain a huge, specially selected Christmas Tree in remembrance of our help in the Second World War. It dominates Trafalgar Square, home of South Africa House and where so far unsuccessful proposals have been made to site a Mandela statue. There’s also a statue of another Nelson, boaty sort of chap, on top of a big column there (and some rather good stuff on him in eBay at the moment, if that’s your sort of thing).
A big mensch: forum_lurker – who figured it out, can’t win himself, and shared his string with the community board before it was found! Incredible. As the man himself put it: “*insert smug lucky guess smug look here* ” !
Tree > Big > Redwood Tree > John Redwood > Mr Spock > Prize Listing: Star Trek womens T-Shirt
Biggest of big trees in the world? The Redwood. John Redwood’s nickname: Mr Spock. Unfortunately my Klingon dictionary doesn’t run to redwood. Guess they don’t grow in outer space. A T-shirt would display ‘ngech’ well, though.
Tree > Big > Family Tree > National Trust > Prize Listing: National Trust Teacloth from Heartbeat
Deezinah was on the case with this one, though the National Trust logo is actually a sprig of Oak – but the National Trust’s collection of big trees has got to be the best going.
Tree > Top > Treetops > Elizabeth II at Treetops when heard she was Queen > Crown/Jewels > Prize Listing: Jewellery Box
forum_lurker again! He pointed out that “treetops is also a really famous safari resort in africa...” and it’s really famous because that’s where Princess Elizabeth was when she was told she was now Queen – and would be needing a big jewellery box for all those crowns, tiara, rings and other jewels.
Tree > Top of the Tree > Fairy > Tinkerbell > Peter Pan > Prize Listing: Green Hat ideal for skiing
Tinkerbell, the most famous modern fairy made her debut a century ago next week, as did Peter Pan – traditionally in a green hat. Amazing amount of hats on eBay. And lots of fairy things if you want to be away with them…
Tree > Can You? See the Woods for the Trees > Prize Listing: Castaway Jigsaw Puzzle
Captain_slog (excellent name, by the way) could see the wood for the trees, and did, pointing out the phrase and the fact that a ‘jigsaw’ is also used to cut up trees into wood. Owencarla and Barnsleynurse were on the way, as was Philmccravis – whose digital idea was so good I wish I’d thought of it first…
Tree > Bark > Dog > ‘Howlin’ Wolf’, born Chester Burnett > in West Point > US Military Academy > Prize Listing: Men’s Clothes: US Army Men’s Combat Trousers
Sorry – thought this would be relatively easy. Have been soundly whacked on the head by Treasure Elf and seen the error of my ways, and day by day more will continue to get easier.
Tree > Bark > Bandwidth > Prize Listing: Bandaid20 CD *new*
Apart from the brown stuff and dog noises, bark hasn’t really caught on as a word for much else, except the obscure “interval of frequency equal to a critical band width”. Although the many requests on the boards for clues scientific, mathematical, chemical and so on have been noted, there probably won’t be too many more like that. The widest band (even if most of them are thin) around at the moment: the Bandaid20 posse.
Tree > Bark > Stick > Joystick > Prize Listing: Sony Playstation with 120 games
Feeling a bit wooden, and seeking joy, and trying not to too sticky…game on.
TREE – The Medium-Level Treasure Hunts
Tree > Top > Fairy > Fairy gold > Gold Coast > now Ghana > Prize Listing: Stamps: Ghana Stamp
The fairy at the top of the Christmas tree comes from a race legendary for their gold. Gold would have been a touch too easy, perhaps, given how good you are all getting, so a twist took us from Gold Coast to its modern name Ghana. Dynamyc didn’t quite get there, but he does share three of his amazing real life treasure hunting stories (http://forums.ebay.co.uk/thread.jsp?forum=2005&thread=200115484&message=400660732&redirect=true&hilite=true&q=gold) including finding a gold watch he still wears. Cool.
Tree > Big > Forest > Siberian Forest (biggest in the world) > Siberian Tiger > Cool for Cats (Squeeze) > Prize Listing: Jools Holland & His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra CD
Also cool, the largest cats on earth – who hang out in the largest forest on earth (it’s about a quarter of all the forest there is). ‘Cool for cats’, great song by Jools’ old band Squeeze.
Tree > Big > Big Tree > Climb > Prize Listing: Step Counter
See a big tree and there’s a strong urge to climb it. If you want to boast about it afterwards, a step counter might give you a precise idea of how many branches or moves you had to make.
Tree > Big > Yew > Magna Carta signed under one at Runnymede > Royal Air Force memorial > Prize Listing: RAF memorabilia job lot.
In 1215 at Runnymede, King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta, enshrining core freedoms into our law. (No one is quite sure exactly where it was signed, but one tradition says under the massive yew tree at Ankerwyke Nunnery, still living even though it was badly damaged in the Great Storm of 198).
A fitting place, anyway, for the Air Forces Memorial commemorating over 20,000 named airmen and women lost in the second world war and with no known grave.
Tree > Top > Treetop > George of the Jungle > Prize Listing: Boy George CD
The baby boy ‘George’ in a modern comic twist on Tarzan grows up to be good at swinging from treetops – but inept at love. davebuttle was the big beast of the jungle on this one, ably seconded by uzma1.
Tree > Roots > Mother Earth > Prize Listing: Women’s Rights T Shirt
jeb963, mr_mutley and clintyeastwood were well on the way, but not burrowing quite deep enough…
TREE – The More Difficult Treasure Hunts
Tree > Top > Canopy > Shade > Slim Shady a.k.a. Eminem a.k.a. Marshall Mathers > Prize Listing: Sports Memorabilia: Marshall Cavendish football Book
A canopy is the top level of a forest and provides cool shade for those below. Slim Shady a.k.a. Eminem a.k.a. Marshall Mathers provides both light and shade, but is certainly cool (except when he’s losing his cool).
Tree > Bark > Barking > The Edge (U2) born there, 8 August > Prize Listing Bono Poster - U2 - Giant size from concert
Barking is an, ah, interesting part of East London, renowned, amongst other things, as the birthplace of the famous U2 guitarist, The Edge.
Tree > Top > Big Top > ‘Barnum and Bailey’ Circus > Buffalo Bill > Prize Listing: Buffalo Bill cross stitch (pack)
The big top means the circus, and ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’ is the slogan of Barnum & Bailey – as well as the title of a double Oscar-winning film set in the circus – starring the likes of Charlton Heston, Jimmy Stewart, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope. They had one of the biggest, possibly the biggest, big tops going, and a huge hit helping to bring Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show to audiences around the world.
Tree > Can You? > Yuletide Log > Tidal Wave > Tsunami > Prize Listing: tsunami wireless keyboard/optical mouse
So sorry, 123corals, you deserved to win for the excellence of your string (“can you - yule - yuletide - tide - sea - surf - wave” alone, and tsunami was a step too far. Better luck next time as the clues get a bit easier. Amazing range of computer gear tucked away on eBay, isn’t there?
Tree > Can You? > …see the wood for the trees > Wood for a Tree > Andy Goldsworthy > famous British sculptor who adorns trees with wood > Prize Listing: Book: Andy Goldsworthy (pack of 3)
forum_lurker now has tree mentions alone today for being on the case. (imetpatrickstewart knows his onions, too). Incidentally, Andy Goldsworthy’s work is well worth digging out if you haven’t seen it before – extraordinarily beautiful and uplifting.
Tree > Can you? > Help! > ‘A Rush of Blood to the Head’ (sleeve notes) > Coldplay DVD Live in Concert
Couldn’t let tree go by without nodding to the tree issue: if you turn to activists and environmentalist Coldplay’s hit about A Rush of Blood to the Head and peer at the sleeve, you’ll find a call for fair trade (very eBayish, surely?!) and for other worthwhile causes like Planetsave, Futureforests and, especially at this time of year, Crisis.
Tree > Roots > Routes > fastest route between 2 points, a straight line > Ruler > Queen Elizabeth II > Prize Listing: Stamp: QEII Arthurian LEGEND MNH £2.00
Should probably have headed off to routemasters and so on, but came over all regal instead. Sorry. Several bashes on head from Treasure Elf later… (and dream_67’s ruler will be ignored for now)… I used to collect stamps in the days before eBay existed. It looks like much more fun now.
Tree > Roots > Alex Haley > Hailey’s Comet > Announced to Royal Society, 1781 > Prize Listing: Collectables: Print : 1781 Maps of the Heavens (reproduction)
I liked this one. ‘Roots’ – Alex Haley’s massive book and TV series – was the first time the term went mainstream. Haley gave Hailey and his famous comet, which he announced to the Royal Society in 1781. toyopia, with an (unconscious?) misspelling of Haley as Hailey, was almost there – maybe inspiring someone else? I also love rooting around the prints, so many lovely things…
Tree > Roots > Spice Route > Silk Road > Marco Polo > VW Polo > VW Bug > Bug > Prize Listing: Video Spycam
Last but not least, a spicy solution without posh. The two great ancient routes were the spice route and the silk road, famously navigated by Marco Polo way back when. Polo to bug and thence to a spycam was about as twisting as the silk road itself, but here comes the Treasure Elf, so it’s time to run…
Saturday's Ebay Christmas Treasure Hunt Solutions
SEASON: The Simpler Treasure Hunts
Season > Hint: Shipwreck > Sea > Prize Listing: Chelsea FC Strip Last Season Away
This one was very easy, in a cunning sort of way. A prize listing that included the master clue! The hint gave another nod, just in case (shipwreck > sea > ‘SEAson’ and ‘chelSEA’ as site_editor astutely pointed out).
This will also have given sports fanatics, thinking about the Christmas present they deserve to buy themselves after all their efforts treasure hunting, plenty of opportunity to browse the huge range of sporting goods and memorabilia on the site.
(The Treasure Elf made mewling noises while pointing out an equestrian jumps plank, but I stood firm).
The naughty foodog2004 was wrong about one thing though: the choice of Chelsea FC in no way, shape or form implies a comment on their football abilities. Lots of you were impressively quick off the mark, though.
Northofstandrews (hopefully still not too cold?) wrote “Fantastic – the clueword was actually in the title… how many people actually included it then??”
Meanwhile davey370 wanted feedback on what he called his Yorkshire ramblings: pretty good, I’d say.
Season > Whim When > Desire/Time > Prize Listing: Titanium Watch Guaranteed for 10 Yrs!!
horseracingjohn5406 was spot on (and shared his wisdom freely), samantharichardson1984 was there too as was martinmother – before becoming a bit, well, whimsical.
With over 17,000 watches to choose from (in the season when watch sellers do best) in the Jewellery & Watches > Watches category alone, as well as thousands more dotted around Collectables, Automotive and dozens of other categories, there was plenty of room to hide. (And that’s not including clocks).
Meanwhile 4D thinker one-stu-three had a very interesting idea about Wim Wenders, but with the Treasure Elf bashing my head every few minutes with his ‘special’ plank in case the clues get too complex, I wouldn’t dare go down that road. Nice bit of thinking, though. (Ouch, that hurt!)
SEASON – The Medium-Level Treasure Hunts
Season > Hint: Silly > Silly Season > Christmas/Silly/Santa > False Beard > Prize Listing: Beard Trimmer with Detachable Blades
This was silly. Christmas is a silly season for lots of reasons, mostly to do with alcohol and office parties, but there’s also wearing ridiculous paper hats and, if you’re pretending to be Santa, a false beard.
(There’s an impressive range available on Ebay if you need one – some 16 inches long!)
Claire738 got there her own way (much better than mine) and had it in her string – sorry you were too late.
Season > Hint: Please! > Oliver “Please, sir, can I have more?” > Cookie Monster > Prize Listing: Monster Dance Compilation CD
northofstandrews (again) was onto Oliver Twist, abbess1 was oh-so-close (by two different routes!), charlie_puss, commander-vimes, weeman73, jcgbossdrum, rapid_99 and mainecoonlady were all on the path, and escort656 was also being clever (again).
And shatteredmumof3 was being helpful even while coping magnificently with three children under 3.
Like Oliver, Cookie Monster wanted more too – but cookies instead of thin gruel. If you got that far, you could start dancing. If you prefer cookies, there are some nice Cookie items around on Ebay, including some in the every mysterious ‘Everything Else’ category.
SEASON – The More Difficult Treasure Hunt
Season > Hint: Mmm… > Seasoning > Posh Spice > Fashion > Item Listing: Moonboots Size 7 Fashion Item
Mmm... meant food seasoning rather than an interval of time. Seasoning ‘spices’ up food (and seasonings are often spices). kufdkub, gary555silverfox, plbland and creolecrawfish were just some of the spicier hunters.
mrgrizzly had a very interesting idea about Portsmouth that would earn him a whack on the head with the ‘special plank’ from Treasure Elf, whose job is to use it liberally on me to ensure clues get simpler... Ouch, stop doing that, will you?
Like Mixed Spices in the Mince Pies hunt, this led to Posh Spice (splashed on the front page of a well known tabloid that day). johng7895 got posh, as did karloff23 – who was driven to drink by it (sorry about that, Boris).
Sticking with Posh instead of Becks, we avoided her music career (it is the season of good will, after all). Oddly enough there are very few Victoria Beckham CDs available in the Music category. We can only presume this is because people are still enjoying them at home.
So we were left with ‘fashion’ (‘icon’, not victim, if you please). This season’s fashion must-have, apparently, Uggi Boots. ‘Boots’ or ‘Fashion’ would get you there.
Season’s greetings to all treasure hunters.
A MIX OF EASY AND DIFFICULT SOLUTIONS
Some prizes on each day are easier to find and others have a harder solution.
The answers to the first two ‘single prize’ hunts – ‘Rudolph’ and ‘holly’ – were fairly simple. The solution got more difficult with ‘partridge’, then easier with ‘cracker’. As multi-prize days like ‘mince pie’, ‘carol’ and ‘tinsel’ came along, the
Treasure Elf is pleased to announce that the Grand Finale prize of a Mini Cooper S will be released at some time after 6 p.m. and all five hints will lead to it by various routes.
HUNTING TIP
The very clever Technical Elfs would like to remind you that previous ways of accelerating the hunt - such as searching on newly listed items - may not work anymore.
HINTS & HUNTS
Some hints each day will be easier to solve, while others will be more challenging. (For more details on hint times and so on, see PRIZES everyone can get http://forums.ebay.co.uk/thread.jsp?forum=2005&thread=200128850&modified=1103826398850) And don't forget, as Clue Elf Colin has said: it's a very big site! Good luck!
THE NEW YEAR’S DAY EBAY CHRISTMAS TREASURE HUNT - RESOLUTIONS
Resolutions > Keep Fit > Eat Right > Prize Listing: Fridge lock!!!
radioshed was once again on fine form with the suggestion of ‘diet’. martinmother went one stage further, from ‘weight’ to “...wait...waiting for Godot??” (Lucky’s speech, perhaps?!) which would have earned a real dose of the special plank, I’m sure. killerq_uk was onto weight too: “How about: Keep Fit > Lose Weight > Weight Watchers Leading to Weight Watchers Calorie Calculator” while albino-ferret was drawn, by a powerful force, to Star Trek: “keep fit----> gym---> jim --->james t kirk----->star trek ---->OH NO !!!!”
Meanwhile tomuk62 headed into darker waters: “how about keep fit>exercise >The Exorcist”. Hmm. Poor sparky 1664 was so close: “Funny thing is...I've been threatening my youngest with a fridge lock...haven't had the time to feed them properly...I've been too busy searching for every type of diet & exercise stuff on here...now if only I'd have stopped for a minute or two”.
High praise from rubberlads: “looking back at it, it's a cool link. And quite amusing - way to go elves... It's clever and pleasing on so many different levels.” And horus22222 had ‘lock’ in a string, too.
