1. Bobbie Wickham instructs Bertie in the art of creating diversions with a flower-pot, string, and conservatory. ("Jeeves and the Kid Clementina", Very Good, Jeeves)

2. Chimp Twist, pursued by Cakebread the butler, seeks sanctuary. (Money in the Bank, Chapter 16)

3. Tuppy Glossop is the bunger of stones. (Right Ho, Jeeves, US title Brinkley Manor, Chapter 7)

4. D is Lady Maud; E is Albert, the page-boy. (A Damsel in Distress, Chapter 9)

5. The drysalter pursuing his substantial blonde daughter and Freddie Widgeon with a three-pronged fork meets Nemesis in the shape of a flower-pot. ("Bramley Is So Bracing" in the UK edition of Nothing Serious and the US edition of Eggs, Beans and Crumpets)

6. H is Captain Biggar, approaching Rosalind, the relic of the late AB Spottsworth and Clifton Bessmer. (Ring for Jeeves, US title The Return of Jeeves, Chapter 10)

Round 372 - 8 October 2008

1. Bertie breaks a china vase on Roderick Spode's head (one of several vases at Totleigh Towers that come to an untimely end in the course of The Code of the Woosters; this passage is from Chapter 7).

2. Gertrude Carlisle proves herself the perfect wife when she rescues her husband, Gordon, by beaning Soup Slattery with a vase. (Hot Water, Chapter 17. Mrs Carlisle's prowess with vases is mentioned again in Cocktail Time, Chapter 6.)

3. Mrs Molloy also tries her hand with a stone vase of antique appearance, but just misses her target, JG Miller, and Anne Benedick. (Money in the Bank, Chapter 13.)

4. J is Henry Cuthbert Purkiss, and K is Bingo Little. ("The Word in Season", A Few Quick Ones.)

5. Jeeves breaks Bertie's vase (decorated with dragons, birds, dogs, snakes and a thing that looks like a leopard). ("The Inferiority Complex of Old Sippy", Very Good, Jeeves.)

Bonus point: Howard Steptoe has "a squashed nose and ears like the handles of an old Greek vase" (Quick Service, Chapter 1); Chippendale's "ears stuck out like the handles of an antique Greek vase" (The Girl in Blue, Chapter 9). Two entrants found passages I had missed. Fr Rob notes that the Duke of Dunstable has ears "like the handles of a Greek amphora" (A Pelican at Blandings, Chapter 7), and Lynn Vesley-Gross points out that Orlando Flower in Laughing Gas has a "red head, whose roundness and outstanding ears gave it a resemblance to one of those antique vases with handles on each side".

Round 373 - 16 October 2008

1. We learn in “Pig-Hoo-o-o-o-ey” from Blandings Castle and Elsewhere that George Cyril Wellbeloved was jugged for being drunk and disorderly while celebrating his birthday on July 18. Corky Corcoran celebrated his 27th birthday on Thursday, September the eighth, two days before Wilberforce Billson entered his life in “The Debut of Battling Billson”, first collected in Ukridge (US title: He Rather Enjoyed It). And we learn in Chapter One of Right Ho, Jeeves that Pongo Twistleton’s birthday party was to be held at the Drones on July 27. Otto pointed out in his entry that Bertie reeled in from Pongo’s birthday party at 4 in the morning so, strictly speaking, the celebration of his natal day took place on July 27 and July 28. Arthur’s entry supplied us with another known birthday, as it was on the twelfth of May that Lord Shortlands was hauled out of bed at the crack of dawn to listen to a singing birthday telegram in Spring Fever.

2. After earlier forgetting his first wedding anniversary, Bobbie Cardew, (D), was now faced with the formidable task of trying to remember the birthday of his absent wife Mary. From the Reggie Pepper story “Absent Treatment”, first collected in My Man Jeeves. After nearly giving himself brain fever, he finally remembered that the sacred day was May the eighth.

3. A birthday present from his daughter Lucille, (E), seemed to have a disastrous impact on the sanity of Archie Moffam’s father-in-law Daniel Brewster in Chapter 26 of Indiscretions of Archie.

4. In this conversation with Rollo Podmarsh, (F), Mary Kent, (G), recalled a magical moment at her eleventh birthday-party. From the golf story “The Awakening of Rollo Podmarsh”, first collected in The Heart of a Goof (US title: Divots).

Round 374 - 29 October 2008

1. In Chapter XVII of The Girl on the Boat American hypochondriac J Rufus Bennett, (B), was worried that he had caught the mumps from young Eustace Hignett, (C), but didn’t get any sympathy from his old friend, Henry Mortimer, (A). (Note: For some reason the mumps motif is conspicuous by its absence from the American edition of this book, titled Three Men and a Maid.)

2. In this conversation from Chapter Nine of Jeeves in the Offing (US: How Right You Are, Jeeves) Kipper Herring reflected on the old days at Eton when he caught mumps from Bertie Wooster and Bertie caught measles from him.

3. After nursing Rose Maynard through a childhood case of mumps, gruff old Colonel Carteret, (E), made it clear to James Rodman, (D), that the price for trifling with the girl’s affection would be a heavy one. From “Honeysuckle Cottage”, which was first collected in Meet Mr Mulliner.

