| Author | Message | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
New member Username: Lynne Post Number: 3619 Registered: 12-2000 |
Jennifer was minding her own business, going about her daily routine. However, when she got home there was a gaggle of neighbours waiting for her by her front gate. "Tell us more!" What did they know, and how did they know it? | ||
| Travis (Travis)
New member Username: Travis Post Number: 54 Registered: 12-2007 |
Jennifer: H?A?F? The neighbors were the ones saying "Tell us more!", correct? Had Jennifer actually done something noteworthy, or was this a case of mistaken identity? Are geese relevant? (vis-a-vis "gaggle") Era relevant? Location relevant? | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
New member Username: Lynne Post Number: 3621 Registered: 12-2000 |
Travis Jennifer: H?A?F? yes The neighbors were the ones saying "Tell us more!", correct? yes Had Jennifer actually done something noteworthy yes, for svv of noteworthy, or was this a case of mistaken identity? no Are geese relevant? (vis-a-vis "gaggle") no - just a collective word for group of gossipers :-) Era relevant? yes Location relevant? no | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
New member Username: Lynne Post Number: 3622 Registered: 12-2000 |
and Hi, and welcome Travis, don't think we've 'met' | ||
| Ezhonok (Ezhonok)
New member Username: Ezhonok Post Number: 17 Registered: 4-2008 |
Is it the sort of things that would come in a newspaper? In a regional one? Or national? In the "fait-divers" (curiosity) or gossip section or in another page? Are famous people involved? Does it involve some kind of relationship? Are third parties relevant? Who? One person? Male? More people? Did she make something heroic, like saving someone from a fire or similar? Era relevant: Present time? 1900-1920? 1920-1940? 1940-1960? 1960-1980? 1980-2000? Location relevant? NA? Europe? Other? | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
New member Username: Lynne Post Number: 3623 Registered: 12-2000 |
Ezhonok Hi and welcome, too Is it the sort of things that would come in a newspaper? no In a regional one? so no Or national? no In the "fait-divers" (curiosity) or gossip section or in another page? no Are famous people involved? no Does it involve some kind of relationship? yes Are third parties relevant? yes Who? One person? this Male? yes More people? no Did she make something heroic, like saving someone from a fire or similar? no Era relevant: Present time? no 1900-1920? 1920-1940? a bit of this 1940-1960? and a bit of that 1960-1980? 1980-2000? Location relevant? yes NA? no Europe? yes Other? no | ||
| Ezhonok (Ezhonok)
New member Username: Ezhonok Post Number: 18 Registered: 4-2008 |
Any particular european country? Italy? France? Spain? Portugal? Great Britain? Russia/USSR? Greece? Other? Western Europe? Eastern? So, does this have to do with a love relationship with a man? Real? Or just rumoured to have happened? Are they married with each other? If not, is he married with someone else? Or is she? Her age relevant? 20-40? 40-60? Older? And his? 20-40? 40-60? Older? | ||
| Ezhonok (Ezhonok)
New member Username: Ezhonok Post Number: 19 Registered: 4-2008 |
And sorry... hello Lynne, nice to meet you. | ||
| Ezhonok (Ezhonok)
New member Username: Ezhonok Post Number: 20 Registered: 4-2008 |
Did this happen during World War II? Was this woman rumoured to have a relationship with a german soldier? | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
New member Username: Lynne Post Number: 3625 Registered: 12-2000 |
Any particular european country? Italy? France? Spain? Portugal? Great Britain? this one Russia/USSR? Greece? Other? Western Europe? Eastern? So, does this have to do with a love relationship with a man? yes Real? yes Or just rumoured to have happened? no Are they married with each other? yes If not, is he married with someone else? Or is she? Her age relevant? 20-40? this 40-60? Older? And his? 20-40? this 40-60? Older? Did this happen during World War II? yes Was this woman rumoured to have a relationship with a german soldier? no | ||
| Ezhonok (Ezhonok)
New member Username: Ezhonok Post Number: 21 Registered: 4-2008 |
Are they both british? Bombings relevant? Relevant where in Britain does this story take place? London? Other? Did something serious happen within their marriage? Pregnancy? Is this story directly linked to the war? Did they get married in an unusual situation (under a bombing, for example...)? | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
New member Username: Lynne Post Number: 3626 Registered: 12-2000 |
