To the Dolphin for quiz night.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, I sauntered down to the pub, masked up and entered for quiz night, knowing I would be on my tod. I’ve written about that expression before, it comes from an actual person, Tod Sloan; he was a famous American jockey who fell from grace and very sadly died penniless and alone. I wasn’t penniless, and in fact I wasn’t alone although my usual quiz team weren’t able to be with me. The ice-creams were otherwise engaged, daughter was at work, husband drumming, but never mind, I would go to the Dolphin for quiz night.

There’s a regular crowd at the pub, and although we are screened from each other these days, we can still communicate. I would have joined Team Nigel, but there were eight of them this evening. I sat next to them because they are always pleasant and friendly company, I would have joined the Am-Drams, the local drama society, but there were enough of them in their team too. When I arrived and was sitting alone enjoying a fine pint of Otter, some ladies came in who I’d never seen before. They had come for the quiz and I pointed out where they might find a table (our tables are reserved these days, it used to be first come first seated, but of course all is different now!) What I should have done was to say I was on my own and invited them to join me.

Team Nigel arrived and greeted me in their usual friendly fashion and they invited me to join them, but there were a lot of them already – ditto the Am-Drams. So I ended up in a team of one. But this is the great thing about the Dolphin and quiz night, I didn’t feel awkward or lonely, I didn’t feel the odd one out, I just tried my best without my usual chums to trigger ideas and did the best I could. In round 1 I got 12/25, and amazingly in round 2 I got 16/25. I was very pleased even though I didn’t win. And here’s the thing, another great thing, I had a great time and really enjoyed myself! I’m looking forward to next week when I hope I won’t be a team of one, but even if I am, it will still be fun!