Resolutions > Help Others > Prize Listing: Learn to Love by Dr. Lovejoy
Lots of ‘doctors’ and ‘docs’ in strings, fewer ‘drs’. hel8itch was almost there: “i just typed the word love into a string, hadn’t finished putting string together and thought id come back here to refresh… and its gone...poo poo poo” while kennyken51 was on it but got bored: “i had love toooo, im just to slow at this… i had 3 windows open with 3 different strings in my 3rd window my only word in my string was "love" , got fed up of refreshing it”.
lily7star was quite close: “love? Oh well...I got as far as faith hope and charity and even had elf in there for good measure” (The elf says thanks!). The winner’s tale was one of failed past resolutions turning, with a bit of elf magic, into a family holiday in Disneyland Paris: “I won - YIPPEE!!! I started off with the usual type of string ie swim, walk, stop smoking and Geri!!! I then went to fridge and magnet, still no luck. I then thought about my own dismal attempts at weight loss and decided I need a fridge lock and BINGO!!!” Congratulations.
Resolutions > Learn Something New > Prize Listing > EBAY FOR FUN & PROFIT (Bill Myers superb DVD course)
Not only was ‘course’ in the item as a shortcut (you often have to take some kind of course to learn something new), but some people enjoyed the choice of course itself, which was, of course, designed to amuse.
One of my resolutions is not to witter on, so that’s it.
THE GREAT NEW YEAR’S EVE EBAY CHRISTMAS TREASURE HUNT – PARTY
Party > Hint: Get Supplies In! > Ice > Water > Prize Listing: 6 Kenwood Cartridges fit brita/kenwood jugs
Party > Hint: Tidy Up! > Wash the glasses, floor, kitchen surfaces > Water > Prizes Listing: 6 Kenwood Cartridges fit brita/kenwood jugs
Party > Hint: Get Ready! > Shower/bathe > Water > Prize Listing: 6 Kenwood Cartridges fit brita/kenwood jugs
Party > Hint: To Trafalgar Square > Fountains > Water > Prize Listing: 6 Kenwood Cartridges fit brita/kenwood jugs
Party > Hint: Auld Lang Syne > Robert Burns > Burns = Scottish for streams/rivers > Water > Prize Listing: 6 Kenwood Cartridges fit brita/kenwood jugs
A very festive air as people headed off to parties and/or wished each other a Happy New Year. Hopefully any hangovers have receded by now somewhat…
Each of the five clues led to water, some more easily than others. jimroche_uk ‘was kinda on the right lines... I was searching for water - just need to go a little further!!!! I figured water was a drink, water is needed to clean things and you use water to shower – the only thing I could think of to link all three!’
fustigator1 figured out that ‘the link was WATER... you clean up with water, you need water for a party (ice cubes, squash, mixing with shorts etc.., trafalgar square's fountain is famous’. forum_lurker, quirky as ever, reports ‘I’m still sticking with my theory it was the barbie song by aqua related’. Yes. Right.
sawes93 started ‘way off the mark. Was thinking summat to do with hair. Get ready = do hair. Tidy up = wash hair’ and stayed there. Obviously sawes93’s party preparations all revolve around The Hair Question (!). cathandwill not only showed great restraint, heading off to a party or somesuch, but was pretty much well on the way to laying out the answer: ‘I am not going to try to todays prize - NO I am not mad!!! A few clues and if I have more 'I'll be back' to try and help. Get Supplies in > Shopping, Trolley, Booze and Food (loads of strings from Booze and Food) Tidy Up > Hoover, Dishwasher - Glasses - you also need glasses for Booze, Well most folk do anyway.’
blumke99 ‘was thinking of links to the elements (earth, wind, fire & water). Water could be related to the brita filters....’ while leacups came exceedingly close before heading off out: ‘Here’s a start....I'm off out. Clue: Party Hint: > Get Supplies In > Drink (Can't Have A Party Without It) Hint: Tidy-Up > Washing Up (There's Always Lots After A Party) Conclusion:- Drink > Liquid > Washing > Detergent’.
Happy Noooooo Year!
THURSDAY 30th DECEMBER EBAY CHRISTMAS TREASURE HUNT SOLUTIONS - MAGIC
MAGIC – The Simple Treasure Hunts
Magic > Mystery > Magical Mystery Tour > Prize Listing: Fab Four Quiz Book
Lots of people were on this, including the aptly named rockinrollingal who said ‘Sounds like Magical Mystery Tour - something to do with the Beatles perhaps?’ and laura_media as well as radioshed who seemed to be on fine form all day.
Magic > Three Wishes > Genie > Robin Williams (in Aladdin) > Prize Listing: Robin Williams LIVE ON VIDEO
One of radioshed’s pre-win suggestions was ‘Robin williams = the voice of genie in Disneys animated movie’ while praline_cream growled ‘grrr had it in my thread’. fenix_2k2 had the link down pat: ‘the link was magic > 3 wishes > aladdin > genie > robin williams (voice of genie)’
Magic > Hogwart’s Transport > Weasley’s Car > Ford Anglia > Prize Listing: Ford Anglia Instruction Book – 1959
Huge numbers of people were on to this, including caddette77, radioshed (again), mzdv123
who ‘ Just missed it’, bellatrix0_1 who also missed it by answering the phone, alendrie who ‘was 27th, closest I've ever been’ and 2005rick. silvertempestwolf who ‘had it in me string’and mattc444 – ‘Grrr! Just a few seconds earlier and I'd have been in there!’
sueeeee had ‘been searchin for ford anglia since clue was released’ while simple_simondup ‘had it in my search but not quick enough!!!’ simply_orange was ‘13th - first winner I have seen since day one!!!!’ like angiebw.
bazandbon ‘had that in my string’, as did norfolk-broad, halo2mom, keycavies234, lushbear and crosleypup (who ‘was only looking for two things...ford anglia and platform shoes ...reckoned they might try size 9 3/4. I was refreshing platform as the anglia one was won.’) samantha-gainsborough should have tried co-opting her 5 yr old daughter, who wasn’t impressed that she didn’t get it!
jennyhillman41 ‘only searched for Anglia. I had 247 items which i was checking from 4.45pm onwards. didn't find it. awwwwwwwwwww i am gutted soooo close!!!’ while nosila50 was also on the trail, and went ‘ drat’ (great word!)
MAGIC – The Medium Level Treasure Hunt
Magic > Round Table > Merlin > Prize Listing: Sword in the Stone DVD
The medium level treasure hunt didn’t give people too much trouble, and should probably have been classified as one of the simpler ones.
MAGIC – The More Difficult Treasure Hunt
Magic > Boz Phiz > Dickens > David Copperfield > Illusionist > Prize Listing: The Vanishing Airplane DVD
This exercised some great minds, with lady-of-crest, bubblesbargainz, racheld23, gary555silverfox, adonop417 and bubblesbargainz all getting the Dickens connection. fattrout and jaimejwalker were two of those heading straight onto David Copperfield, the magician and illusionist. alpchild was next on the case, remarking that ‘david copperfield made the statue of liberty disappear so maybe something to do with that?’
On which note, I’ll vanish in a puff of smoke.
WEDNESDAY 29th DECEMBER EBAY CHRISTMAS TREASURE HUNT SOLUTIONS - SNOW
SNOW – The Simpler Treasure Hunts
Snow > White > Snow White > Prize Listing: Pair Range Rover Wing Mirrors
Plenty of people were straight onto Snow White, understandably, and the wicked witch with her obsessive narcissistic mirror-gazing. In a modern version, she’d obviously drive a Range Rover. Aggressively.
Snow > Cold > Prize Listing: BODY WARMER chest size 42
lily7star was close ‘ ack! Was searching body warmers’ and member55jj
suggested ‘handwarmer’ which was a few bodyparts short of an answer, but well on the way. 67rbh67 was also close with ‘thermals>underwear’.
Snow > Owl > Snowy Owl > Hedwig > Prize Listing: ***HARRY POTTER CHILD'S BACK-PACK***
lmfindlay was on the case, explaining ‘potters owl is a white snow owl’
as was kaycross0 with ‘snow>owl>harry potter>’ Pity poor jay_2929 who ‘had everything to do with Hedwig but forgot Harry himself…doh!’
And more sympathy for angeleyes2768 who ‘ Got to page hit the bin button and guess wot.. not logged in! Harry Potter Child's Back-pack. Closest i have been very happy to have found it!’ Glad angeleyes2768 remains so cheerful.
SNOW – The Medium-Level Treasure Hunt
Snow > Melting > Slush > Slush Puppy > Prize Listing: Highland Terrier Puppy Calendar 2005
*tsp* ‘just had slush!!’, as did kennyken51 who ‘had it but was toooooo late’
The winner explained that ’I just got to thinking, what is melting snow? It's slush, and I could always remember drinking slush puppies when I was little, so added puppy and up it popped!’
Amusingly, and plankingly, clarkeypstar says ‘I spent all my time looking for things with john Thaw in’ while lamoye is in trouble: ‘Oops, hubby said to search slush puppy but I didn't.’
SNOW – The More Difficult Treasure Hunt
Snow > Fall > Season > Prize Listing: Art Pepper THE COLLECTION CD £6.00
carriemol figured that ‘fall = a season, pepper = a seasoning’ as did tinanrg.
Unfortunately simsimsuch had ‘thought about fall - season - salt/pepper and had it in my string but I had loads of other words too so was looking at about 60 pages!’
Now it’s time to melt away.
TUESDAY 28th DECEMBER EBAY CHRISTMAS TREASURE HUNT SOLUTIONS - CANDLES
CANDLES – The Simpler Treasure Hunts
Candles > In the Wind > Norma Jean > Prize Listing: Khaki Green Jean type Dress
kazzy1972 kindly described the candle hunts as the “best clues yet IMHO”. Thanks! There were lots of people doing well throughout the day. As gary555silverfox pointed out, this was fairly straightforward clue: “Candle in the wind - song about Marilyn Monroe aka Norma Jean before she changed her name. Is actually in 1st line of lyrics ‘Goodbye Norma Jean’”.
Candles > Romance > Candlelit Dinner > Prize Listing: Beautiful Lace Dinner Napkins (Set of 2)
melvyn5199 was close: “ i had dinner but was way forward...i was looking at the listings for the 26th”. Poor guppiesgalore, though: “ damn....i took dinner out of my string to try to shorten it”. Ach! And loopy-lou102, apart from a lust for oysters, was very close indeed “ just signed in and i only had 2 words in my string , dinner and oysters !! still didnt get there quick enough, good to know i was on rite track this time”. Good luck later in the hunt.
Candles > Wax > Ruby Wax > Ruby Slippers > Prize Listing: THE WIZARD OF OZ Soundtrack
marklongreading was doing very well, announcing “I have correctly guessed all 4 of the last clues”, before adding the kicker, “You just need to warp your mind in the right way.” Hmm.
kittylulabelle was on course with “wax->Ruby->slippers->Wizard of OZ (was searching on it myself) BOO HOO HOO :o(” Better luck next time. lincoln19640 had it figured, while radioshed sailed perilously close to the ‘special plank’ with the remark “Well in hindsite ... Wax melts ... the witch Melts”. Good point, though.
Candles > Scent > Prize Listing: Aromatherapy Gift Set BN
flockhartx “thought of aromatherapy” as did pete0663 (“CANDLES>SCENT>AROMATHRAPY”), but hopefully he didn’t make a typo in his actual search string. snazzy* though “the 1st 3 [hunts] were easy peasy. I had 2 windows open 1 with aromatherapy 1 with incense, whilst 1 was refreshing i search the other, i was looking at the incense one when aroma was refreshing so missed it DOH!!!! Never mind 3 outta 3 aint bad for me.” Indeed, pretty impressive.
jambo_gill was happy to be back on the planet: “I'm just so happy I'm not on a different planet for a change. Decided to just pick a few words this time (aromatherapy, oil burner, cents, coin purse). Didn't see the winning listing but at least I can take my big pointy hat with a 'D' on it off.” As treasure_elf said, you can now put on a big pointy hat with an ‘E’ on it (he would say ‘E for Elf’, but I would say it’s ‘E for Expert’).
CANDLES – The More Difficult Treasure Hunt
Candles > Roman > Roman Candles > Prize Listing: Italian Metal Decorative Gold effect candelabra
j833byg had Italianate ideas that got as far as “italia 90, if i would of put italia* i might of seen the treasure”, while alpchild was a hint out unfortunately: “ i cant belive it. i was looking at the winning listing this morning for the 2nd hint. candles>romance>candlelit dinner>candelabra” hel8itch simply had this to say: “ARRRRRRGH ARGHHHHHHHH AGHRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR damn bill gates and microsoft i had candelbra in my string and my bloomin computer totally froze and i had to reboot... ooooooooooooooooh this just aint my day”.
Now, having burned the candle at both ends for a while now, time to slope off and relax with a DVD bought from Ebay!
MONDAY 27th DECEMBER EBAY CHRISTMAS TREASURE HUNT SOLUTIONS - FUN
FUN – The Simpler Treasure Hunts
Fun > Face > Funny Face > Streisand > Prize Listing: BARBARA STREISAND! The Way We Were CD
There were some grumbles (from Streisand fans?) that the Barbra-formerly-known-as-Barbara was misspelled, but with around 16% of Ebay listings for the diva making the same ‘error’, hiding it that way was just being cunning. The more technical questions involving search strings and so on have been put to the scary Technical Elf, Scotty, who wants to know if ‘everyone is searching everywhere’ because if they’re not, he says in his Private Fraser from Dad’s Army voice, “yeee’re aaaaall dooooomed!” As you can guess, technical queries are only pressed on Scotty the Technical Elf in emergencies.
Fun > Summer > Prize Listing: *New* Designer Bikini size 14
This was meant to be almost as simple as a prize listing like ‘summer fun P&P inc. £3.99’ but for reasons unknown the hunt appeared to last almost 5 hours. The Irish Elves in charge of some technical element involved in listing, revising, releasing and so on – complex stuff far beyond the ken of the clue maker – may have been remiss and listed late, but in all other cases they’ve been on the button, so perhaps it was just a strange inability to think of summer fun when it’s cold and dark?
Not so for dianesmirror (Is this handle really named after a book? Which one? Couldn’t find it when I truffled…) who said, apropos an extra hint delivered just a few minutes too late, “warm wet wriggles toes... swimming in the sea/paddling in the seas... easy”
Fun > House > House of Fun > Madness > Mad Hatter > Item Listing: 2 lovely Alice in Wonderland tea cups
purpleangel almost went all the way, but was derailed by the curse of Noel Edmonds: “welcome to the house of fun..... song used on Noel Edmonds Saturday night show... House Party.” It’s faintly disturbing that purpleangel associates this song with Noel Edmonds rather than Madness, but it was an excellent start, generously shared with the board five minutes before it was won.
If a lurker won it as a result of purpleangel’s generosity, and as a general remark to lurkers, it would be widely welcomed if lurking winners felt able to drop by on the Community’s Ebay Christmas Treasure Hunt board to share their experiences. This was happening earlier in the hunt and adds to the overall jollity factor. jdd1990 did very well, too, getting as far as madness (the band, not the side effect of excessive treasure hunting) but not the Mad Hatter.
FUN – The Medium-Level Treasure Hunt
Fun > Fair > Rides > Dizzy > Item Listing: FANTASTIC DIZZY COMPLETE MEGA DRIVE
If you got as far as feeling dizzy by going on exciting funfair rides, you were home and dry as the urge to be a Rascal and go further down the line was resisted as the ‘special plank’ hoved into view.
FUN – The More Difficult Treasure Hunt
Fun > Run > Fun Run > Charity > ‘Charidee’ > Item Listing: BBC HARRY ENFIELD AND CHUMS VIDEO
kitty168birdsbirds got this in one go: ‘fun-run-charity-smashy and nicey (it's all for charity) Harry Enfield’ and had it in a search string: so sorry you didn’t win it, but don’t forget Scotty the Technical Elf’s advice about searching (above).
Well after all that fun, it’s time for a rest and some of this eggnog the Elves keep pressing on me, with a disturbingly wicked glint in their eyes...