Ezhonok Are they both british? yes Bombings relevant? no Relevant where in Britain does this story take place? no London? Other? Did something serious happen within their marriage? see next answer Pregnancy? yes Is this story directly linked to the war? yes Did they get married in an unusual situation (under a bombing, for example...)? no or irrelevant | ||
| Ezhonok (Ezhonok)
New member Username: Ezhonok Post Number: 23 Registered: 4-2008 |
So this relevant event people knew about was her pregnancy? Is there something else we should know about it? Is her occupation relevant? And his? Is he a soldier or army officer? | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
New member Username: Lynne Post Number: 3629 Registered: 12-2000 |
Exhonok So this relevant event people knew about was her pregnancy? yep - good for hours of gossip Is there something else we should know about it? no Is her occupation relevant? no And his? no Is he a soldier or army officer? could be either All you have to work out now is how they found out | ||
| Ezhonok (Ezhonok)
New member Username: Ezhonok Post Number: 24 Registered: 4-2008 |
So I imagine the reason they found out has to do with the war? Did she somehow change her behaviour? Does it have to do with rationing cupons (for example, she started saving them or using them in a different way, so the people at the grocery store guessed she could be pregnant?) Or did she stop buying tampons or whatever was in use for that purpose in the 1940's? | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
New member Username: Lynne Post Number: 3630 Registered: 12-2000 |
Ezhonok So I imagine the reason they found out has to do with the war? yes Did she somehow change her behaviour? noish Does it have to do with rationing cupons (for example, she started saving them or using them in a different way, so the people at the grocery store guessed she could be pregnant?) very good - now to find out exactly how Or did she stop buying tampons or whatever was in use for that purpose in the 1940's? no, nothing to do with that | ||
| Ezhonok (Ezhonok)
New member Username: Ezhonok Post Number: 25 Registered: 4-2008 |
Did she give up on some cupons in favour of others, more suitable for her pregnancy or related to baby-care? | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
New member Username: Lynne Post Number: 3631 Registered: 12-2000 |
Ezhonok Did she give up on some cupons in favour of others, more suitable for her pregnancy or related to baby-care? no | ||
| Enjay (Enjay)
New member Username: Enjay Post Number: 1111 Registered: 4-2007 |
Food coupons? Clothing coupons? Did she buy more food (eating for two)? Did she buy something to prepare for when the baby was born? Did she buy bigger clothes? Or baby clothes? Was she saving money for when the baby came along, and therefore spent less? | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
New member Username: Lynne Post Number: 3632 Registered: 12-2000 |
Enjay Food coupons? these are relevant Clothing coupons? these are not Did she buy more food (eating for two)? yope Did she buy something to prepare for when the baby was born? no Did she buy bigger clothes? Or baby clothes? no to both Was she saving money for when the baby came along, and therefore spent less? no | ||
| Ezhonok (Ezhonok)
New member Username: Ezhonok Post Number: 26 Registered: 4-2008 |
So, she started buying more food... specific food? Vegetables? Meat? Milk? Bread? Cereals? Chocolate? Sugar? Sweets? Are superstitions relevant? | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
New member Username: Lynne Post Number: 3633 Registered: 12-2000 |
So, she started buying more food... specific food? yes Vegetables? Meat? Milk? Bread? Cereals? Chocolate? Sugar? Sweets? none of those Are superstitions relevant? no | ||
| Ezhonok (Ezhonok)
New member Username: Ezhonok Post Number: 31 Registered: 4-2008 |
Ice cream? Does it have to do with "desires"?? Cake? Fruits? Any specific one? | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
New member Username: Lynne Post Number: 3634 Registered: 12-2000 |
Ezhonok Ice cream? no Does it have to do with "desires"?? no, no cravings relevant Cake? no Fruits? yes Any specific one? yes | ||
| Ezhonok (Ezhonok)
New member Username: Ezhonok Post Number: 32 Registered: 4-2008 |
Apples? Pears? Oranges? Lemons? Bananas? Grapes? Strawberries? Other berries? Is it an acid fruit? Or a rather sweet one? Common or unusual? (I guess unusual or tropical fruits shouldn't be around during war times...) | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
New member Username: Lynne Post Number: 3635 Registered: 12-2000 |
