Generally Colourful Trivia Quiz

Yellow fever is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes. It's responsible for devastating outbreaks in Africa, the Caribbean and the Americas. The illness gets its name from the jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and eyes, that can occur in severe cases.

In 1793, major cities like Philadelphia suffered repeated epidemics before the discovery that mosquitoes were the carriers. The American government, including President George Washington, had to flee the city, which was the capital of the United States at the time. The last major outbreak in the US occurred in 1905 in New Orleans.

It sounds very nasty, so I was glad to learn that an effective vaccine is now available, which has made the disease far more manageable, though it still poses a risk in some tropical regions.

The White Cliffs of Dover are one of Britain's most recognisable natural landmarks. They rise dramatically above the English Channel and their striking white appearance comes from chalk, the compressed remains of countless microscopic sea creatures that lived millions of years ago, which I think is pretty amazing.

Throughout history, the cliffs have symbolised home, hope and defence, especially during wartime. Their visibility from continental Europe has made them both a literal and emotional gateway to the British Isles. I can still picture Dame Vera Lynn, known as the 'Forces Sweetheart', singing 'They'll be bluebirds over the White Cliffs of Dover'. She was famous for entertaining the troops in Egypt, India, and Burma during the war as part of the Entertainments National Service Association.

The term 'purple prose', purpureus pannus, dates back to the Roman poet Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus, 65-8 BC). He wrote about it in his 'Ars Poetica'. He criticised writers who decorated their work with overly showy or extravagant passages, like gaudy purple patches sewn onto clothing. I couldn't write in that style, but I know what it looks like and I dislike it.

In modern usage, it refers to writing that is excessively flowery, dramatic or self‑indulgent, often drawing attention to itself rather than serving the story. Purple prose contains the excessive use of adjectives, adverbs, and metaphors. When it only appears in certain passages, it may be called purple patches or purple passages, which stand out from the rest of the work. While it can be entertaining in small doses, too much of it can overwhelm readers and obscure the meaning.

Orange County is located in Southern California. It was named for the citrus groves that once dominated the region in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The orange industry faded long ago, because surbanisation/suburbanisation replaced the groves and housing developments sprawled after WWII. The name remains, though, thanks to its beaches, theme parks and pop‑culture presence.

The county is nowadays best known for Disneyland, surfing culture and its appearance in numerous TV shows and films. Despite the name, very few oranges are actually grown there anymore. It sounds great. Much better weather than we get in Scotland where, if you blink you miss the sun shining. : )

Red Adair was a legendary American oil‑well firefighter whose daring work made him a global icon. He specialised in extinguishing massive, dangerous blowouts, fires so intense they could be seen from miles away.

One of his most famous feats was tackling a fire at the Gassi Touil gas field in the Algerian Sahara, nicknamed the 'Devil's Cigarette Lighter'. The blaze had burned uncontrollably for months. His techniques and equipment revolutionised the field. What a courageous man.

Pink champagne is also known as rosé champagne. It comes from the Champagne region of France. Its distinctive colour comes from a brief contact with the red grape skins of Pinot Noir or Pinot Meunier grapes (maceration). These are allowed to soak briefly before fermentation begins. The colour can also come from the addition of a small amount of still red wine during production.

It was once considered the height of sophistication in Parisian cafés and remains a popular choice for celebrations. Its flavour tends to be slightly fruitier and more aromatic than traditional champagne, making it a favourite for those who enjoy a lighter, more playful sparkling wine.

Father Brown is the unassuming Catholic priest‑detective created by G. K. Chesterton. He first appeared in 1910. Unlike many fictional sleuths, he doesn't rely on forensic evidence or dramatic deductions. He uses his deep understanding of human nature and morality. Because he's a priest, he can appear at a crime scene and blend into the background, as people think he's just there conducting spiritual business. Ideal, I would say.

His gentle, thoughtful approach, along with the knowledge he's acquired from the confessions of his parishioners, often allows him to see motives and truths that others overlook. The character has appeared in numerous adaptations, from radio dramas to long‑running television series.

The blue whale is the largest animal ever known to exist. It surpasses even the biggest dinosaurs in size and weight. Adults can reach lengths of over 30.5 m (98-100 ft) and weigh between 190 and 200 long tons (210 and 220 short tons). They have a heart which is roughly the size of a small car.

Despite their enormous size, they feed almost exclusively on tiny krill, consuming several tonnes of them each day during feeding season. Their haunting, low-frequency calls can travel hundreds of miles through the ocean, making them some of the loudest animals on the Planet. When conducting research for this, I accidentally came across a short tape recording of one and wondered what it was. I thought my phone had gone wonky. : D

Black Friday is a term that originally had nothing to do with the shopping experience. It was first used in 1869 to describe a financial crisis caused by two investors attempting to corner the gold market, leading to a market crash. This event disrupted the U.S. economy, impacted foreign trade, and led to a sharp decline in agricultural prices.

The term was later used in the 1950s and 1960s by police in Philadelphia to describe the heavy traffic and crowded streets that followed Thanksgiving. Retailers subsequently adopted the name and rebranded it as the beginning of the holiday shopping season, turning it into a major sales event. In the United States, Black Friday marks the start of the festive shopping period.

'How Green Was My Valley' is a novel by Richard Llewellyn. It was written in 1939 and tells the story of a Welsh mining family through the eyes of the youngest son, Huw Morgan. It's set against the backdrop of the Welsh coalfields amid the decline of the coal industry and the story explores themes of community, industrial decline and the bittersweet nostalgia of childhood.

The book became even more famous when John Ford adapted it into a 1941 film that went on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, which famously beat 'Citizen Kane'.