BOXING DAY EBAY CHRISTMAS TREASURE HUNT SOLUTIONS - STAR
The Simpler Treasure Hunts
Star > Morning > Morning Star > UK Communist Party Newspaper > Prize Listing: Lenin 1916 Ceramic Art Tile
webwey was on fine form yesterday, sharing the link to Marxism. It is a short beard to make the connection from Karl to Lenin…
Star > Nearest > Sun > Rising Sun > Prize Listing: Giant Japan Flag £9.99 inc P+P
praline_cream had sunrise, which was a good start, but bennily (politely putting it down to tiredness rather than excess!) was surprised at how long it took many to settle on the sun as our nearest star. But as garysilverfox555 punned, ‘we are all starting to flag’.
No doubt infuriatingly, dianesmirror had ‘rising’ and ‘sun’ in his string, but not Japan, and mdj101 seems to have been tantalisingly close, too. commander-vimes was also very close, but blaming the beer for pickling his brain cells. woofles_uk came up the interesting fact that ‘nearest’ is an anagram of ‘eastern’, which was not deliberate. glitzz0 was also spot on with the correct trail, but added ‘I’ll get me coat’: hardly necessary, but showing an excellent taste for The Fast Show!
Star > Evening > Venus > Prize Listing: Botticelli Print
Venus is both morning and evening star, and the most famous image of Venus in fine art – and one of the most famous paintings full stop – is Botticelli’s ‘Birth of Venus’.
STAR – The Medium-Level Treasure Hunt
Star > Hollywood A List > Jack Nicholson > One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest > Prize Listing: Cuckoo Clock AUTHENTIC SWISS!
Among living actors, Jack Nicholson is quite possibly the movie star’s movie star, with three Oscars to his name. He also has more Academy Award nominations than any other actor in history. He won his first best actor Oscar for ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’.
Poor tammyjuk missed it by a whisker, saying “i did have cuckoo in my search string (as well as jack and nicholson) but had to go do family stuff and have only just come back online...ah well never mind”. Impressively phlegmatic, tammyjuk!
STAR – The Difficult Treasure Hunt
Star > Board > Starboard > POSH (Port Out, Starboard Home) > P&O boats to and from India at time of Raj > Prize Listing: Wild Willy Barrett (no Otway) Tales from the Raj
martinmother and bellatrix0_1 were both on the ball with this one, just falling short of the final solution. An apparently fallacious but widely-held belief has it that the term ‘posh’ (deeply admired occupant of several spicy answers earlier in the hunt) derives from ‘Port Out, Starboard Home’ i.e. keeping to the shady side of the deck, supposedly stamped on the tickets to and from India belonging to the wealthier patrons of P&O ships in the days of the Raj.
Tootlepip!
Christmas Day Ebay Christmas Treasure Hunt Solutions
PRESENTS: The Simpler Treasure Hunts
Presents > Hint: Special Occasion > Wedding > Usher > Item Listing: Burn CD Single
purple_black was spot on: ‘Presents > Special Occasion > Wedding > Usher at a wedding 'presents' the guests and shows them to their seats? > Usher - Burn CD single’. I believe ushers also collect any wedding presents that arrive with guests. zoks was there too.
Penwhitton went a stage further, into ‘special plank’ territory, with the idea that ‘special occasion’ referred to ‘BURNS NIGHT !!!’ but perhaps that was Scottish patriotism speaking? Who knows. Certainly Usher is more popular than Burns these days among the younger crowd. The name ‘usher’ was kept out of the final listing to keep the hunt up for a wee while longer.
Presents > Hint: Home Made > Item Listing: Maternity cardigan - size 12
This was, ah, fairly simple and straightforward. Once you’d stuffed your mind with home made cakes and chocolates, home made woollies, scarves, mittens, jumpers, pullovers and sweaters can’t be far behind, along with cardies. The maternity reference had nothing to do with the fact it was Christ Mass. Just a touch of serendipitydoodah.
PRESENTS – The More Difficult Treasure Hunt
Presents > Hint: Nice Things > Goodies > Tim Brooke-Taylor > Item Listing: Mens Savoy Tailors Guild S/Breasted Suit 40" Chest
There was a suggestion that this clue was ageist, but curiously this observation wasn’t applied to the (equally ageist) first hunt culminating in Usher. But as someone courteously pointed out, a family-friendly prize and treasure hunt day should appeal to a variety of ages.
It seemed to, and certainly the Festive Spirit that pervaded the board like a sweet aroma was a real pleasure and much enjoyed. Thank you.
Friday’s Ebay Christmas Treasure Hunt Solutions
SANTA– The Simpler Treasure Hunts
Santa > Hint: Sleigh > Slay > Prize Listing: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Complete Season 3 (VHS)
Almost a present from Santa, this was such an easy soundalike! You have to feel sorry for poor old monochromeworld, who said “I saw sleigh, thought, ‘slay > slayer > buffy..’ searched and didn't find the item, but only because i was too lazy to look in every single one!!!!” Better luck next time.
Santa > Hint: Chimney > Sweep > Prize Listing: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (U) VHS Dick Van Dyke
A fairly simple one: Santa comes down the chimney; sweeps go up it. Dick Van Dyke made an unlikely chimney sweep in Mary Poppins, but that seemed a touch too easy, so we went for another famous Dick Van Dyke movie, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – which was on TV that day anyway.
Santa > Hint: Lapland > Laptop > Prize Listing: USB Infrared Adaptor for Notebook £8.00
This was very easy – but with a twist, going that last stage beyond Laptop to Notebook. Simon-Hawking was terribly close: “Well mine was lapland>LAP>santa lands on roofTOP = laptop. Didn't think of notebook though.” Good luck in future.
SANTA – The Medium-Level Treasure Hunt
Santa > Hint: Ho! Ho! Ho! > Prize Listing: Life of Brian Vintage Poster T-shirt £ 5.99
Santa likes a laugh, and Life of Brian was declared Britain’s favourite film comedy this year, and the story is – at least a bit – seasonal. Nalaa28 – again – was so close: “although had monty python on the last one just didnt take it one step further to get life of brian”. At this rate, nalaa28 stands every chance of winning… go for it!
SANTA – The More Difficult Treasure Hunt
Santa > Hint: Naughty or Nice > Naughty but Nice > ad phrase coined by Salman Rushdie > Prize Listing: Salman Rushdie: Haroun and the Sea of Stories – Hardback
Simon Hawking was on a roll with this too and, between cream cakes, could have pounced. If you didn’t know it, you would have to have trawled around variations on the theme (some of which were amusing; some, I suspect, unprintable!). Anyway, the idea is to leave the most difficult clue to the end of the day, so you’ve got an evening of fun browsing Ebay, thinking up ideas, chatting on the board.
Now I’m back to this marvellous eggnog the Elves are passing around.
Thursday's Ebay Christmas Treasure Hunt Solutions
ELF CLUES! 🙂 ELF CLUES! 🙂 ELF CLUES! 🙂
As a special request, and after judicious application of the ‘special plank’, I have agreed to let Treasure Elf and Colin the Clue Elf explain the clues. Back tomorrow.
ELF CLUES! 🙂 ELF CLUES! 🙂 ELF CLUES! 🙂 ELF CLUES! 🙂 ELF CLUES! 🙂 ELF CLUES! 🙂 ELF CLUES! 🙂 ELF CLUES! 🙂 ELF CLUES! 🙂
Hello humans! Elves is happy because all these clues means special Ebay humans now know much much more about Elves and Elvish things than you did before. To show Ebay humans we like them Elves used special magic to make more prizes appear. (But don’t tell anyone, or Elves will get in trouble)
ELVES – The Simpler Treasure Hunts
Simpler especially if you is Elves! Lucky for you all Elves is very busy on important business at this time of year or Elves would win everything in sight!
Elves > Hint: Mr Potter! > Dobby > Item Listing: 12 PAIRS QUALITY NON ELASTIC SOCKS
Dobby is house elf. Dobby is funny. Dobby likes socks. “Socks are Dobby's favourite, favourite clothes, Sir” he tells Mr Potter. Mr Potter is Harry Potter. If you don’t know who Mr Potter is it’s not our fault.
Elves > Hint: Little not Large > Prize Listing: The Little House on the Prairie – Season 1 VHS
Not all Elves is little, but some is, and they like little things. Little House on the Prairie is our favourite retro show. We like it because it’s nice. Like us!
Elves > Hint: Little not Large > Prize Listing: TItchy and sCratchy mobile
Little Elves like Titchy. Titchy is funny. And little.
Elves > Hint: Little not Large > Prize Listing: No Holds Barred with Tiny “ZeuS” LISter
Granny Elves love wrestling, and especially Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister Jr. (but not because he was called the Human Wrecking Machine. Oh, no.) Elves like him because he is very big, but he is called Tiny. Funny!
Elves > Hint: Little not Large > Item Listing: HELLO KITTY PETITE WRISTWATCH BN
Little Lady Elves like anything ‘petite’ which is a lady way of saying little. Hello Kitty is a favourite, because Elves is good friends with cats. We have most interesting conversations together.
Elves > Hint: Where We Live > Dell > Delboy > Item Listing: Only fools and horses (leopard skin) fridge magnet
Elves live in nature and like dells a lot. Which is one reason we find Delboy funny. But because Elves know everyone seemed to want ‘Only Fools and Horses’ to be a solution, we made the clue maker agree. (We just showed him the ‘special plank’). And you found it!
Elves > Hint: Where We Live > Woods > Item Listing: PS2 Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 (As New)
We also live in woods. Like Tigers, which are big cats, and also very interesting to talk to. So we like Tiger Woods, even though he isn’t a tiger or a wood or an elf. He has a nice smile. We like that.
Elves > Hint: Little Not Large > Baby Booties > Item Listing: Sheepskin baby booties, New - made in New Zealand
Elves like babies lots and lots because they are even more interesting to talk with than cats, and because we can share clothes. We like booties too. Especially made in New Zealand. New Zealand is where they filmed ‘Lord of the Elven Smiths’ Rings’ you know. Very pretty. Almost as pretty as Faerie.
Treasure Elf was looking at some Puma Viper Football Boots in Child Size 1 for one of his nephews, and Colin is very taken with the personalised fleece baby blankets. Nice and soft, just like Colin!
Elves > Hint: Santa’s Little Helpers > Workshop > Item Listing: Small hammer with screwdriver
Little elves is very good at making toys for children and use special small tools to make them. Small because little elves is small.
Elves > Hint: Santa’s Little Helpers > Workshop > Item Listing: 20 x PRITT MINI GLUE ROLLERS
Many of our special toys need to be glued together with mini glue rollers. Mini like Elves!
ELVES – The Medium-Level Treasure Hunts
Elves > Hint: Little not Large > Item Listing: wooden cot bed with drawers
Even big little Elves sleep in cots. They are just the right size. We like wooden ones because we live in the woods. Drawers are where we keep our special things. Like planks.
Elves also like bunk beds. There are lots of nice ones on Ebay. This is not a clue.
Elves > Hint: Where We Live > Outside > Item Listing: GEORGE MICHAEL OUTSIDE CD SINGLE DIGI PACK
Elves live outside. No surprise then that George’s song was number one in the Elvish charts for many moons.
Elves > Hint: Where We Live > Forest > Item Listing: Forrest Gump - Original Soundtrack (CD)
Elves live in forests. Forrest Whittaker is one of our favourite actors, and Forrest Gump is one of our favourite films. It makes Colin cry. Colin is a very sensitive Elf. The soundtrack is great. One of the sellers offering this item has even put the full track listing on. Which is nice.
Also nice is Bonsai trees, we like them. They are on Ebay too. Very pretty.
Elves > Hint: Where We Live> Magic Kingdom >Item Listings: *** DISNEY MAGIC KINGDOM Snow Globe***
It’s very easy for humans to forget that Elves are basically magical creatures with special powers and lots of secrets. Magic Kingdom isn’t as magic as Elfland, but we like it too. We also like snow globes because they remind us of Lapland where there is lots of snow.
Elves > Hint: The Rings! > Lady Galdriel > Mirror > Item Listing: BEAUTIFUL Estee Lauder LADIES COMPACT CASE
Gracevictor was on the trail... Isn’t she beautiful? Lady Galadriel? We all like her. Colin has a crush on her. Yes you have, Colin, you told me. Her mirror is very special and powerful. Colin thinks she would like this as a present, especially as Estee is a popular Elf name.
Elves > Hint: Little not Large > Item Listing: MINI COOPER Valve Caps and Locking Key
We like Minis they are special and little and friendly like us. We don’t know what valve caps are, but expect they will look good if we wear them at parties, especially if they are green. We like green.
Elves also like mini fridges, mini discs and mini cameras, so we are often browsing in those areas of the site. That is not a clue, just an Elf fact.
tartandoodles was a very clever treasure hunter. tartandoodles said “only thing I can think of is something to do with mini. there was a car known as a riley elf and also one known as a wolsley hornet. Both of these cars were considered to be 'luxury' minis.” Very clever.
Elves > Hint: Mr Potter! > Dobby > Toby Jones > Item Listing: BESWICK TOBY JUG
Toby Jones is the voice of Dobby. He is funny. Toby Jugs are funny too.
Elves> Hint: The Rings! The Rings! The Rings!> Legolas Greenleaf > Lego > Item Listing: BIONICLE T-SHIRT TRANSFER
Prince Legolas Greenleaf is a big elf among big elves. We like him. We like Lego too, and especially the bionicles they make. Lego was invented in Denmark which is full of elves.
Elves > Hint: Little not Large > Santa Claus: The Movie – DVD – Dudley Moore!
Dudley makes us laugh. He is like a big Elf. He is very Dudleyish in Santa Claus which we liked too.
Elves > Hint: Mr Potter! > House Elves > Item Listing: BRAND NEW BATH TOWEL
House Elves like to wear towels and tea cosies, but they get dirty. So we thought a brand new huge big bath towel would make any house elf very happy.
Elves > Hint: Little not Large > The One Minute Manger – Teaching copy
This made us laugh and laugh. Like cots, we like sleeping in mangers, especially wooden ones. And ‘minute’ means very little. But because Colin stole an ‘a’ from manager, it was all muddled up.
Elves > Hint: Little not Large > Santa Claus: The Movie – DVD – Dudley Moore!
Dudley makes us laugh. He is like a big Elf. He is very Dudleyish in Santa Claus which made all elves laugh and is the second biggest grossing movie in Elfland after the Lord of the Elven Smith Rings films. (The Elf in Elf is not a proper Elf, but we quite liked that too, but not as much).
ELVES – The More Difficult Treasure Hunts
Elves > Hint: Mr Potter! > Hermione > S.P.E.W. > Item Listing: RARE Avro Vulcan Bomber Toy Aircraft
We like Hermione and her Society for the Protection of Elvish Welfare. Very kind of her. Did you know volcanoes spew? Colin told me that. Also Colin says volcanoes are named after Vulcans? They are very powerful spirits of the underworld. We do not see them very much. We are good at making Airfix models.
We are also very good at making Harry Potter Lego, surprise surprise. There is lots and lots on Ebay, which is happy making.
Elves > Hint: The Rings! The Rings! > Our Friends the Rohan >Item Listing: ROHAN KONVERTA JACKET LINED FLEECE
Our friends the Rohan in ‘Lord of the (Elven Smiths’) Rings’ are very brave. We like to wear their clothing when we can. Help out a bit, you know.
Elves > Hint: Where We Live > Lapland > Finland > Item Listing: Nokia 6230 Fascia Cover CHROME TURQUIOSE
Elves from Lapland and Finland are very proud that their magic goes into little mobile phones which go all around the world and talk to each other. Turquoise is a nice colour, but Colin can’t spell very well.
Elves > Hint: The Rings! The Rings! > Figwit > Item Listing: VERY LOVELY FIG SHAPED SERVING DISH WITH LID
Figwit (“Frodo is great… who is that?”) is an Elf hero. He only appears in ‘Lord of the (Elven Smiths’) Rings’ for 3 whole seconds and that was enough to make him famous around the world. That is how powerful some Elves can be! He is big. He is beautiful. He is important. More we cannot reveal. Except if you want his autograph, it’s on Ebay. That we can reveal.