Exhonok Apples? Pears? Oranges? Lemons? Bananas? 'this one Grapes? Strawberries? Other berries? Is it an acid fruit? Or a rather sweet one? Common or unusual? (I guess unusual or tropical fruits shouldn't be around during war times...) so, she had been seen buying bananas - why did they know she was pregnant? | ||
| Enjay (Enjay)
New member Username: Enjay Post Number: 1117 Registered: 4-2007 |
Was it for medical reasons? Is it, or was it then at least, advised that pregnant women eat bananas? Because they are high in potassium or something similar? | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
New member Username: Lynne Post Number: 3636 Registered: 12-2000 |
Enjay Was it for medical reasons? yes Is it, or was it then at least, advised that pregnant women eat bananas? yes Because they are high in potassium or something similar? yes, but these reasons in themselves are not proof that she was pregnant | ||
| Enjay (Enjay)
New member Username: Enjay Post Number: 1119 Registered: 4-2007 |
Did she say anything relevant? To the shopkeeper? Did she stop buying something else in order to get the bananas? Presumably she was not far enough along that she was beginning to show? | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
New member Username: Lynne Post Number: 3637 Registered: 12-2000 |
Enjay Did she say anything relevant? To the shopkeeper? no, no Did she stop buying something else in order to get the bananas? no Presumably she was not far enough along that she was beginning to show? correct | ||
| Eli (Eli)
New member Username: Eli Post Number: 1161 Registered: 11-2003 |
Did she do anything else relevant except buying bananas? | ||
| Ezhonok (Ezhonok)
New member Username: Ezhonok Post Number: 37 Registered: 4-2008 |
Well, I imagine she wouldn't buy bananas before and than she started... or she started buying more than before. So they suspected there was something going on. Or, as bananas were imported, as grown in tropical countries, they would cost her more cupons than other fruits... and they suspected that, to do this, she had to have a good reason. | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
New member Username: Lynne Post Number: 3638 Registered: 12-2000 |
Eli Did she do anything else relevant except buying bananas? no Exhonok Well, I imagine she wouldn't buy bananas before and than she started... correct or she started buying more than before. no So they suspected there was something going on. Or, as bananas were imported, as grown in tropical countries, they would cost her more cupons than other fruits... I'm not actually sure how the coupons worked out and they suspected that, to do this, she had to have a good reason. that bit is correct | ||
| Ezhonok (Ezhonok)
New member Username: Ezhonok Post Number: 39 Registered: 4-2008 |
Is there something more we should know? Something she did, some gesture, some word that revealed her pregnancy, apart from the fact she started buying bananas? | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
New member Username: Lynne Post Number: 3639 Registered: 12-2000 |
Ezhonok Is there something more we should know? yes Something she did, some gesture, some word that revealed her pregnancy,none of these apart from the fact she started buying bananas? why was buying bananas the 'give away'? | ||
| Eli (Eli)
New member Username: Eli Post Number: 1167 Registered: 11-2003 |
Some old superstition? or old wives tales? relevant? like bananas only being good for you during pregnancy? | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
New member Username: Lynne Post Number: 3640 Registered: 12-2000 |
Eli Some old superstition? no or old wives tales? no relevant? no like bananas only being good for you during pregnancy? no | ||
| Enjay (Enjay)
New member Username: Enjay Post Number: 1123 Registered: 4-2007 |
Was it very uncommon to buy bananas? Was she the only person, or practically the only person, who bought them? Maybe she had to order them in or something, and they thought she wouldn't bother unless she had some good reason? Is this her first child? Maybe she'd been pregnant before, and eaten a lot of bananas which people remembered? Were the neighbours sure she was pregnant, or could they just make an educated guess? | ||
| Sunshine (Sunshine)
New member Username: Sunshine Post Number: 728 Registered: 1-2001 |
Didn't think you could get bananas at all during the war - shows what I know! Were they so scarce she had to have a doctor's certificate to get them? Were they fresh? dried? relevant? | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
