Lateral Puzzles • View topic

by **peter365** » Wed Dec 07, 2016 8:07 am

Hi there puzzle pilgrims, last night's live LTPF event has inspired me to end my puzzle setting sabbatical.

Many of you will, no doubt, have a trigger event that formally opens the Christmas season for you. For some it's the 1st December for others it might be a shopping trip or the lights being switched on in your town.

For my (rather quirky) daughter the trigger event is a bit left field . She sees something and then loudly proclaims 'Right! It's now officially Christmas' .

Can you work out what the trigger is?

by **LemonCurry** » Wed Dec 07, 2016 2:27 pm

Is the trigger related to
Weather? Food? Clothing? Lights?
Does she see this something at home? In town? On TV? In a shop?

by **JenBurdoo** » Wed Dec 07, 2016 2:37 pm

The date? Something natural? Artificial? An event?

by **Balin** » Wed Dec 07, 2016 2:55 pm

Is this the same quirky daughter who put white-out on her hand?

Does she always see the something in the same place?
Is the something related to any of her/your family members?

by **Grip** » Wed Dec 07, 2016 4:18 pm

Is a sporting event relevant?

by **Westing1992** » Wed Dec 07, 2016 8:14 pm

Does this trigger occur much earlier than one would expect, like early in November?
Could this trigger occur in multiple places around the world or is it something more local?
Is it related to an annual event that isn't related to Christmas but happens around the same time each year?

by **peter365** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 8:21 am

Lemoncurry

Is the trigger related to
Weather? Food? This Clothing? Lights?
Does she see this something at home? This In town? On TV? In a shop? This too

by **peter365** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 8:23 am

Jenburdoo

The date? Can you clarify what you're asking here. Something natural? Yes Artificial? An event? Not an event as such

by **peter365** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 8:24 am

Balin
Is this the same quirky daughter who put white-out on her hand? It certainly is, I'm flattered that you remember that

Does she always see the something in the same place? Yes
Is the something related to any of her/your family members? No

by **peter365** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 8:27 am

Westing1992

Does this trigger occur much earlier than one would expect, like early in November? No it's about mid December
Could this trigger occur in multiple places around the world or is it something more local? It could but in her case it's local
Is it related to an annual event that isn't related to Christmas but happens around the same time each year? No it's neither an annual event nor one specific to Christmas. I wouldn't describe it as an event as such but it's a tad subjective.

by **LemonCurry** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 9:41 am

Is a particular foodstuff relevant? Would non-quirky people associate this foodstuff with Christmas? With winter?
Is ti relevant that the food is there? That it is not there?

by **Balin** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 2:45 pm

Does she see the food item? Does she not see it? Is the food item out of stock?

by **peter365** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 3:15 pm

Lemoncurry

Is a particular foodstuff relevant? Yes Would non-quirky people associate this foodstuff with Christmas? With winter? No to both
Is ti relevant that the food is there? Well it has to be there for this to happen but it's not only there at Christmas if that's what you mean. That it is not there?

by **peter365** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 3:16 pm

Balin

Does she see the food item? Yes Does she not see it? Is the food item out of stock? No

I was a bit liberal in saying yes to food . It comes under the heading of Food and Drink

by **Grip** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 3:52 pm

Is the packaging or container the Food and Drink item is in relevant?

Is a store display relevant?

by **peter365** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 3:54 pm

Grip

Is the packaging or container the Food and Drink item is in relevant? Yes

Is a store display relevant? No

by **Grip** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 3:59 pm

Is this item a beverage? some beverage and food combo?

Is the packaging or container decorated with a Christmas theme?

by **JenBurdoo** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 4:40 pm

Does this always happen on a specific date? A specific period? A specific part of the month (Third Thursday in December, for example)?

Is it a seasonal item? Is it specifically Irish? Is the store at which it's sold relevant? The company that makes it? Is a pun relevant?

by **Balin** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 5:11 pm

Does the edible thing come in a box? Bag? Can? Bottle? Is it a multi-pack of that item?

by **peter365** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 8:21 am

Grip

Is this item a beverage? Yes some beverage and food combo? No

Is the packaging or container decorated with a Christmas theme? Not in this instance but I have seen examples where it has been. But the design of the packaging is no the relevant factor

by **peter365** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 8:24 am

Jenburdoo

Does this always happen on a specific date? Fairly specific, certainly within a window of a day or two A specific period? See previous answer A specific part of the month (Third Thursday in December, for example)? Not like this but it does happen around the same time each December

Is it a seasonal item? Is it specifically Irish? Is the store at which it's sold relevant? The company that makes it? No to all Is a pun relevant? Strangely for me no.

by **peter365** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 8:26 am

Balin

Does the edible thing come in a box? No Bag? No Can? No Bottle? It can do but not in this case but a bottle would work perfectly well Is it a multi-pack of that item? No

by **Balin** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 3:39 pm

Is the brand of that beverage relevant?
Does it come in a glass?