Some Elf girls like Body Shop fig things. They think Figwit will like the smell. We are not sure, but we do like Body Shop things. They smell nice. When you look at them on Ebay you cannot smell them, but you can when they arrive at your home.
Elves > Hint: Little not Large > ELF Garages > Item Listing: Playmobil SHELL Garage
ELF is our favourite garage, and Elf children love playing with toy ELF garages. But as these are handed down from generation to generation they rarely make it onto Ebay. But Shell Garages are fun too. Clever ferrariracerbabe worked this one out!
Elves > Hint: Little not Large > Happy Little Elves > Item Listing: The Simpsons Lunchbox RARE!!!!
Lisa’s lunchbox has the Happy Little Elves on it. We tried to help with this clue by being happy little elves going Elf Clues! Elf Clues! for half an hour but no one seemed to get the hint. But Treasure Elf enjoyed himself.
Elves > Hint: Little not Large > Intricate wooden toy soldier L@@K
Santa’s Elves are clever and make clever little toys which are often quite intricate.
Elves > Hint: Santa’s Little Helpers > Workshop > Item Listing: ***Postman Pat Pillar Box***
Elves is good friends with Postman Pat because Santa gets sent millions of letters every year, and poor old postmen have to trudge up the hill in all weathers. We like postmen.
Elves > Hint: Santa’s Little Helpers > Workshop > Item Listing: 8 HUMBROL ENAMEL POTS
Elves are special strong and small and need paint that is the same. We like these.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Elves has left the building.
Tuesday's Ebay Christmas Treasure Hunt Solutions
WRAPPING – The Simpler Treasure Hunts
Wrapper > Ribbon > Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree > Item: Acorn Risc OS advanced computer guide (original)
Proof that brains beats brawn, the winner came on, saw the clue, remembered the song, thought acorn, searched under just ‘acorn’ – then immediately found the listing and won. Well done!
Many others had searched ‘oak’ but crucially overlooked that last ‘little’ twist which was that from little acorns grow mighty oaks. Still, it will have given you an opportunity to browse eBay’s fine selection of furniture, wouldn’t it?
Wrapping > Tape > Video Tape > Item Listing: VHS/PAL (UK): VIDEO OF JACKIE CHAN IN RUSH HOUR – BOX UNOPENED!
Lots of you figured it had to be a cassette or video, and the rush was on. But there’s an enormous selection of videos on eBay, so it would have taken some patient digging. The title was chosen, incidentally, as a wee nod to the impressive speed with which Treasure Hunters are chasing the prizes.
It took a little while, though, and just as a possible nudge to help you along in the right direction was being contemplated, it was found.
Wrapper > Rapper > Goldie Looking Chain/Bling Bling > Item Listing: 9ct GOLD CHAIN!! TOTAL bARGAIN!!!!
This one had people gnashing their teeth as they listed rappers by the dozen – including ‘Goldie Looking Chain’! As well as, ah, interesting lyrics and lifestyles, the image of rappers is famously bling bling. Though a 9 carat gold chain would obviously only be for a minor rapper.
Still, if you were looking for Bling (there’s not yet an eBay category of that name – perhaps there should be?) you would have seen lots of jewellery – contemporary costume, men’s, vintage and antique, contemporary fine, watches and ethnic & tribal – clothing and a bunch of other items – including a car or two. So you could purchase a whole lifestyle in one sitting direct from eBay. Just have to write the rap song, now, don’t you?
WRAPPING – The Medium-Level Treasure Hunt
Wrapper > Shiny Paper > Shiny Happy People (REM) > Item Listing: REM (R.E.M.) DAY SLEEPER SINGLE
It’s a short hop from ‘shiny paper’ to ‘shiny people’ – and REM’s huge hit, ‘Shiny Happy People’ (which could be an anthem for eBay Treasure Hunters!), but you had to think beyond the paper as it were. Chocschicken was brilliantly spot on.
A variety of weird, wonderful and interesting ideas came from the likes of Mr.Aytch, jules19719 and fattrout, who suggested shiny toilet paper! Still, ollym1 was with you on Izal (hope the spaghetti was good). Then there was saffyslim and condoms – obviously getting into the Christmas spirit!
WRAPPING – The More Difficult Treasure Hunt
Wrapper > Present > TV Presenter > David Attenborough > Item Listing: VHS/PAL (UK): LIFE ON EARTH *COMPLETE SERIES!!!* BBC
This was a twister: to move from present as a noun to the verb, and then onto TV presenters. Possibly the most celebrated, and probably the finest, TV presenter we have is the urbane and charming David Attenborough, most famous for Life on Earth.
It's a wrap. Next up, Elf clues, which seems to have excited the little beasts (ouch!) beyond all reason...
Tuesday's Ebay Christmas Treasure Hunt Solutions
TWINKLE – The Simpler Treasure Hunts
Twinkle > Hint: Toes > “Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes” > Bells > Item Listing: CAT COLLAR (RED) WITH BELL. CUTE!
To win a Treasure Hunt, you need to be nimble on your feet – twinkle toed. ‘Twinkle toes’ is a popular name for cats, that most nimble of creatures. Alternatively a short jump to the classic line from the nursery rhyme “Ride a Cock-Horse to Banbury Fair” led to bells. And where more natural to put a bell than on a cute cat collar?
Twinkle > Hint: Star > Sun > Item Listing: Dolce Gobbana DESIGNER SHADES – NEW!
Stars twinkle, and if you were several thousand million miles away, so would the sun. Any closer and shades are advisable.
Twinkle > Hint: Shining > Torch > Item Listing: NEW Ultra led TORCH KEYRING £1.99 inc. P&P
Astute Treasure Hunters (i.e. most of you) will have noticed that prize item listings are no longer quite as grammatically neat as before. Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) often twinkle, and we often shine torches. Take either direction and you would have won.
TWINKLE – The Medium-Level Treasure Hunt
Twinkle > Mince Pies > Eyes > Ayes > Item Listing: PaRLIAMENT JIGSAW PUZZLE – 500 PIECES
The dreaded mince pies, again. Cockney rhyming slang for ‘eyes’ which sounds like ‘ayes’. ‘Ayes’ are usually heard in regional dialect (e.g. Scotty’s ‘Aye, aye, Captain’ in Star Trek), but nationally are associated with the House of Commons (‘Ayes to the right’) in PaRLIAMENT (and yes, the ‘accidental’ mix of upper and lower case was deliberate). A chamber of learned individuals coming together to weigh issues of great moment that reminds me of…the Community Treasure Hunt Board!
TWINKLE – The More Difficult Treasure Hunt
Twinkle > Hint: Little > Twinkle Twinkle Little Star > Musical variations by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart > Wolfgang > Pack > Item Listing: 2PAC / TUPAC LARGE POSTER
A ‘little’ known fact is that Mozart wrote the music we associate with ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ (It was news to me too: I cribbed this from QI). The difficult bit was going from ‘wolf gang’ to ‘pack’ and then, sticking to music (though of a different calibre and genre) dropping the ‘k’ to get to Tupac – or 2PAC – the late legendary rap artist.
Now, twinkle toed, I shall skip off for another day before the Treasure Elf arrives and announces, with a twinkle in his eye, that it’s time for the ‘special plank’.
Monday's Ebay Christmas Treasure Hunt Solutions
STOCKING
STOCKING – The Simpler Treasure Hunts
Stocking > Hint: Fruit > Orange > Prize Listing: Brand new Orange SPV E200 mains charger BUY NOW
Er, couldn’t be simpler really, could it?
Stocking > Hint: Fruit > Tomato > Ketchup > Catsup > Prize Listing: Cat Dish MIB
A little bit more cunning, and you needed to figure out either the origin of ketchup or my cat obsession (clues to the latter below).
Stocking > Hint: Sweets > Butterscotch > Prize Listing: butter dish (Scottish)
An old-fashioned sweet but no less tasty for that.
Stocking > Hint: Sweets > Prize Listing: Cornershop – Brimful of Asha (single
There used to be sweetshops, but now its more likely to be a cornershop, brimful of sweeties…
Stocking > Hint: Trinkets > The Bangles – Walk Like An Egyptian > Prize Listing: Egyptian Papyrus ANTIQUE
Bangles are a common trinket, and Walk Like An Egyptian was probably The Bangles biggest hit.
Stocking > Hint: Nuts > Peanuts > Prize Listing: Snoopy Mug
The temptation to go one stage further to Snoop Doggy Dog was resisted.
Stocking > Hint: Nuts > Squirrels hide nuts > Prize Listing: Howard Jones 12” Vinyl Hide and Seek
Squirrels get to do treasure hunts all the time. Limited range of prizes, the message board isn’t as much fun, but hey, who knows, in another few lifetimes…
STOCKING – The Medium-Level Treasure Hunts
Stocking > Hint: Fruit > Jam > Paul Weller > Style Council > Prize Listing: Trinny and Susannah What Not To Wear
Always a stylish boy, our Paul. A credit to Woking. But these days he’s gone hippy, only taking the mod hair with him. Nowadays a more offensive kind of style counsel is offered by Trinny and Susannah.
Stocking > Hint: Sweets > Kit Kat > ‘You’re not a salmon’ > Prize Listing: Kilt - no sporren
More surreptitious chocolate-coated cat propaganda Kit Kat’s new ads saying ‘You’re not a salmon’ are only correct, obviously, if you’re not a salmon. But with an attention span of around 4 seconds, it doesn’t really matter if fish are watching the ad on TV, because they will have forgotten it by the time it’s over. So they won’t get too anxious or depressed.
Stocking > Hint: Sweets > Humbugs > Ebenezer Scrooge > Ebenezer – Geezer > Bloke > Prize Listing: Men's Trousers W28 L32
Ebenezer and Scrooge made an appearance on Carols day, so after saying ‘Bah, humbug!’ a few times (curiously satisfying), it was a question of swerving from Ebenezer to Geezer, meaning ‘bloke’. Of course it is recognized that many women wear trousers (and/or the trousers), usually with great élan.
Stocking > Hint: Sweets > Sherbet > Fizzy > Prize Listing: Sodastream Machine
It was tempting to go to Herbert from Sherbet, then there would have been a prize Herbert. This urge was resisted in favour of getting fizzy instead.
Stocking > Hint: Trinkets > Locket > Hair > Prize Listing: Wig - Long Blonde hardly worn
Another popular trinket, some beautiful examples of which can be found on eBay, are the lockets that those, whose hearts were joined in loving thought, used to wear close to their person. See, I’ve come over all Victorian at the mere thought. Anyway, for some bizarre reason they would often stick some of the loved ones hair in it. And it’s a short brush from hair to wig.
Stocking > Hint: Nuts > Monkey Business > Marx Brothers > Harpo > Prize Listing: Celtic Harp unplayed
Stocking > Hint: Trinkets > Lucky Charm > Irish > Prize Listing: Guinness Toucan Poster
The luck or the charm of the Irish would have you well on your way to finding this prize. The black and white milk the Irish call Guinness is just one of their national symbols...
Stocking > Hint: Red and White > Candy Cane > Prize Listing: Wicker Chair
As it happens, The Wicker Man is on the box this New Year’s Eve, but we’ll all be too busy with the exciting prizes in the treasure hunt I expect. Still, assuming your brains were still sweet from thinking about confections for six hours in the morning, this was meant to be fairly easy. A red and white striped candy, cane leading to wicker. Ah well.
Stocking > Hint: Red & White > Toy Soldiers > Nutcracker > Prize Listing: Ballet Slippers BNWT
Again a rather old-fashioned kind of toy soldier would be the red and white ones stuffed in the stocking, the kind that appear in the Nutcracker. Today’s version presumably come in camouflage and armed with hand grenades, flame-throwers and AK47s, but there we go.
Stocking > Hint: Red and White > Barber’s Pole > Sweeney Todd, Demon Barber of Fleet Street > Hacks > Item Listing: Hack Saw with 6 extra blades
Slightly less sweet than the red and white striped candy cane, barbers’ poles reflects their history as early surgeons. (To this day surgeons, still slighting from the leech-giving Doctors snobbery all those years ago, still insist on being called ‘Mister’). Sweeney Todd is the most famous barber who was also a pie merchant. He did his grisly business in Fleet, alongside the hacks, who did theirs.
STOCKING – The Difficult Treasure Hunts
Stocking > Hint: Fruit > Cake > Sugar > Spoonful of… > Mary Poppins > Julie Andrews > Sound of Music > Prize Listing: Digital Radio with warranty
From jellied fruits to cake, fruit and sugar combine at Christmas until it’s too much. Even more sugary is Julie Andrews, who nannied us in Mary Poppins and sung in the Sound of Music. One place to listen to a broad range of music and comedy is on your new digital radio, stuffed with channels no one else can get. Alternatively you do the sensible thing and browse the amazing eBay listings where you will find music and comedy you’d forgotten you loved.
Stocking > Hint: Fruit > Bowl > ‘Bowling for Columbine’ > Prize Listing: Charlton Heston “Planet of the Apes” VIDEO
A courteous Charlton Heston is diced and sliced by Michael Moore in his docu-something, ‘Bowling for Columbine’. Charlton also aped an ape in Planet of the Apes.
Stocking > Hint: Sweets > Sweet Life > La Dolce Vita > Item Listing: Italian Confectionery Selection (In Tin Box)
Came over all Italian. Must have been that pizza I shared with the Treasure Elf. You don’t want to know what his toppings were, I promise you.
If you didn't get what you wanted in your stocking this year, it's probably because you've been too naughty. Or at least, that's what the Treasure Elf tells me.
Sunday's Ebay Christmas Treasure Hunt Solutions
TREE – The Simpler Treasure Hunts
Tree > Big > Big Christmas Tree > Gift from Norway-UK every year > Trafalgar Square > Prize Listing: Book: Nelson Mandela ‘Long Walk to Freedom’
Every year the Norwegian give Britain a huge, specially selected Christmas Tree in remembrance of our help in the Second World War. It dominates Trafalgar Square, home of South Africa House and where so far unsuccessful proposals have been made to site a Mandela statue. There’s also a statue of another Nelson, boaty sort of chap, on top of a big column there (and some rather good stuff on him in eBay at the moment, if that’s your sort of thing).
A big mensch: forum_lurker – who figured it out, can’t win himself, and shared his string with the community board before it was found! Incredible. As the man himself put it: “*insert smug lucky guess smug look here* ” !
Tree > Big > Redwood Tree > John Redwood > Mr Spock > Prize Listing: Star Trek womens T-Shirt
Biggest of big trees in the world? The Redwood. John Redwood’s nickname: Mr Spock. Unfortunately my Klingon dictionary doesn’t run to redwood. Guess they don’t grow in outer space. A T-shirt would display ‘ngech’ well, though.
Tree > Big > Family Tree > National Trust > Prize Listing: National Trust Teacloth from Heartbeat
Deezinah was on the case with this one, though the National Trust logo is actually a sprig of Oak – but the National Trust’s collection of big trees has got to be the best going.
Tree > Top > Treetops > Elizabeth II at Treetops when heard she was Queen > Crown/Jewels > Prize Listing: Jewellery Box
forum_lurker again! He pointed out that “treetops is also a really famous safari resort in africa...” and it’s really famous because that’s where Princess Elizabeth was when she was told she was now Queen – and would be needing a big jewellery box for all those crowns, tiara, rings and other jewels.