New member Username: Lynne Post Number: 3641 Registered: 12-2000 |
Enjay Was it very uncommon to buy bananas? yes Was she the only person, or practically the only person, who bought them? no - ish Maybe she had to order them in or something, and they thought she wouldn't bother unless she had some good reason? no Is this her first child? yes Maybe she'd been pregnant before, and eaten a lot of bananas which people remembered? no Were the neighbours sure she was pregnant, or could they just make an educated guess? they were sure Sunshine Didn't think you could get bananas at all during the war - shows what I know! almost correct Were they so scarce she had to have a doctor's certificate to get them? yope Were they fresh? yes dried? relevant? There are still one or two missing bits, but this is moving along nicely | ||
| Ezhonok (Ezhonok)
New member Username: Ezhonok Post Number: 40 Registered: 4-2008 |
So she has shown this certificate to the shop owners or employees, and that's how they found out, no? Or did she show it to someone else? Or did she send by post and the postman read it? | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
New member Username: Lynne Post Number: 3642 Registered: 12-2000 |
Ezhonok So she has shown this certificate to the shop owners or employees, and that's how they found out, no? no necessarily, just buying the bananas was proof enough Or did she show it to someone else? no Or did she send by post and the postman read it? no | ||
| Enjay (Enjay)
New member Username: Enjay Post Number: 1126 Registered: 4-2007 |
Did pregnant women get extra coupons? Or different coupons to spend on specific things? If she hadn't been pregnant, could she have bought bananas? Or were they rationed to only those with a good reason to need them (pregnant women)? | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
New member Username: Lynne Post Number: 3643 Registered: 12-2000 |
Enjay Did pregnant women get extra coupons? I don't know how the coupon system worked, but they were allowed bananas when available Or different coupons to spend on specific things? ditto If she hadn't been pregnant, could she have bought bananas? yes.... Or were they rationed to only those with a good reason to need them yes (pregnant women) not necessarily? | ||
| Woubit (Woubit)
Moderator Username: Woubit Post Number: 252 Registered: 5-2007 |
During and for some time after the Second World War it was widely believed (or at least it was believed by my grandmother, who was fairly wide) that a diet of bananas would prevent all manner of illnesses in newborn babies, and that the best thing an expectant mother could do for her putative offspring was to eat bananas by the boatload. The next best thing she could do was to shove bananas into the mouth of the newborn as soon as (or even before) its mouth was wide enough to accept them. This was bollocks, but - then as now - it is astonishing how much bollocks people believe, especially when it is about diet. A letter to The Times today was written by a man who recalled the days when bananas were regarded as a charm against disease. He didn't know against what specific disease they were regarded as a charm, but I bet Lynne does. | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
New member Username: Lynne Post Number: 3644 Registered: 12-2000 |
How interesting | ||
| Ezhonok (Ezhonok)
New member Username: Ezhonok Post Number: 41 Registered: 4-2008 |
So... as she bought bananas, they were given only to those with a good reason to eat them. As she looked rather healthy, the people at the shop guessed she was pregnant. | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
New member Username: Lynne Post Number: 3645 Registered: 12-2000 |
So... as she bought bananas, they were given only to those with a good reason to eat them. As she looked rather healthy, the people at the shop guessed she was pregnant. nope, well yes you had to have a specific (good) reason to eat them, but dare I say, read some previous answers | ||
| Enjay (Enjay)
New member Username: Enjay Post Number: 1131 Registered: 4-2007 |
Did Jennifer, at any time, specifically tell anyone that she was pregnant? If so: a doctor? Shopkeeper? Friend? Family member? | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
New member Username: Lynne Post Number: 3647 Registered: 12-2000 |
Enjay Did Jennifer, at any time, specifically tell anyone that she was pregnant? If so: a doctor? Shopkeeper? Friend? Family member? apart from the doctor, who is only peripherally relevant, no one else relevant to the puzzle | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