by **Grip** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 6:32 pm

Is the beverage alcoholic?

by **GalFisk** » Sat Dec 10, 2016 4:56 pm

Does she buy the item? Does anyone else relevantly buy it? If so, someone in her household? Is the item used differently near Christmas than at other times of the year? Is the smell of the beverage relevant? The colour?

by **peter365** » Mon Dec 12, 2016 8:13 am

Balin

Is the brand of that beverage relevant? No
Does it come in a glass? No but it can certainly be consumed in one

by **peter365** » Mon Dec 12, 2016 8:15 am

Grip

Is the beverage alcoholic? No and about as far away from alcohol as it's possible to be apart from water.

by **peter365** » Mon Dec 12, 2016 8:17 am

Galfisk

Does she buy the item? No she doesn't Does anyone else relevantly buy it? Her Mother and I buy it but not really relevant If so, someone in her household? See previous Is the item used differently near Christmas than at other times of the year? Not at all Is the smell of the beverage relevant? No The colour? and no again I'm afraid

by **LemonCurry** » Mon Dec 12, 2016 1:18 pm

I have a crazy idea that I'm PM-ing in order not to $poil the fun in case I'm right

by **peter365** » Mon Dec 12, 2016 2:47 pm

Lemoncurry

I have a crazy idea that I'm PM-ing in order not to $poil the fun in case I'm right

BINGO!!!!

by **Balin** » Mon Dec 12, 2016 2:56 pm

I don't have a crazy idea, so...

Is the beverage served out of a fountain or tap? Does it come in a pouch?
Is the flavor of the beverage relevant? Is it fruit-flavored?

by **peter365** » Mon Dec 12, 2016 3:25 pm

I don't have a crazy idea, so... Craziness is an advantage when it comes to Miss McMahon

Is the beverage served out of a fountain or tap? Does it come in a pouch?
Is the flavor of the beverage relevant? Is it fruit-flavored? No to all

There's a fairly common method of liquid storage that you haven't mentioned yet.

by **GalFisk** » Mon Dec 12, 2016 3:36 pm

Is it in a keg? Jar? Cup? Tube? Is it hot? Warm? Cold? Icy? Sugary? Carbonated? Concentrated? Spicy?

by **peter365** » Mon Dec 12, 2016 3:57 pm

Galfisk

Is it in a keg? Jar? No to these and to move things along , it's a tetra pack Cup? Tube? Is it hot? Warm? Cold? Best when cold Icy? Sugary? Carbonated? Concentrated? Spicy? No to rest

by **GalFisk** » Mon Dec 12, 2016 5:03 pm

Is it milk? A milk product? Is it tasty? Does it expire quickly? Is the amount of drink bought at once relevant? Is the store where it's bought relevant? Stores closing during Christmas relevant?

by **Balin** » Mon Dec 12, 2016 9:06 pm

Had to look up "tetra pack," as I've only ever heard that particular item called a "carton."

Is it by any chance eggnog?

by **peter365** » Tue Dec 13, 2016 8:45 am

Galfisk

Is it milk? Yes A milk product? Is it tasty? Does it expire quickly? Pretty quickly as you now know Is the amount of drink bought at once relevant? Is the store where it's bought relevant? Stores closing during Christmas relevant? No to the rest

by **peter365** » Tue Dec 13, 2016 8:46 am

Balin

Had to look up "tetra pack," as I've only ever heard that particular item called a "carton." Apologies but I had a worry that carton wouldn't be a word you guys used.

Is it by any chance eggnog? No it's just plain old milk

by **JenBurdoo** » Tue Dec 13, 2016 10:01 am

Is the expiry date on the milk either post-Xmas or post-New Year's? (I use this to encourage myself or look forward to things - "By the time this expires, I'll be on vacation" or whatever.)

by **peter365** » Tue Dec 13, 2016 10:36 am

Jenburdoo

Is the expiry date on the milk either post-Xmas or post-New Year's? (I use this to encourage myself or look forward to things - "By the time this expires, I'll be on vacation" or whatever.) That'll do nicely.

*********************SPOILER************************

My daughter officially declares Christmas season open when the expiry date on the milk carton is either Christmas eve or Christmas day depending on when we buy it. That'll be the 17th December or thereabouts. It's one way of kicking it off I guess . For me it's not Christmas until I catch myself singing 'Stop the Cavalry' hence the puzzle title.

Well done Jen and Lemoncurry (who PM'd a spoiler to me) and thanks to all who played this little festive distraction.

'Nollaig Shona Daoibh Go Leir'

by **Balin** » Tue Dec 13, 2016 2:02 pm

Love it.

[peter365] Hey Mr Churchill

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