Tree > Top of the Tree > Fairy > Tinkerbell > Peter Pan > Prize Listing: Green Hat ideal for skiing
Tinkerbell, the most famous modern fairy made her debut a century ago next week, as did Peter Pan – traditionally in a green hat. Amazing amount of hats on eBay. And lots of fairy things if you want to be away with them…
Tree > Can You? See the Woods for the Trees > Prize Listing: Castaway Jigsaw Puzzle
Captain_slog (excellent name, by the way) could see the wood for the trees, and did, pointing out the phrase and the fact that a ‘jigsaw’ is also used to cut up trees into wood. Owencarla and Barnsleynurse were on the way, as was Philmccravis – whose digital idea was so good I wish I’d thought of it first…
Tree > Bark > Dog > ‘Howlin’ Wolf’, born Chester Burnett > in West Point > US Military Academy > Prize Listing: Men’s Clothes: US Army Men’s Combat Trousers
Sorry – thought this would be relatively easy. Have been soundly whacked on the head by Treasure Elf and seen the error of my ways, and day by day more will continue to get easier.
Tree > Bark > Bandwidth > Prize Listing: Bandaid20 CD *new*
Apart from the brown stuff and dog noises, bark hasn’t really caught on as a word for much else, except the obscure “interval of frequency equal to a critical band width”. Although the many requests on the boards for clues scientific, mathematical, chemical and so on have been noted, there probably won’t be too many more like that. The widest band (even if most of them are thin) around at the moment: the Bandaid20 posse.
Tree > Bark > Stick > Joystick > Prize Listing: Sony Playstation with 120 games
Feeling a bit wooden, and seeking joy, and trying not to too sticky…game on.
TREE – The Medium-Level Treasure Hunts
Tree > Top > Fairy > Fairy gold > Gold Coast > now Ghana > Prize Listing: Stamps: Ghana Stamp
The fairy at the top of the Christmas tree comes from a race legendary for their gold. Gold would have been a touch too easy, perhaps, given how good you are all getting, so a twist took us from Gold Coast to its modern name Ghana. Dynamyc didn’t quite get there, but he does share three of his amazing real life treasure hunting stories (http://forums.ebay.co.uk/thread.jsp?forum=2005&thread=200115484&message=400660732&redirect=true&hilite=true&q=gold) including finding a gold watch he still wears. Cool.
Tree > Big > Forest > Siberian Forest (biggest in the world) > Siberian Tiger > Cool for Cats (Squeeze) > Prize Listing: Jools Holland & His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra CD
Also cool, the largest cats on earth – who hang out in the largest forest on earth (it’s about a quarter of all the forest there is). ‘Cool for cats’, great song by Jools’ old band Squeeze.
Tree > Big > Big Tree > Climb > Prize Listing: Step Counter
See a big tree and there’s a strong urge to climb it. If you want to boast about it afterwards, a step counter might give you a precise idea of how many branches or moves you had to make.
Tree > Big > Yew > Magna Carta signed under one at Runnymede > Royal Air Force memorial > Prize Listing: RAF memorabilia job lot.
In 1215 at Runnymede, King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta, enshrining core freedoms into our law. (No one is quite sure exactly where it was signed, but one tradition says under the massive yew tree at Ankerwyke Nunnery, still living even though it was badly damaged in the Great Storm of 198).
A fitting place, anyway, for the Air Forces Memorial commemorating over 20,000 named airmen and women lost in the second world war and with no known grave.
Tree > Top > Treetop > George of the Jungle > Prize Listing: Boy George CD
The baby boy ‘George’ in a modern comic twist on Tarzan grows up to be good at swinging from treetops – but inept at love. davebuttle was the big beast of the jungle on this one, ably seconded by uzma1.
Tree > Roots > Mother Earth > Prize Listing: Women’s Rights T Shirt
jeb963, mr_mutley and clintyeastwood were well on the way, but not burrowing quite deep enough…
TREE – The More Difficult Treasure Hunts
Tree > Top > Canopy > Shade > Slim Shady a.k.a. Eminem a.k.a. Marshall Mathers > Prize Listing: Sports Memorabilia: Marshall Cavendish football Book
A canopy is the top level of a forest and provides cool shade for those below. Slim Shady a.k.a. Eminem a.k.a. Marshall Mathers provides both light and shade, but is certainly cool (except when he’s losing his cool).
Tree > Bark > Barking > The Edge (U2) born there, 8 August > Prize Listing Bono Poster - U2 - Giant size from concert
Barking is an, ah, interesting part of East London, renowned, amongst other things, as the birthplace of the famous U2 guitarist, The Edge.
Tree > Top > Big Top > ‘Barnum and Bailey’ Circus > Buffalo Bill > Prize Listing: Buffalo Bill cross stitch (pack)
The big top means the circus, and ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’ is the slogan of Barnum & Bailey – as well as the title of a double Oscar-winning film set in the circus – starring the likes of Charlton Heston, Jimmy Stewart, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope. They had one of the biggest, possibly the biggest, big tops going, and a huge hit helping to bring Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show to audiences around the world.
Tree > Can You? > Yuletide Log > Tidal Wave > Tsunami > Prize Listing: tsunami wireless keyboard/optical mouse
So sorry, 123corals, you deserved to win for the excellence of your string (“can you - yule - yuletide - tide - sea - surf - wave” alone, and tsunami was a step too far. Better luck next time as the clues get a bit easier. Amazing range of computer gear tucked away on eBay, isn’t there?
Tree > Can You? > …see the wood for the trees > Wood for a Tree > Andy Goldsworthy > famous British sculptor who adorns trees with wood > Prize Listing: Book: Andy Goldsworthy (pack of 3)
forum_lurker now has tree mentions alone today for being on the case. (imetpatrickstewart knows his onions, too). Incidentally, Andy Goldsworthy’s work is well worth digging out if you haven’t seen it before – extraordinarily beautiful and uplifting.
Tree > Can you? > Help! > ‘A Rush of Blood to the Head’ (sleeve notes) > Coldplay DVD Live in Concert
Couldn’t let tree go by without nodding to the tree issue: if you turn to activists and environmentalist Coldplay’s hit about A Rush of Blood to the Head and peer at the sleeve, you’ll find a call for fair trade (very eBayish, surely?!) and for other worthwhile causes like Planetsave, Futureforests and, especially at this time of year, Crisis.
Tree > Roots > Routes > fastest route between 2 points, a straight line > Ruler > Queen Elizabeth II > Prize Listing: Stamp: QEII Arthurian LEGEND MNH £2.00
Should probably have headed off to routemasters and so on, but came over all regal instead. Sorry. Several bashes on head from Treasure Elf later… (and dream_67’s ruler will be ignored for now)… I used to collect stamps in the days before eBay existed. It looks like much more fun now.
Tree > Roots > Alex Haley > Hailey’s Comet > Announced to Royal Society, 1781 > Prize Listing: Collectables: Print : 1781 Maps of the Heavens (reproduction)
I liked this one. ‘Roots’ – Alex Haley’s massive book and TV series – was the first time the term went mainstream. Haley gave Hailey and his famous comet, which he announced to the Royal Society in 1781. toyopia, with an (unconscious?) misspelling of Haley as Hailey, was almost there – maybe inspiring someone else? I also love rooting around the prints, so many lovely things…
Tree > Roots > Spice Route > Silk Road > Marco Polo > VW Polo > VW Bug > Bug > Prize Listing: Video Spycam
Last but not least, a spicy solution without posh. The two great ancient routes were the spice route and the silk road, famously navigated by Marco Polo way back when. Polo to bug and thence to a spycam was about as twisting as the silk road itself, but here comes the Treasure Elf, so it’s time to run…
Saturday's Ebay Christmas Treasure Hunt Solutions
SEASON: The Simpler Treasure Hunts
Season > Hint: Shipwreck > Sea > Prize Listing: Chelsea FC Strip Last Season Away
This one was very easy, in a cunning sort of way. A prize listing that included the master clue! The hint gave another nod, just in case (shipwreck > sea > ‘SEAson’ and ‘chelSEA’ as site_editor astutely pointed out).
This will also have given sports fanatics, thinking about the Christmas present they deserve to buy themselves after all their efforts treasure hunting, plenty of opportunity to browse the huge range of sporting goods and memorabilia on the site.
(The Treasure Elf made mewling noises while pointing out an equestrian jumps plank, but I stood firm).
The naughty foodog2004 was wrong about one thing though: the choice of Chelsea FC in no way, shape or form implies a comment on their football abilities. Lots of you were impressively quick off the mark, though.
Northofstandrews (hopefully still not too cold?) wrote “Fantastic – the clueword was actually in the title… how many people actually included it then??”
Meanwhile davey370 wanted feedback on what he called his Yorkshire ramblings: pretty good, I’d say.
Season > Whim When > Desire/Time > Prize Listing: Titanium Watch Guaranteed for 10 Yrs!!
horseracingjohn5406 was spot on (and shared his wisdom freely), samantharichardson1984 was there too as was martinmother – before becoming a bit, well, whimsical.
With over 17,000 watches to choose from (in the season when watch sellers do best) in the Jewellery & Watches > Watches category alone, as well as thousands more dotted around Collectables, Automotive and dozens of other categories, there was plenty of room to hide. (And that’s not including clocks).
Meanwhile 4D thinker one-stu-three had a very interesting idea about Wim Wenders, but with the Treasure Elf bashing my head every few minutes with his ‘special’ plank in case the clues get too complex, I wouldn’t dare go down that road. Nice bit of thinking, though. (Ouch, that hurt!)
SEASON – The Medium-Level Treasure Hunts
Season > Hint: Silly > Silly Season > Christmas/Silly/Santa > False Beard > Prize Listing: Beard Trimmer with Detachable Blades
This was silly. Christmas is a silly season for lots of reasons, mostly to do with alcohol and office parties, but there’s also wearing ridiculous paper hats and, if you’re pretending to be Santa, a false beard.
(There’s an impressive range available on Ebay if you need one – some 16 inches long!)
Claire738 got there her own way (much better than mine) and had it in her string – sorry you were too late.
Season > Hint: Please! > Oliver “Please, sir, can I have more?” > Cookie Monster > Prize Listing: Monster Dance Compilation CD
northofstandrews (again) was onto Oliver Twist, abbess1 was oh-so-close (by two different routes!), charlie_puss, commander-vimes, weeman73, jcgbossdrum, rapid_99 and mainecoonlady were all on the path, and escort656 was also being clever (again).
And shatteredmumof3 was being helpful even while coping magnificently with three children under 3.
Like Oliver, Cookie Monster wanted more too – but cookies instead of thin gruel. If you got that far, you could start dancing. If you prefer cookies, there are some nice Cookie items around on Ebay, including some in the every mysterious ‘Everything Else’ category.
SEASON – The More Difficult Treasure Hunt
Season > Hint: Mmm… > Seasoning > Posh Spice > Fashion > Item Listing: Moonboots Size 7 Fashion Item
Mmm... meant food seasoning rather than an interval of time. Seasoning ‘spices’ up food (and seasonings are often spices). kufdkub, gary555silverfox, plbland and creolecrawfish were just some of the spicier hunters.
mrgrizzly had a very interesting idea about Portsmouth that would earn him a whack on the head with the ‘special plank’ from Treasure Elf, whose job is to use it liberally on me to ensure clues get simpler... Ouch, stop doing that, will you?
Like Mixed Spices in the Mince Pies hunt, this led to Posh Spice (splashed on the front page of a well known tabloid that day). johng7895 got posh, as did karloff23 – who was driven to drink by it (sorry about that, Boris).
Sticking with Posh instead of Becks, we avoided her music career (it is the season of good will, after all). Oddly enough there are very few Victoria Beckham CDs available in the Music category. We can only presume this is because people are still enjoying them at home.
So we were left with ‘fashion’ (‘icon’, not victim, if you please). This season’s fashion must-have, apparently, Uggi Boots. ‘Boots’ or ‘Fashion’ would get you there.
Season’s greetings to all treasure hunters.
A MIX OF EASY AND DIFFICULT SOLUTIONS
Some prizes on each day are easier to find and others have a harder solution.
The answers to the first two ‘single prize’ hunts – ‘Rudolph’ and ‘holly’ – were fairly simple. The solution got more difficult with ‘partridge’, then easier with ‘cracker’. As multi-prize days like ‘mince pie’, ‘carol’ and ‘tinsel’ came along, the
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11-12-2004 11:54 AM
Wednesday's Solutions:
Snowman (answer – Dell Hard Drive)
So: Snowman. A clue to win a beautiful 1.03 carat ‘emerald cut’ diamond ring – one big prize for the day, so the clue trail had to be even more complex than usual if the Treasure Hunters were not to pounce on it too quickly. I sat back, cracked open another Red Bull – the delights of an occasional tipple are long forgotten, because I’ve got to stay sharp as a tack – and set to work…
Hint: Mince Pies
As you all know, I love mince pies (homemade, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, I don’t care) and a misspent youth in the East End of London has left me with a lasting fondness for Cockney rhyming slang. Mince pies = eyes. A Snowman’s eyes, of course, are traditionally made of Coal. Which brought to mind the wonderful Nat ‘King’ Cole and Old King Coal.
A little obvious perhaps, so I hit upon a newer King Coal – Arthur Scargill, leader of the (coal) Miners Union. So far, so good. Hundreds of you were on the case with coal. elven_shadowcat was just one, but deserves a mention for trying to win, in the teeth of weird British culture, even though hailing from Holland, home of all those weird but wonderful Dutchies. But full marks must go to glamour_ville, hamdi5 and haybarn11 for getting Scargill. Now while it was tempting to run off from Scargill to Lord Scarman (who had just died) and even the Scarface movies, I stuck with Arthur. Who is the most famous Arthur to those residing in these fair shores? Why, the Lost King himself, the Winter King…
The easy shortcut (and there isn’t always one this easy) linked Coal and the Diamond in the prize – both forms of carbon – and then it’s a short hop to ‘hard’ (as diamonds are).
Hint:A Misplaced King
King Arthur is a subject attempted by many over the years, but recently, Bernard Cornwell has done it best. The brilliant author of the Sharpe series (which I believe was made into television with that Geordie chap, forget his name but he was in Lord of the Rings too, you know who I mean) has written The Warlord Chronicles which start with The Winter King: A Novel of Arthur. Only a couple of dozen got what seemed a quite obvious hint for Arthur. A kind fish called bilbobaggins2000 was one (good luck with the driving lessons, by the way, and yes, doing the eBay treasure hunt on a laptop while learning to drive is definitely a no no).
But no-one got Bernard Cornwell at all, even though it is painfully obvious that I read far too many books than is strictly necessary, let alone good for health.
Cornwell is a rather strange way to spell “Cornwall”, and there’s one other – very famous – author called Cornwell, name of David Cornwell. Only his nom de plume is John Le Carré. Now Le Carré may have gone off the boil a bit lately, but his masterwork is Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (a mere 9000 pages via Google).
The not-so-easy shortcut would either be Arthur having a hard life (some of those pesky Knights were hardly to be trusted) or Bernard Cornwell’s heroes, who have tough lives too.
Hint: Rich or Poor
unipos_systems kindly provided the full rhyme “Rich man, poor man, beggar-man, thief, tinker, tailor, soldier and as thehighlander100 noted, there are lots of references to the brilliant ‘Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy’ TV series. Also on the trail were splodge42, multiplicity92, cammi040904 – a wise one who proves that inspiration will sometimes come from stepping away from the computer and relaxing in a bath – and ollym1, who was so close and even mentioned Dell!
This utterly great TV starred Sir Alec Guinness as George Smiley, the spy lured out of retirement to hunt down a mole, a double agent in British Intelligence working for the Soviets. (Not unlike a kind deadly treasure hunt, really). I avoided ‘smiley’ routes, and spent a fruitless hour online trying to find someone who would remind me who the mole George finally uncovers is.
Now ‘rich or poor’ (and all the other variants in the song) suggests a multiplicity of roles. And Alec Guinness famously played no less than 8 parts in the quirkily amusing ‘Kind Hearts and Coronets’. Having realised that Teamtreasurehunt.co.uk was already recommending this site, and with a naturally bookish bent, I pounced on the author of the book on which the film script was based, Roy Horniman.
The increasingly difficult ‘easy’ short cut – life can be hard, whether you’re rich or poor, it’s a matter of the cards you’re played, as the children’s fortune-telling game around the rhyme suggests.