New member Username: Lynne Post Number: 3648 Registered: 12-2000 |
A Monday morning helpful hint Remember that it wasn't only pregnant women who were allowed bananas. | ||
| Enjay (Enjay)
New member Username: Enjay Post Number: 1134 Registered: 4-2007 |
Since she didn't tell the shopkeeper she was pregnant, did she tell them that she had another reason why she should be allowed bananas? That she was ill? Physically weak in some way? | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
New member Username: Lynne Post Number: 3649 Registered: 12-2000 |
Since she didn't tell the shopkeeper she was pregnant, it's possible that she had to show a doctor's note to the shopkeeper as found out by Sunshine, but it wasn't the shopkeeper him/herself who gave things away, just the fact of buying bananas did she tell them that she had another reason why she should be allowed bananas? That she was ill? Physically weak in some way? so no | ||
| Eli (Eli)
New member Username: Eli Post Number: 1176 Registered: 11-2003 |
Pregnant women AND babies? or old people? | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
New member Username: Lynne Post Number: 3650 Registered: 12-2000 |
Eli Pregnant women AND babies? close or old people? no | ||
| Enjay (Enjay)
New member Username: Enjay Post Number: 1136 Registered: 4-2007 |
Are the whole family of the pregnant woman allowed bananas? Maybe she bought enough for all her family? | ||
| Eli (Eli)
New member Username: Eli Post Number: 1179 Registered: 11-2003 |
Pregnant woman and children (so not only babies)? | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
New member Username: Lynne Post Number: 3651 Registered: 12-2000 |
Enjay Are the whole family of the pregnant woman allowed bananas? no Maybe she bought enough for all her family? no Eli Pregnant woman and children (so not only babies)?yes - I don't understand the cynicism by Woubit about bananas, I never shoved them in my children's mouths, and certainly not when they were newborn, but they were mashed up with yoghurt as one of their first solid foods. I certainly don't want to get into a debate about what is healthy eating or not. So - easy question, how did they know she was pregnant? | ||
| Eli (Eli)
New member Username: Eli Post Number: 1180 Registered: 11-2003 |
Is it relevant what she carried them home in? Did she use a shopping bag? was it see-through? | ||
| Ezhonok (Ezhonok)
New member Username: Ezhonok Post Number: 42 Registered: 4-2008 |
I guess they found out because bananas were only given to pregnant women and children... and as she didn't have any children (it was her first baby), the only reason she could buy bananas was that she was pregnant. And someone in the shop saw her buying and knew about the rules, so concluded she was pregnant. Perhaps someone who also wanted to buy bananas, but was told they could only be given to children and pregnant women... | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
New member Username: Lynne Post Number: 3652 Registered: 12-2000 |
Eli Is it relevant what she carried them home in? Did she use a shopping bag? was it see-through? see next answer - but that would be an interesting way of conveying your exciting news before the bump showed! Ezhonok I guess they found out because bananas were only given to pregnant women and children... and as she didn't have any children (it was her first baby), the only reason she could buy bananas was that she was pregnant. And someone in the shop saw her buying and knew about the rules, so concluded she was pregnant. Perhaps someone who also wanted to buy bananas, but was told they could only be given to children and pregnant women... that's it, simple really ************* SPOILER ************* My Mum once told me that bananas were very scarce during the war so if you saw someone without children buying them, then you knew they must be pregnant due to the restrictions on who could buy them | ||
| Ezhonok (Ezhonok)
New member Username: Ezhonok Post Number: 45 Registered: 4-2008 |
Thank you for this interesting puzzle. I'll be waiting for your next one. | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
New member Username: Lynne Post Number: 3653 Registered: 12-2000 |
A very belated thank you Ezhonok. Also, bearing in mind that bananas were indeed scarce if not non-existent during the War, of course rationing carried on for about a decade, the final rationing ending on the day I was born. So there was plenty of time for gossiping about impending pregnancies. That could well have been the period that my mother was talking about, having got married well after the War and into the baby years herself :-) |
