Second place at trivia again this month. You know the Badger motto: A good night at trivia is one where you don't leave empty handed. But, it would be nice to come first occasionally.

Here is your chance at this month's questions. You know the rules:

1. Name the two countries in the world that have names starting with "Z".
   
   
2. What film was Roger Moore's last appearance as James Bond?
   
   
3. How many Oscars for Best Director has Steven Spielberg won?
   
   
4. How many American states have names beginning and ending with the same letter?
   
   
5. Which was invented first: the fountain pen or the sewing machine?
   
   
6. The word "snorkel" comes from which language?
   
   
7. Who is credited as the inventor of champagne?
   
   
8. Is ranidaphobia the fear of frogs, fleas or rats?
   
   
9. Jaap is a chocolate bar (similar to a Mars Bar) from which country beginning with "N"?

Nothing unusual to report from last night's trivia outing. Nan and TD babysat Evie for us. We came second. Move along everybody.

And as per usual here is your chance at this month's questions. You know the rules:

1. Who was Patricia Arquette's first husband?
   
   
2. Who was the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year from 2005 - 2008?
   
   
3. What is the collective noun for a group of cheetahs?
   
   
4. Harare is the capital of which country?
   
   
5. True or False: ruby is the birth stone for the month of July?
   
   
6. Which band covered Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal" in 2001?
   
   
7. Phillumeny is the hobby of collecting what; calendars, matchboxes or coasters?
   
   

This month, we tied for first place and then lost the tie break to end with an official result of second. I know we shouldn't be disappointed with second place but afterwards you can't help but run through all those questions where the right answer was mentioned but not written down.

Here is your chance at this month's questions. You know the rules:

1. Which fictional character, invented in 1953, is the protagonist in the novel Carte Blanche by Jeffrey Deaver? (Hint: It's a series reboot)
   
   
2. What is the chemical symbol for Tungsten?
   
   
3. In Africa, does the word Wadi mean dry or wet?
   
   
4. How many times has Madonna been married?
   
   
5. The saying "Poisoned Chalice", invented by Shakespeare, was first used in which play?
   
   
6. If you travel south by ferry from Southampton (skipping the Isle of Wight) which country will you reach first?
   
   
7. The bully Harry Flashman appears in what literary series set at Rugby School?
   
   
8. In the original Trivial Pursuit game, the yellow wedge is awarded for which category?

Another successful trivia evening for the Badgers. We tied for second place, then won the tie break question (How many test runs did Michael Bevan score?). So an official result of second place. Yay! Our kitty is getting nice and plump.

It was also the first night where we were both away from Evie for a significant length of time. Trivia is super noisy and we didn't think Evie would be able to sleep while it was on so we decided to have her babysat for the evening. NannyJ and TD volunteered to miss trivia and look after our little girl. The babysitting experiment was a success, even though there was a bit of separation anxiety on my part (As I closed the door to Mum and Dad's apartment I had a bit of a panic attack because I felt like I should check on her one more time but I couldn't cause I'd closed the door. First time mum!)

Here is your chance at this month's questions. You know the rules:

1. Which racquet sport is named for the Duke of Beaufort's country house?
   
   
2. Of the six actors who have played James Bond, which is the only one less than 6 feet tall?
   
   
3. What nationality was famous escape artist Houdini?
   
   
4. Which of these celebrities does / did not have a twin: Elvis, Roger Federer or Scarlett Johansson?
   
   
5. Was Kylie Minogue's Better the Devil You Know released in 1987, 1990 or 1993?
   
   
6. Queen Elizabeth II was holidaying in which country when she was informed of her father's death in 1952?
   
   
7. What type of animal is a Goliath Bird Eater?
   
   
8. What South American city is the highest capital in the world?
   
   
9. How many Kardashian sisters are there? They must have the last name of Kardashian to qualify. Bonus trashy entertainment points if you can name them and spell their names "korrectly".
   
   

We had a successful evening at trivia this month placing second (ka-ching!). I can't decide whether or not it was the help we got from our newest badgers, Evie and Elliot, or the fact that Chris and Adam have returned from their world tour.

Our name this week was inspired by the weather. Last week Sydney drowned in rain. On Thursday evening it was still pouring and I was the idiot venturing out in the horrible weather with a 9-week old baby. Luckily Andrew's mum was with me. She was able to get Evie inside the Rowers and out of the rain without too much trouble.

Unfortunately, I wasn't so lucky. I dropped Anne and Evie off while it wasn't raining. Then it started to pour. It was like someone had turned on a tap. I parked, unpacked the car and by the time I made it inside I was soaked through. There was water pooled in the bottom of the pram. Luckily, damp badger doesn't smell as bad as wet cat.

Here is your chance at this month's questions. You know the rules:

1. What is the Sirocco?
   
   
2. What part of its body does a hippo close when it goes underwater?
   
   
3. How many wives are there in Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsor?
   
   
4. Which famous singer did Vanilla Ice have an 8-month relationship with in 1991?
   
   
5. Who is the only actress to portray an aspect of Dylan in the 2007 film I'm Not There?
   
   
6. What three-letter word, beginning with "r", has 396 definitions? (Second most definitions for a word after the word "set" which has 464.)
   
   
7. Which team knocked out Australia in the quarter finals of the women's Soccer World Cup?
   
   
8. Which country is director Roman Polanski currently holed up in?