National Black Cat Day

Apparently 27th October National Black Cat Day was created by Cats Protection on October 27th 2011. When the campaign was launched, statistics revealed that black and black-and-white cats took, on average, seven days longer to find a home compared to cats of other colours.

In most Western cultures, black cats have typically been looked upon as a symbol of evil omens, specifically being suspected of being the familiars of witches, or actually shape-shifting witches themselves. In Germany, some believe that black cats crossing a person’s path from right to left, is a bad omen, but from left to right, the cat will bring good luck.

Why?

Neal: Richie, while we’re waiting, why was Noah the greatest financier on record?

Richie: Hmm, I’ll buy it Neal. What’s the answer?

Neal: Because he kept his Limited Company afloat when the rest of the World was in liquidation.

Exit Stage Right

Marina: Hi Elaine, I wondered if you would know why the interior of a theatre is a sorry sight?

Elaine: That’s an unusual question to ask me.

Marina: It’s because I’m at Venue Cymru tonight and so the question just popped into my head.

Elaine: OK Marina. Your wicked grin makes me think this might be a joke.

Marina: It’s because the boxes are always in tiers.

Source: Victorian Book “A Thousand and One Riddles, With a Few Thrown In”, Pub: George Routledge & Sons Ltd.

To Be Stymied

“Stymie” was a golfing term, obsolete since 1952. A player was laid “a stymie” if, on the putting green, the opponent’s ball fell in the line of his path to the hole (providing the balls were not within 6″ of each other). To hole-out could only be achieved by a very difficult lofting stroke. Hence several still current expressions: “A Stymie” is a frustrating situation a discouragingly difficult position and, “to be stymied” is to be in such a position and, “to stymie” is to hinder or thwart, also to put one in the position of having to negotiate.

How a loft shot on the green might have looked