Tough 1 (2 Sept)

[merry]

1 Who was the first person to renounce a hereditary peerage?

2 Which country introduced a solidarity tax in 1991?

3 The Monstera deliciosa plant is better known by what name?

4 Which marsupial sleeps for up to 22 hours a day?

5 What does the Dutch sport of fierljeppen involve?

6 Which group lived at No Fixed Abode, Cricklewood?

7 Which island is separated from the UK mainland by the Minch?

8 In 1973, which film won eight Oscars, but not Best Picture?

[OurCreature]

1 Who was the first person to renounce a hereditary peerage? Mr Anthony Wedgwood Benn, formerly Viscount Stansgate.

4 Which marsupial sleeps for up to 22 hours a day? Koala bear.

5 What does the Dutch sport of fierljeppen involve? I think this is where they use very long poles to cross the water canals inbetween the polders.

7 Which island is separated from the UK mainland by the Minch? Lewis and Harris

[Furby]

I knew 1, 4 and half of 7 but OC already guessed them. Its a step forward in more civilised questions though.

[eccles]

2 Which country introduced a solidarity tax in 1991?
Poland was known for "Solidarity" so that's my guess.

[Wildrover]

2. Germany - specifically it is a tax imposed on the former West Germans to pay for all the infrastructure upgrades required in East Germany. It causes a lot of resentment as it is an incremental 5.5% on top of West Germans' tax bills and it's still in force 30 years later.
3. Cheese plant
6. The Goodies

[merry]

7/8 not bad at all!


1 Tony Benn.
2 Germany (to pay for reunification costs).
3 Swiss cheese plant.
4 Koala.
5 Pole vaulting over canals/waterways.
6 The Goodies.
7 Lewis and Harris.
8 Cabaret.