Hint: Fred & Gus’s Old Things
The top 3 Google results for “Horniman” take you straight to the famously delightful family-friendly museum of the same name (http://www.horniman.ac.uk/). Founded by Frederick (Fred) Horniman, it’s simply brimming with curious and interesting old things, like most museums. In fact, its world-renowned exhibition of World Cultures (ethnography) is a marvel to behold, and second only to the British Museum in London and the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford, as its own website announces (http://www.horniman.ac.uk/collections/world.cfm).
But the real treasure-hunters’ delight is surely the Pitt Rivers Museum (http://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/), because Lt. Gen. Augustus (Gus) Pitt Rivers insisted that his collection be shoved in as it came, higgledy piggledy. It’s quite amazing, and well worth a visit. Pitt Rivers (and I was tempted to play around with Brad Pitt and River Phoenix, but thought I’d stick with old things for a while) was a remarkable figure. He also had a collection – this time of buildings – at his beautiful Larmer Tree Gardens in Tollyard Royal, Dorset in the stunningly beautiful Cranbourne Chase. There is a very enjoyable annual Larmer Tree music festival of a size and style to suit the Professor and F’s travelling abode (an easily erected tent).
The hardly-easy-at-all-anymore shortcut from here was that this was, to be quite honest, the hardest hint of the Treasure Hunt yet. So hard, in fact, that I thought someone might try “hard” out of sheer head-scratching frustration. Oh well…
Hint: The Other Man
For a certain type of obsessive – “And aren’t we all obsessive, one way or another?” I often muse to F. “Yes, dear”, she says, meaning nothing of the sort – there is only one towering genius to spin on the record deck in time of need. Hailed as the greatest white blues singer of all time by everyone from Eric Clapton and Tracey Chapman to Mark Knopfler and Andy Kershaw, in times of trouble or joy, you simply can’t been Van ‘The Man’ Morrison at his best. A quick search of Van and snow will yield his delicately beautiful and achingly melancholic song, ‘Snow in San Anselmo’. The song comes from the underrated album ‘Hardnose the Highway’. The title may be slang (another hour lost trying to find out), or simply Van’s inspiration, but it’s meaning is clear enough – in hard times, put your nose to the grindstone and drive on…
The somewhat easier shortcut? To know someone else – the other man – is hard, but worthwhile. Or as the ethnographic type has said, “Man cannot know man except in mutuality: in respect, trust, and equality, if not ultimately love.” ‘Ethnography?’ I hear some say. ‘What’s that then?’ Well, apart from a charming little corner of eBay’s Collectables category, as far as I can make out, if you were to ask it what its job was, it would say “it’s know man”.
P.S. On the vexed subject of why a naughty clue elf (who I suspect may have been supping Santa’s mulled wine, vodka, whiskey or Baileys behind his back) gave out an extra clue about how ‘difficult’ it was: as far as I’m aware she has been sent off to clean the reindeer’s stables, and it won’t happen again.
Tuesday's Clue Solutions: REINDEER
First Hint: Stormy Weather
0000-0200 Prize 1
Reindeer > Stormy Weather > Rain, dear! > “The Rain in Spain falls mainly on the Plain” > Plain > Plane > Item listing: Airfix Tiger Moth Model Plane
0200-0400 Prize 2
Reindeer > Stormy Weather > Rain, dear! > Rainwater is collected in water butts > Butt > Butthead > Item listing: Butthead & Beavis Video
0400-0600 Prize 3
Reindeer > Stormy Weather > Rain, dear! > “I’m Singing in the Rain” > Gene Kelly movie > Gene > Jean > Item Listing: Denim Jean Jacket
Breakfast Hint: The Boss’s Tipple
0600-0800 Prize 4
Reindeer > The Boss’s Tipple > Santa Claus likes to drink… > Whisky > (Bells!) > Ring > Ringtone > Sony Ericsson - Newest Ringtones games
0800-1000 Prize 5
Reindeer > The Boss’s Tipple > Santa Claus likes to drink… > Baileys > Old castles were Motte and Bailey style > Item listing: Mott the Hoople/Ian Hunter Shades of… Vinyl
1000-1200 Prize 6
Reindeer > The Boss’s Tipple > Santa Claus likes to drink… > Vodka > His favourite: Polish Vodka[1] > A Polish Vodka > Item listing: Car Wax & Polish Kit
Lunchtime Hint: Heads Up!
1200-1400 Prize 7
Reindeer > Heads Up! > Antlers > which are a kind of head-dress for deer (and antlers were also used by American Indians as same) > as is a Tiara > Item Listing: Lovely Sparkling Bridal Tiara (Diamonte)
1400-1600 Prize 8
Reindeer > Heads Up! > Antlers > a type of Horn > like the French Horn > which is a brass instrument > Brass > which is made of Copper and Zinc > Item Listing: 4’2” Zinc Rod (threaded)
Afternoon Tea hint: The Locals
1600-1800 Prize 9
Reindeer > The Locals > The Sami People of Lapland > Sami > Sammy Davis Jr. > Part of the Rat Pack > Item Listing: The Rat Pack Greatest Hits Vinyl LP (slightly scratched)
1800-2000 Prize 10
Reindeer > The Locals > The Sami People of Lapland > Sami > Who live in an enormous area, the far East of their territory being the Kola Peninsula > Kola > Kola Nut > in Latin/ and easy word association, Cola acuminate > Item Listing: Koka Kola Alarm Clock
After 8 Hint: Da Relatives
2000-2200 Prize 11
Reindeer > Da Relatives > Caribou (at least cousins, possibly same species, as reindeer) > Porcupine Caribou Herd (the oldest caribou herd on earth) > Porcupines > Quills > Film starring Michael Caine > Caine mutiny = Mutiny on the Bounty > Item Listing: Box of Bounty Bars
2200-2400 Prize 12
Reindeer > Da Relatives > Caribou (at least cousins, possibly same species, as reindeer) > Porcupine Caribou Herd (the oldest caribou herd on earth) > Porcupines > Porcupine fish cousins/related to/almost same as Pufferfish > aka “Fugu” in Japan (where Fugu Sushi kills about 30 people a year) > Set of Sushi Plates & Knives
Monday's Clue: MISTLETOE
Hint 1: Tough Anagram
Prize 1
Mistletoe > Tough Anagram > Steel > Stainless Steel Patio Heater
Hint 2: Kiss…
Prize 2
Mistletoe > Kiss… > Kiss and Make up > Mac Candy Kiss Lip Pencil
Hint 3: The sweetest kiss?
Prize 3
Mistletoe > The sweetest kiss? > Heart-shaped chocolate wedding favours
Hint 4: Watch out!
Prize 4
Mistletoe > Watch out! > Mistletoe is poisonous > poison > Poison perfume Incense sticks
Hint 5: Urban style!
Prize 5
Mistletoe > Urban Style! > Sex and the City: Kiss and Tell book
Sundays’ Clue was: TINSEL
Hint 1: Town
0000-0100 Prize 1
Tinsel > Tinseltown > Hollywood > Hollywood Bowl > Item Listing > ‘Hollywood’[1] soup bowl
0100-0200 Prize 2
Tinsel > Tinseltown > Hollywood > Oscar > Item Listing > Oscar de la Renta jacket
0200-0300 Prize 3
Tinsel > Tinseltown > Hollywood > Star > Item Listing > ‘Hollywood[2] Star’ Karaoke Machine
0300-0400 Prize 4
Tinsel > Tinseltown > Hollywood > Movie > Item Listing > Digital Camera, ‘Hollywood’[3] Movie & Webcam
Hint 2: Town film (seasonal)
0400-0500 Prize 5
Tinsel > Tinseltown > Hollywood > Christmas Movie > Polar Express > stars Tom Hanks > 5 Hanks Lightweight Rowan Yarn
0500-0600 Prize 6
Tinsel > Tinseltown > Hollywood > Christmas Movie > It’s A Wonderful Life > stars James Stewart > Wonderful[4] Stewart Tartan Rug
0600-0700 Prize 7
Tinsel > Tinseltown > Hollywood > Christmas Movie > Miracle on 34th Street > stars Richard ‘Dickie’ Attenborough > Dickie Bow Tie
0700-0800 Prize 8
Tinsel > Tinseltown > Hollywood > Christmas Movie > Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence > stars David Bowie > Bowie Knife
0800-0900 Prize 9
Tinsel > Tinseltown > Hollywood > Christmas Movie > Home Alone > stars MacAulay Culkin > History of England by Lord Macaulay
0900-1000 Prize 10
Tinsel > Tinseltown > Hollywood > Christmas Movie > The Snowman > stars David Bowie (again!) > David Bowie T shirt
1000-1100 Prize 11
Tinsel > Tinseltown > Hollywood > Christmas Movie > The Bishop’s Wife > stars Cary Grant > British Grant Tank Airfix Model
Hint 3: You can also use…
1100-1200 Prize 12
Tinsel > You can also use… Other decorations > Candles > Christmas Candle Set
1200-1300 Prize 13
Tinsel > You can also use… Other decorations > Baubles > Xmas Bauble Set
1300-1400 Prize 14
Tinsel > You can also use… Other decorations > Angel > Boxed Angel Cards
1400-1500 Prize 15
Tinsel > You can also use… Other decorations > Fairy > Garden Fairy Ornament
1500-1600 Prize 16
Tinsel > You can also use… Other decorations > Lights > Lights, Camera, Action! Director’s Canvas Backed Chair
Afternoon Tea Hint: Anagram
1600-1700 Prize 17
Tinsel > Anagram > Silent > Silent Hotpoint Dishwasher
1700-1800 Prize 18
Tinsel > Anagram > List > Ford Mondeo Parts List
1800-1900 Prize 19
Tinsel > Anagram > Intel > Intel Pentium 3
1900-2000 Prize 20
Tinsel > Anagram > Listen > Panasonic Baby Monitor
After 8 Hint: Pile it on!
2000-2100 Prize 21
Tinsel > Pile it on > more decorations > foil-wrapped chocolates
2100-2200 Prize 22
Tinsel > Pile it on > more decorations > garland > Garland Kettle Unit
2200-2300 Prize 23
Tinsel > Pile it on > more decorations > red ribbon > AIDS ribbon (enamel)
2300-2400 Prize 24
Tinsel > Pile it on > more decorations > candy > Candy Electric Hob
Saturday’s clue was CAROLS
There were 48 digital camcorders up for grabs. Here are the solutions:
These hints were released over the course of the day:
First Hint: Boys and girls come out to play
Breakfast Hint: Boys and girls entertain in every way
Lunchtime Hint: What the Dickens?
Afternoon Tea Hint: Dickensian, Modern or Both?
After-Eight Hint: Ghostly Glow in the Corner?
#1
Carols…. Carol Vorderman is about the loveliest Carol I know. She is most associated with Countdown.
Listing title: Countdown Novelty Wall Clock Vorderman Whiteley
#2
Carol… in central Europe is spelled Karel… Karel Capek was the bright spark who coined the word ‘robot’.
Listing title: Will Smith I, Robot DVD Special Edition
#3
Carol… the curious Carol Caplin was Cherie Blair’s ‘special advisor’, which was quite frightening. As was….
Listing title: Blair Witch Project Cast & Crew Hoodie
#4
Carol… if you’ve got some spare consonants it becomes Carroll… like Lewis who wrote Alice in Wonderland… which featured the White Rabbit, who was always late.
Listing title: Novelty Costume White Rabbit Special Interest?
#5
Carol…Sir Carol Reed (I know, but apparently he was a bloke) directed the film version of The Third Man.
Listing title: Graham Greene The Third Man Signed with COA
#6
Carol… Carole King writes some very jolly songs, and her most famous album is called Tapestry
Listing title: Charming Peruvian Tapestry Wall-Hanging
#7
Carol… A Christmas Carol… God bless us all, every one, we finally got round to it. Everyone’s favourite character is tirelessly chirpy Tiny Tim.
Tiny Tim Action Figure: With Spring Crutch!
#8
Carol… A Christmas Carol… featured Jacob Marley… who was the great-great-grandfather of Bob Marley*… who was a noted Rastafarian musician. Irie.
Listing title: Rasta Hat Beanie Haile Selassie
*This may be untrue
#9
Carol… A Christmas Carol… Scrooge.., we didn’t go much further on this, but we did spell it a bit funny to make it a little harder. Which didn’t work at all: it was still found quickly.
Listing title: $crooge McDuck Stuffed Toy Missing One Eye
#10
Carol… A Christmas Carol… the Ghost of Christmas Past was the first to appear, which made me think of my new Radio Times which is trailing Midsomer Murders Ghost of Winter Past. About a hundred of you got this one in a third of a trillisecond.
Listing title: Midsomer Murders Ghost of Winter Past DVD
#11
Carol… A Christmas Carol… the Ghost of Christmas Present was next along. And Christmas at the present is bound to feature the Vicar of Dibley. Again.
Listing title: Vicar of Dibley Woman’s T-Shirt XXXL
#12
Carol… A Christmas Carol… the Ghost of Christmas Future was the one that finally did the trick. And we can guarantee that future Christmases will include a lot of repeats of what’s on now (yeah, OK, it’s tenuous). I said, it’s tenuous.
Listing title: Fred Elliot Doll – Repeats Everything You Say
#13
Carol… A Christmas Carol… Charles Dickens… who also wrote Bleak House. I would hate to live in a bleak house. It would be much improved by:
Listing title: 500 watt Table Lamp – Ideal for Bleak House
#14
Carol… A Christmas Carol… Charles Dickens… who also wrote David Copperfield. Who levitated over the Grand Canyon and was engaged to Claudia Schiffer. What a lot to pack into one lifetime.
Listing title: 500 Great Illusions with David Copperfield
#15
Carol… A Christmas Carol… Charles Dickens… who also wrote Oliver Twist. If he’d had a friend called… er… Jim…er… Shout, they could have called themselves Twist & Shout. But as it is the Beatles beat them to it.
Listing title: Twist & Shout 7” The Beatles
#16
Carol… A Christmas Carol… Charles Dickens… who also wrote A Tale of Two Cities. We’re quite lowbrow so this made us think of passionate local derbies.
Listing title: Boro vs. Sunderland football programme
#17
Carol… A Christmas Carol… (are we still on A Christmas Carol?)… was made into a film starring Alasdair Sim as Scrooge.
Listing title: Sim City 2000 for PC – Great Game
#18
Carol… A Christmas Carol… they made it into a film again (Why? What was wrong with the first one?), this time starring Albert Finney as Scrooge.
Listing title: Albert Finney Autograph
#19
Carol… Carol Reed (ha! not A Christmas Carol) – still a bloke – also directed Our Man in Havana.
Listing title: Our Man in Havana (Alec Guinness) VHS
#20
Carol… Caroline… ( we think it means ‘like Carol’, so perhaps the first Caroline was so called because she was quite similar to someone called Carol). Neil Diamond had a hit with ‘Sweet Caroline’.
Listing title: Neil Diamond’s Greatest Hits Double CD
#21
Carol… Carol Anne… was the spooky little girl in Poltergeist. Some of you also thought this related to the ghosts of Christmas. Er… yes! That’s right, it did! Two links in one. Ta-da…
Listing title: Poltergeist Original Movie Poster
#22
Carol… Oh Carol… no, we haven’t started canoodling with someone called Carol, we’re singing the famous Neil Sedaka song. Is it famous? Well, for these purposes, yes. Yes it is.
Listing title: Neil Sedaka in Concert LP
#23
Carol… Carol Burnett (we were starting to run out of Carols) played the part of Miss Hannigan in Annie.
Listing title:
Miss Hannigan Autograph (Annie the Movie)
#24
Carol… may actually be derived from ‘corolla’ meaning crown or garland. But these days Corolla means only one thing – reliable mid-priced automobiles!
Listing title: Toyota Corolla Low Mileage Full MOT
#25
Carol… Carol Costello (the ‘Carol barrel’ was getting pretty empty here) starred in Abbot and Costello’s Meet the Wolfman:
Listing title: Abbott and Costello Meet the Wolfman
#26
Carol… Carol Kaye was a legendary bass and guitar player. But we’d actually heard of:
Listing title: Danny Kaye in the Court Jester VHS
#27
Carol… Carol Barnes was an ITN newscaster (might still be, I can’t get ITV on my old telly), so we listed:
Listing title: Lovely old Postcard of Barnes Pond
#28
Carol… A Christmas Carol (ah, one more!)… Scrooge had the unlikely first name Ebeneezer, as did a popular ‘rave’ single by the Shamen.
Listing title: The Shamen Ebeneezer Goode CD Single
#29
Carol… Carol Smilie used to present Changing Rooms. And at some point in every programme they always seem to bring out:
Listing title: Large Tin of Glossy White Emulsion Paint
#30
Carol…A Christmas Carol (just one more!)… Bob Cratchit was a clerk (today they are called ledger solutions providers), which put us in mind of seminal black comedy Clerks:
Listing title: Clerks Kevin Smith DVD New
#31
Carol… A Christmas Carol (there was a surprising amount of life in this one)… included Fezziwig, who was an apprentice with Scrooge. This made us ‘wig out’ a bit:
Listing title: Woman’s Blonde Wig Shoulder-Length
(Did you know there are over a thousand wigs for sale on eBay UK at any time?)
#32
Carol… Carroll.. not Lewis this time, but the somewhat forgettable film The House on Carroll Street, which starred the rather less forgettable Kelly McGillis.
Listing title: Kelly McGillis Signed Poster Slightly Stained
#33
Carol…Christmas Carols at last!... O Come, All Ye Faithful! Which prompted:
Listing title: New HB Book – How to Keep Your Lover Faithful
#34
Carol…Christmas carols… Good King Wenceslas (was he good? It’s hard to be sure at this remove of history)… but at any rate, he was a historical figure who was the king of Bohemia.
Listing title: The Kings and Queens of Bohemia New w/ DJ
#35
Carol… Christmas carols… Jingle Bells… which in these troubled times is best represented by
Listing title: Wireless Burglar Alarm Rapid Response System
#36
Carol… Christmas carols… O Little Town of Bethlehem. I sang that as a solo at my school nativity play. Mum cried.
Listing title: 1:50,000 Map of Bethlehem and the West Bank
#37
Carol…Christmas carols… Away in a Manger. Well that’s just impractical. Have you felt the weight of even an budget-range manger? Far better to use:
Listing title: Foldaway Cot Up to 2 Yrs Slightly Mangy
#38
Carol… Christmas carols… Once in Royal David’s City stood a lowly cattle shed. Well, that’s just bad town planning. But ‘royal David’s city’ was of course Jerusalem:
Listing title: Large Punnet of Jerusalem Artichokes
#39
Carol… Christmas carols… Silent Night. Unfortunately to achieve this in modern urbanised areas you’d really need
Listing title: Noise Abatement Regulations Pamphlet
#40
Carol… Christmas carols… While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night. Even we resisted the obvious temptation here.
Listing title: 4 Rolls Vintage Flock Wallpaper
#41
Carol… Christmas carols… Deck the Halls With Boughs of Holly. I think the lyricist rather ran out of steam on that one.
Listing title: Easy Assembly Decking Kit Brand New
#42
Carol… Christmas carols… God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen… of course what merry gentlemen really need the next morning is
Listing title: Hangover Remedy Guaranteed to Cure
#43
Carol… Christmas carols… Hark the Herald Angel Sings… these days, the nearest we get to that is
Listing title: Voice of an Angel Charlotte Church CD As New
#44
Carol… Christmas carols… Joy to the World. Best represented here by
Listing title: The Little Book of Happiness HB New
#45
Carol… Christmas carols… O Christmas Tree… and at Christmas we should think of those less fortunate than ourselves, which is how we arrived at:
Listing title: Martha Stewart’s Guide to Christmas Tree Decorating
#46
Sir Francis Chichester's famous nickname from University was Carol(thus the name of his biography). He was a well-known circumnavigator.
Listing Title: Brass sextant and case
#47
Carol… Christmas carols… The First Noel… well, the first Noel to achieve any sort of lasting fame was Noel Coward.
Listing title: Noel Coward Collected Sketches and Lyrics
#48
Carol… Christmas carols… We Three Kings… which was the title of a decent enough film starring that hunk of beef George Clooney.
Listing title: George Clooney Mark Wahlberg Three Kings war Movie DVD
And not once did the clue_elf resort to a reference to library desks!
Message 2 of 3
Re: Clues and Answers Archive
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16-12-2004 6:26 PM
The Mystery Clue Master writes:
Snowman (answer – Dell Hard Drive)
So: Snowman. A clue to win a beautiful 1.03 carat ‘emerald cut’ diamond ring – one big prize for the day, so the clue trail had to be even more complex than usual if the Treasure Hunters were not to pounce on it too quickly. I sat back, cracked open another Red Bull – the delights of an occasional tipple are long forgotten, because I’ve got to stay sharp as a tack – and set to work…
Hint: Mince Pies
As you all know, I love mince pies (homemade, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, I don’t care) and a misspent youth in the East End of London has left me with a lasting fondness for Cockney rhyming slang. Mince pies = eyes. A Snowman’s eyes, of course, are traditionally made of Coal. Which brought to mind the wonderful Nat ‘King’ Cole and Old King Coal.
A little obvious perhaps, so I hit upon a newer King Coal – Arthur Scargill, leader of the (coal) Miners Union. So far, so good. Hundreds of you were on the case with coal. elven_shadowcat was just one, but deserves a mention for trying to win, in the teeth of weird British culture, even though hailing from Holland, home of all those weird but wonderful Dutchies. But full marks must go to glamour_ville, hamdi5 and haybarn11 for getting Scargill. Now while it was tempting to run off from Scargill to Lord Scarman (who had just died) and even the Scarface movies, I stuck with Arthur. Who is the most famous Arthur to those residing in these fair shores? Why, the Lost King himself, the Winter King…
The easy shortcut (and there isn’t always one this easy) linked Coal and the Diamond in the prize – both forms of carbon – and then it’s a short hop to ‘hard’ (as diamonds are).
Hint:A Misplaced King
King Arthur is a subject attempted by many over the years, but recently, Bernard Cornwell has done it best. The brilliant author of the Sharpe series (which I believe was made into television with that Geordie chap, forget his name but he was in Lord of the Rings too, you know who I mean) has written The Warlord Chronicles which start with The Winter King: A Novel of Arthur. Only a couple of dozen got what seemed a quite obvious hint for Arthur. A kind fish called bilbobaggins2000 was one (good luck with the driving lessons, by the way, and yes, doing the eBay treasure hunt on a laptop while learning to drive is definitely a no no).
But no-one got Bernard Cornwell at all, even though it is painfully obvious that I read far too many books than is strictly necessary, let alone good for health.
Cornwell is a rather strange way to spell “Cornwall”, and there’s one other – very famous – author called Cornwell, name of David Cornwell. Only his nom de plume is John Le Carré. Now Le Carré may have gone off the boil a bit lately, but his masterwork is Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (a mere 9000 pages via Google).
The not-so-easy shortcut would either be Arthur having a hard life (some of those pesky Knights were hardly to be trusted) or Bernard Cornwell’s heroes, who have tough lives too.
Hint: Rich or Poor
unipos_systems kindly provided the full rhyme “Rich man, poor man, beggar-man, thief, tinker, tailor, soldier and as thehighlander100 noted, there are lots of references to the brilliant ‘Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy’ TV series. Also on the trail were splodge42, multiplicity92, cammi040904 – a wise one who proves that inspiration will sometimes come from stepping away from the computer and relaxing in a bath – and ollym1, who was so close and even mentioned Dell!
This utterly great TV starred Sir Alec Guinness as George Smiley, the spy lured out of retirement to hunt down a mole, a double agent in British Intelligence working for the Soviets. (Not unlike a kind deadly treasure hunt, really). I avoided ‘smiley’ routes, and spent a fruitless hour online trying to find someone who would remind me who the mole George finally uncovers is.
Now ‘rich or poor’ (and all the other variants in the song) suggests a multiplicity of roles. And Alec Guinness famously played no less than 8 parts in the quirkily amusing ‘Kind Hearts and Coronets’. Having realised that Teamtreasurehunt.co.uk was already recommending this site, and with a naturally bookish bent, I pounced on the author of the book on which the film script was based, Roy Horniman.
The increasingly difficult ‘easy’ short cut – life can be hard, whether you’re rich or poor, it’s a matter of the cards you’re played, as the children’s fortune-telling game around the rhyme suggests.
Hint: Fred & Gus’s Old Things
The top 3 Google results for “Horniman” take you straight to the famously delightful family-friendly museum of the same name (http://www.horniman.ac.uk/). Founded by Frederick (Fred) Horniman, it’s simply brimming with curious and interesting old things, like most museums. In fact, its world-renowned exhibition of World Cultures (ethnography) is a marvel to behold, and second only to the British Museum in London and the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford, as its own website announces (http://www.horniman.ac.uk/collections/world.cfm).
But the real treasure-hunters’ delight is surely the Pitt Rivers Museum (http://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/), because Lt. Gen. Augustus (Gus) Pitt Rivers insisted that his collection be shoved in as it came, higgledy piggledy. It’s quite amazing, and well worth a visit. Pitt Rivers (and I was tempted to play around with Brad Pitt and River Phoenix, but thought I’d stick with old things for a while) was a remarkable figure. He also had a collection – this time of buildings – at his beautiful Larmer Tree Gardens in Tollyard Royal, Dorset in the stunningly beautiful Cranbourne Chase. There is a very enjoyable annual Larmer Tree music festival of a size and style to suit the Professor and F’s travelling abode (an easily erected tent).
The hardly-easy-at-all-anymore shortcut from here was that this was, to be quite honest, the hardest hint of the Treasure Hunt yet. So hard, in fact, that I thought someone might try “hard” out of sheer head-scratching frustration. Oh well…
Hint: The Other Man
For a certain type of obsessive – “And aren’t we all obsessive, one way or another?” I often muse to F. “Yes, dear”, she says, meaning nothing of the sort – there is only one towering genius to spin on the record deck in time of need. Hailed as the greatest white blues singer of all time by everyone from Eric Clapton and Tracey Chapman to Mark Knopfler and Andy Kershaw, in times of trouble or joy, you simply can’t been Van ‘The Man’ Morrison at his best. A quick search of Van and snow will yield his delicately beautiful and achingly melancholic song, ‘Snow in San Anselmo’. The song comes from the underrated album ‘Hardnose the Highway’. The title may be slang (another hour lost trying to find out), or simply Van’s inspiration, but it’s meaning is clear enough – in hard times, put your nose to the grindstone and drive on…
The somewhat easier shortcut? To know someone else – the other man – is hard, but worthwhile. Or as the ethnographic type has said, “Man cannot know man except in mutuality: in respect, trust, and equality, if not ultimately love.” ‘Ethnography?’ I hear some say. ‘What’s that then?’ Well, apart from a charming little corner of eBay’s Collectables category, as far as I can make out, if you were to ask it what its job was, it would say “it’s know man”.
P.S. On the vexed subject of why a naughty clue elf (who I suspect may have been supping Santa’s mulled wine, vodka, whiskey or Baileys behind his back) gave out an extra clue about how ‘difficult’ it was: as far as I’m aware she has been sent off to clean the reindeer’s stables, and it won’t happen again.
Day 5: Friday’s clue was MINCE PIE
There were 24 Mini iPods up for grabs, here are the solutions.
First Hint: The secret is in the ingredients
Midnight:
One ingredient is apple, of course, who make these lovely iPods. You’ll have seen their ads featuring U2, whose new single is called Vertigo.
Listing title was: Alfred Hitchcock - Vertigo - DVD - Unopened!
1am:
You’d probably also want to use apple pulp, which might make you think of Pulp and Jarvis Cocker.
Listing title was: Jarvis Cocker Unauthorised Biography HB
2am
What would a mince pie be without mixed spices? My least favourite was always Posh Spice, who married that nice lad David Beckham.
Listing title was: W@W David Beckham Signed Ball W@W
3am
As with every other meal at Christmas, there’s a bit of lard involved. Mark & Lard are of course presenters on the nation’s flagship radio station, Radio 1.
Listing title was: On The Air - Brief History of Radio 1 – New
4am
Oh, a spoonful of sugar… which makes me think of the Sugababes – didn’t they all sing on BandAid 20?
Listing title was: BandAid 20 - Do They Know It's Christmas?
5am
As a child I could never stomach raisins – though I did like that silly themed band the California Raisins. They recorded a cover of Heard It Through the Grapevine, you know. Geddit?
Listing title was: Marvin Gaye - I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Breakfast Hint: The secret ingredients include music
6am
Some exotic mince pies contain mixed peel. Which makes me think (sadly) of John Peel, whose favourite song was Teenage Kicks.
Listing title was: Undertones - Teenage Kicks CD Single Used
7am
As well as raisins, you’d surely want sultanas. Which made us think of those ‘Sultans of Swing’, Dire Straits.
Listing title was: Dire Straits - Money For Nothing - Literally!
8am
Let’s have a bit more apple. (Yes, sorry, we used one ingredient twice, but the best chefs never fuss over exact quantities…) That was the name of the Beatles’ record company, and without doubt the lynch-pin of that pop combo was Ringo Starr. ‘Ringo’ is also the Japanese for ‘apple’, fact-fans.
Listing title was: Ringo Starr - A Drummer's Life For Me - P/B
9am
These days you have to use margarine instead of butter – mmm, marge. Might make you think of the Simpsons.
Listing title was: Simpsons - Season 5 DVD - Pre-Order!!
10am
And let’s not forget lemon. Continuing today’s musical theme, and to encourage all you harassed hunters to chill out, we were thinking of Lemonjelly and one of their fine albums.
Listing title was: Lost Horizons CD - Rather Scratched
Elevenses Hint: Liquid goes with musical secret ingredients…
11am
To really pile on the pounds, there’s nothing like fresh cream. Like the band Cream, which featured that nice man Eric Clapton.
Listing title was: Eric Clapton Signed Guitar - COA and Photo!
12pm
And now that we’re into the afternoon it was definitely time for some mulled wine. Mull… mull… Mull of Kintyre! Which makes you think of the McCartneys.
Listing title was: Linda McCartney Vegetarian Sauce - Used
1pm
More mulled wine, or Red Red Wine, to put you in mind of UB40. What are UB40s called these days anyway?
Listing title was: UB40 Ticket Stub - Sentimental Value?
2pm
One more glass of mulled wine – getting a little tiddly now, so this took us to Lilac Wine, sung by Katie Melua and written by Mike Batt, who also wrote the Wombles song.
Listing title was: Wombles Wombling Free - Children's LP
3pm
Time for something stronger – like brandy (or brandy butter if you’d prefer). Brandy is also a singer-cum-actress whose most recent film was Osmosis Jones.
Listing title was: Osmosis Jones Farrelly Bros DVD R2
Afternoon Hint: Now forget the mince…
4pm
So that just leaves us with Pie. Pie? Pi!!! One of you speedy creatures got this one in seconds.
Listing title was: 3.141592654 - Hurry!
5pm
Pie… pork pie…gosh, these are very easy – lucky old afternoon hunters!
Listing title was: Man's Green Pork Pie Hat - Shop-Soiled
6pm
Pie… what were those cartoons that used to fill Saturday afternoons? Ah yes, Tweety Pie. And Sylvester. I did, I did!!!
Listing title was: Sylvester Stallone Rambo Film Cell - Signed!
7pm
“Pie, Pie, Miss American Pie...” Madonna covered that, you know. And she’s got a little girl called Lourdes. Which is quite an odd name, when you think about it, but ideal for a word-association game like this one.
Listing title was: Holy Water Gourd from Lourdes
After Eight Hint: Sounds Like…
8pm
Mince Pie is Cockney rhyming-slang for eye. What an edifying game this is.
Listing title was: Eyeshadow - Chanel Bronze
9pm
Mince sounds like quince. I’ve never been mad on quinces, but I do like that Quincy Jones, him wot made all those records in the ‘80s.
Listing title was: Quincy Jones Bio - My Life With Michael
10pm
Mince also sounds like mints (yes, it was getting late…) The most common mint that occurs naturally in the wild is, of course, the peppermint. So let’s look for some pepper-related items:
Listing title was: Pepper Grinder - Shaped Like J-Lo!
11pm
And mince definitely sounds like chintz. We’ve got an entire category for it in our Pottery section, should you care to defy popular opinion and kit your home out with some.
Listing title was: Large Chintz Plate Mug Bowl Set
Day 4: Thursday's Clue
Cracker
And the Published hints:
1: Forget Robbie Coltrane
2: Nothing to do with Jacobs
3: It's Friday
The clue_elf says: It was a three-step lateral word association. Brrrr...
From Cracker you would progess to crackerjack (obviously the "It's Friday" hint there was crucial) and then taking the Jack you'd progress to a suitably wintry Jack Frost (clever so and sos might also see Jack Frost is a detective but not Cracker) and thus by simple word association to Frost Fair. The winning title was for a Frost Fair engraving. As an added hint 1655 (five to five) was in the item title and we sent the listing live at 16:55.
Day 3:
Clue: Partridge
Answer: Has Mittens
The Clue Elf says: We were seriously lateral today. Ha ha. Answer: 'Navy Boy's Jacket - Has Mittens'
You asked us to make our clues more British, so we could obviously only be referring to Alan Partridge, Norfolk's most famous son. And if you're thinking of Norfolk and thinking of treasure, you were surely thinking of Snettisham, a charming little town where a fabulous treasure was discovered in 1948.
And because this was still too easy, we made it into an anagram ‘Has Mittens’ – and hid it in the baby clothing category. It still only took three hours to be found…
Day 2:
Clue: Holly
Answer: Ilex aquifolium
The Clue Elf says: Obviously not hard enough again. It's the Latin name for Holly. The winner found the car in less than a minute. Grrrr.
Day 1:
Clue: Rudolph
Answer: Giuliani
The Clue Elf says: Just too easy, a straight-forward one-jump word association. But I had to make it easy so you could warm up. Tee hee.
Snowman (answer – Dell Hard Drive)
So: Snowman. A clue to win a beautiful 1.03 carat ‘emerald cut’ diamond ring – one big prize for the day, so the clue trail had to be even more complex than usual if the Treasure Hunters were not to pounce on it too quickly. I sat back, cracked open another Red Bull – the delights of an occasional tipple are long forgotten, because I’ve got to stay sharp as a tack – and set to work…
Hint: Mince Pies
As you all know, I love mince pies (homemade, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, I don’t care) and a misspent youth in the East End of London has left me with a lasting fondness for Cockney rhyming slang. Mince pies = eyes. A Snowman’s eyes, of course, are traditionally made of Coal. Which brought to mind the wonderful Nat ‘King’ Cole and Old King Coal.
A little obvious perhaps, so I hit upon a newer King Coal – Arthur Scargill, leader of the (coal) Miners Union. So far, so good. Hundreds of you were on the case with coal. elven_shadowcat was just one, but deserves a mention for trying to win, in the teeth of weird British culture, even though hailing from Holland, home of all those weird but wonderful Dutchies. But full marks must go to glamour_ville, hamdi5 and haybarn11 for getting Scargill. Now while it was tempting to run off from Scargill to Lord Scarman (who had just died) and even the Scarface movies, I stuck with Arthur. Who is the most famous Arthur to those residing in these fair shores? Why, the Lost King himself, the Winter King…
The easy shortcut (and there isn’t always one this easy) linked Coal and the Diamond in the prize – both forms of carbon – and then it’s a short hop to ‘hard’ (as diamonds are).
Hint:A Misplaced King
King Arthur is a subject attempted by many over the years, but recently, Bernard Cornwell has done it best. The brilliant author of the Sharpe series (which I believe was made into television with that Geordie chap, forget his name but he was in Lord of the Rings too, you know who I mean) has written The Warlord Chronicles which start with The Winter King: A Novel of Arthur. Only a couple of dozen got what seemed a quite obvious hint for Arthur. A kind fish called bilbobaggins2000 was one (good luck with the driving lessons, by the way, and yes, doing the eBay treasure hunt on a laptop while learning to drive is definitely a no no).
But no-one got Bernard Cornwell at all, even though it is painfully obvious that I read far too many books than is strictly necessary, let alone good for health.
Cornwell is a rather strange way to spell “Cornwall”, and there’s one other – very famous – author called Cornwell, name of David Cornwell. Only his nom de plume is John Le Carré. Now Le Carré may have gone off the boil a bit lately, but his masterwork is Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (a mere 9000 pages via Google).
The not-so-easy shortcut would either be Arthur having a hard life (some of those pesky Knights were hardly to be trusted) or Bernard Cornwell’s heroes, who have tough lives too.
Hint: Rich or Poor
unipos_systems kindly provided the full rhyme “Rich man, poor man, beggar-man, thief, tinker, tailor, soldier and as thehighlander100 noted, there are lots of references to the brilliant ‘Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy’ TV series. Also on the trail were splodge42, multiplicity92, cammi040904 – a wise one who proves that inspiration will sometimes come from stepping away from the computer and relaxing in a bath – and ollym1, who was so close and even mentioned Dell!
This utterly great TV starred Sir Alec Guinness as George Smiley, the spy lured out of retirement to hunt down a mole, a double agent in British Intelligence working for the Soviets. (Not unlike a kind deadly treasure hunt, really). I avoided ‘smiley’ routes, and spent a fruitless hour online trying to find someone who would remind me who the mole George finally uncovers is.
Now ‘rich or poor’ (and all the other variants in the song) suggests a multiplicity of roles. And Alec Guinness famously played no less than 8 parts in the quirkily amusing ‘Kind Hearts and Coronets’. Having realised that Teamtreasurehunt.co.uk was already recommending this site, and with a naturally bookish bent, I pounced on the author of the book on which the film script was based, Roy Horniman.
The increasingly difficult ‘easy’ short cut – life can be hard, whether you’re rich or poor, it’s a matter of the cards you’re played, as the children’s fortune-telling game around the rhyme suggests.
Hint: Fred & Gus’s Old Things
The top 3 Google results for “Horniman” take you straight to the famously delightful family-friendly museum of the same name (http://www.horniman.ac.uk/). Founded by Frederick (Fred) Horniman, it’s simply brimming with curious and interesting old things, like most museums. In fact, its world-renowned exhibition of World Cultures (ethnography) is a marvel to behold, and second only to the British Museum in London and the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford, as its own website announces (http://www.horniman.ac.uk/collections/world.cfm).
But the real treasure-hunters’ delight is surely the Pitt Rivers Museum (http://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/), because Lt. Gen. Augustus (Gus) Pitt Rivers insisted that his collection be shoved in as it came, higgledy piggledy. It’s quite amazing, and well worth a visit. Pitt Rivers (and I was tempted to play around with Brad Pitt and River Phoenix, but thought I’d stick with old things for a while) was a remarkable figure. He also had a collection – this time of buildings – at his beautiful Larmer Tree Gardens in Tollyard Royal, Dorset in the stunningly beautiful Cranbourne Chase. There is a very enjoyable annual Larmer Tree music festival of a size and style to suit the Professor and F’s travelling abode (an easily erected tent).
The hardly-easy-at-all-anymore shortcut from here was that this was, to be quite honest, the hardest hint of the Treasure Hunt yet. So hard, in fact, that I thought someone might try “hard” out of sheer head-scratching frustration. Oh well…
Hint: The Other Man
For a certain type of obsessive – “And aren’t we all obsessive, one way or another?” I often muse to F. “Yes, dear”, she says, meaning nothing of the sort – there is only one towering genius to spin on the record deck in time of need. Hailed as the greatest white blues singer of all time by everyone from Eric Clapton and Tracey Chapman to Mark Knopfler and Andy Kershaw, in times of trouble or joy, you simply can’t been Van ‘The Man’ Morrison at his best. A quick search of Van and snow will yield his delicately beautiful and achingly melancholic song, ‘Snow in San Anselmo’. The song comes from the underrated album ‘Hardnose the Highway’. The title may be slang (another hour lost trying to find out), or simply Van’s inspiration, but it’s meaning is clear enough – in hard times, put your nose to the grindstone and drive on…
The somewhat easier shortcut? To know someone else – the other man – is hard, but worthwhile. Or as the ethnographic type has said, “Man cannot know man except in mutuality: in respect, trust, and equality, if not ultimately love.” ‘Ethnography?’ I hear some say. ‘What’s that then?’ Well, apart from a charming little corner of eBay’s Collectables category, as far as I can make out, if you were to ask it what its job was, it would say “it’s know man”.
P.S. On the vexed subject of why a naughty clue elf (who I suspect may have been supping Santa’s mulled wine, vodka, whiskey or Baileys behind his back) gave out an extra clue about how ‘difficult’ it was: as far as I’m aware she has been sent off to clean the reindeer’s stables, and it won’t happen again.
Day 5: Friday’s clue was MINCE PIE
There were 24 Mini iPods up for grabs, here are the solutions.
First Hint: The secret is in the ingredients
Midnight:
One ingredient is apple, of course, who make these lovely iPods. You’ll have seen their ads featuring U2, whose new single is called Vertigo.
Listing title was: Alfred Hitchcock - Vertigo - DVD - Unopened!
1am:
You’d probably also want to use apple pulp, which might make you think of Pulp and Jarvis Cocker.
Listing title was: Jarvis Cocker Unauthorised Biography HB
2am
What would a mince pie be without mixed spices? My least favourite was always Posh Spice, who married that nice lad David Beckham.
Listing title was: W@W David Beckham Signed Ball W@W
3am
As with every other meal at Christmas, there’s a bit of lard involved. Mark & Lard are of course presenters on the nation’s flagship radio station, Radio 1.
Listing title was: On The Air - Brief History of Radio 1 – New
4am
Oh, a spoonful of sugar… which makes me think of the Sugababes – didn’t they all sing on BandAid 20?
Listing title was: BandAid 20 - Do They Know It's Christmas?
5am
As a child I could never stomach raisins – though I did like that silly themed band the California Raisins. They recorded a cover of Heard It Through the Grapevine, you know. Geddit?
Listing title was: Marvin Gaye - I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Breakfast Hint: The secret ingredients include music
6am
Some exotic mince pies contain mixed peel. Which makes me think (sadly) of John Peel, whose favourite song was Teenage Kicks.
Listing title was: Undertones - Teenage Kicks CD Single Used
7am
As well as raisins, you’d surely want sultanas. Which made us think of those ‘Sultans of Swing’, Dire Straits.
Listing title was: Dire Straits - Money For Nothing - Literally!
8am
Let’s have a bit more apple. (Yes, sorry, we used one ingredient twice, but the best chefs never fuss over exact quantities…) That was the name of the Beatles’ record company, and without doubt the lynch-pin of that pop combo was Ringo Starr. ‘Ringo’ is also the Japanese for ‘apple’, fact-fans.
Listing title was: Ringo Starr - A Drummer's Life For Me - P/B
9am
These days you have to use margarine instead of butter – mmm, marge. Might make you think of the Simpsons.
Listing title was: Simpsons - Season 5 DVD - Pre-Order!!
10am
And let’s not forget lemon. Continuing today’s musical theme, and to encourage all you harassed hunters to chill out, we were thinking of Lemonjelly and one of their fine albums.
Listing title was: Lost Horizons CD - Rather Scratched
Elevenses Hint: Liquid goes with musical secret ingredients…
11am
To really pile on the pounds, there’s nothing like fresh cream. Like the band Cream, which featured that nice man Eric Clapton.
Listing title was: Eric Clapton Signed Guitar - COA and Photo!
12pm
And now that we’re into the afternoon it was definitely time for some mulled wine. Mull… mull… Mull of Kintyre! Which makes you think of the McCartneys.
Listing title was: Linda McCartney Vegetarian Sauce - Used
1pm
More mulled wine, or Red Red Wine, to put you in mind of UB40. What are UB40s called these days anyway?
Listing title was: UB40 Ticket Stub - Sentimental Value?
2pm
One more glass of mulled wine – getting a little tiddly now, so this took us to Lilac Wine, sung by Katie Melua and written by Mike Batt, who also wrote the Wombles song.
Listing title was: Wombles Wombling Free - Children's LP
3pm
Time for something stronger – like brandy (or brandy butter if you’d prefer). Brandy is also a singer-cum-actress whose most recent film was Osmosis Jones.
Listing title was: Osmosis Jones Farrelly Bros DVD R2
Afternoon Hint: Now forget the mince…
4pm
So that just leaves us with Pie. Pie? Pi!!! One of you speedy creatures got this one in seconds.
Listing title was: 3.141592654 - Hurry!
5pm
Pie… pork pie…gosh, these are very easy – lucky old afternoon hunters!
Listing title was: Man's Green Pork Pie Hat - Shop-Soiled
6pm
Pie… what were those cartoons that used to fill Saturday afternoons? Ah yes, Tweety Pie. And Sylvester. I did, I did!!!
Listing title was: Sylvester Stallone Rambo Film Cell - Signed!
7pm
“Pie, Pie, Miss American Pie...” Madonna covered that, you know. And she’s got a little girl called Lourdes. Which is quite an odd name, when you think about it, but ideal for a word-association game like this one.
Listing title was: Holy Water Gourd from Lourdes
After Eight Hint: Sounds Like…
8pm
Mince Pie is Cockney rhyming-slang for eye. What an edifying game this is.
Listing title was: Eyeshadow - Chanel Bronze
9pm
Mince sounds like quince. I’ve never been mad on quinces, but I do like that Quincy Jones, him wot made all those records in the ‘80s.
Listing title was: Quincy Jones Bio - My Life With Michael
10pm
Mince also sounds like mints (yes, it was getting late…) The most common mint that occurs naturally in the wild is, of course, the peppermint. So let’s look for some pepper-related items:
Listing title was: Pepper Grinder - Shaped Like J-Lo!
11pm
And mince definitely sounds like chintz. We’ve got an entire category for it in our Pottery section, should you care to defy popular opinion and kit your home out with some.
Listing title was: Large Chintz Plate Mug Bowl Set
Day 4: Thursday's Clue
Cracker
And the Published hints:
1: Forget Robbie Coltrane
2: Nothing to do with Jacobs
3: It's Friday
The clue_elf says: It was a three-step lateral word association. Brrrr...
From Cracker you would progess to crackerjack (obviously the "It's Friday" hint there was crucial) and then taking the Jack you'd progress to a suitably wintry Jack Frost (clever so and sos might also see Jack Frost is a detective but not Cracker) and thus by simple word association to Frost Fair. The winning title was for a Frost Fair engraving. As an added hint 1655 (five to five) was in the item title and we sent the listing live at 16:55.
Day 3:
Clue: Partridge
Answer: Has Mittens
The Clue Elf says: We were seriously lateral today. Ha ha. Answer: 'Navy Boy's Jacket - Has Mittens'
You asked us to make our clues more British, so we could obviously only be referring to Alan Partridge, Norfolk's most famous son. And if you're thinking of Norfolk and thinking of treasure, you were surely thinking of Snettisham, a charming little town where a fabulous treasure was discovered in 1948.
And because this was still too easy, we made it into an anagram ‘Has Mittens’ – and hid it in the baby clothing category. It still only took three hours to be found…
Day 2:
Clue: Holly
Answer: Ilex aquifolium
The Clue Elf says: Obviously not hard enough again. It's the Latin name for Holly. The winner found the car in less than a minute. Grrrr.
Day 1:
Clue: Rudolph
Answer: Giuliani
The Clue Elf says: Just too easy, a straight-forward one-jump word association. But I had to make it easy so you could warm up. Tee hee.
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