4. Sue Brown plans to visit Blandings Castle under the name of Myra Schoonmaker and in Chapter 6 of Summer Lightning (US: Fish Preferred) Sue and Hugo Carmody conspired to make sure the real Myra didn’t drop in by inventing a long list of contagious diseases at the Castle.

5. After contributing his “Moments of Mirth” column to Cosy Moments for four years with only one short break due to an attack of the mumps, B Henderson Asher was naturally surprised and offended to receive a dismissal letter from acting editor W Windsor, (F). From Chapter 8 of Psmith, Journalist. In the American edition of The Prince and Betty, which contains many of the same plot elements found in Psmith Journalist, Mr Asher’s attack of the mumps was replaced by a case of “the grip”.

6. In the previous chapter Lord Biskerton went underground to avoid his creditors and in Chapter Six of Big Money the Biscuit’s father Lord Hoddesdon reacted with horror to the news that the boy’s wealthy fiancée had been told that his sudden disappearance was due to an attack of the mumps.

Round 375 - 7 November 2008

1. In “Uncle Fred Flits By” from Young Men in Spats the spluttering and coughing sounds made by Connie Parker reminded Pongo Twistleton, (A), of his old car going up a hill.

2. Vanessa Cook did her popular imitation of an elephant in a Burmese teak forest when Bertie Wooster mentioned the name of her former fiancé Orlo Porter, (B), in Chapter 10 of Aunts Aren’t Gentlemen (US: The Catnappers).

3. In Chapter 1 of Quick Service Howard (“Mugsy”) Steptoe, (D), provided the sound effects to accompany the ham-carving activities of Lord Holbeton, (C).

4. This sound effect was made by Empress of Blandings when she ended her fast at the climax of “Pig-hoo-o-o-o-ey!” from Blandings Castle and Elsewhere.

5. In this scene from Chapter Nine of Book Two of The Coming of Bill microbe expert Steve Dingle expressed the fervent wish that William Bannister’s absent Aunt Lora, (E), would make a noise like an ice-cream in the sun and melt away. Seven chapters later the happy ending would be produced when she did just that or, at any rate, exited by closing the door and walking stiffly through the scented night to her waiting automobile.

6. The sound effects described in this question can be heard at London’s Ham and Beef night-club. The principals in this scene were Lancelot Mulliner, (F), and Angela (surname unspecified, but the daughter of the Earl of Biddlecombe). From the Mulliner story “Open House”, which was first collected in Meet Mr Mulliner.

Round 376 - 17 November 2008

1. Plum and Guy, (A) and (B), respectively, were licking their financial wounds after a spot of turmoil on Wall Street in October, 1929. From Bring On the Girls - Chapter 17 in the American edition and Chapter 16 in the British book - by Plum (PG Wodehouse) and Guy (Bolton).

2. In this conversation with his nephew Bertie Wooster from Chapter 22 of Joy in the Morning Lord Worplesdon gave his theory for the neurotic behaviour of his American would-be business associate J Chichester Clam. In his lordship’s view, a lethal combination of coffee and the New Deal left Clam’s morale in tatters and a traumatic experience with the English potting shed was enough to push him over the edge.

3. Finding his bank closed and the doors locked, Adolphus Stiffham jumped to the conclusion that his New York bank had gone bust, taking his savings with it. He neglected to take into account that even in a free-wheeling city like New York banks generally locked their doors and put up the shutters on Sundays. From the short story “The Luck of the Stiffhams” first collected in Young Men in Spats.

4. In Chapter Eleven of Service With a Smile Lord Ickenham was busy spreading sweetness and light, in this case by telling abominable lies about James Schoonmaker’s (C’s) financial status to the Duke of Dunstable, (D).

5. The Hon. Clarence Tresillian, (E), received the bad news about his family’s financial setbacks from his mother, Lady Runnymede, in the short story “The Goal-Keeper and the Plutocrat”, first collected in The Man Upstairs and Other Stories.

6. In Chapter Three of The Small Bachelor Sigsbee H Waddington, (G), recalled his unfortunate speculations on the Stock Exchange in this conversation with his new friend Pinch, (F), whose name was actually George Finch.

Round 377 - 26 November 2008

1. A is Stanley Featherstonehaugh Ukridge, getting one of his ideas in "Ukridge's Accident Syndicate".

2. The Rev. Gideon Voules (B) assures George Finch (C) that he has not sprained an ankle. The Small Bachelor, ch. 11.

3. Constable Oates encounters an unexpected scottie in Chapter 4 of The Code of the Woosters.

4. Bertie tickles his cousin Angela’s ankles in Chapter 14 of Right Ho, Jeeves.

5. Mrs Davis, cook at Mallow Hall, sprained her ankle tripping over Thomas the cat in Do Butler Burgle Banks, ch. 5.

6. The Hon. Frederick Threepwood sprains his ankle in Something Fresh [UK] (Something New [US]), ch. 9 and later in the story "Sticky Wicket at Blandings" in Plum Pie.

The Bonus point elicited an impressive array of creative answers. The ones that earned full credit are below.

Congratulations to Fr Rob Bovendeaard for the only submission of the expected answer and thanks to Tom Boye Poulsen for suggesting #2, Ian Michaud for #3 and to practically everyone for #4. All fine answers:

1. Acquisition of three of the properties (Mallow and Claines Halls, Totleigh Towers) by purchase is mentioned in the course of the novels, while the other group have been passed down within families.

2. Three have all been infested with impostors or people who have gained entry by not telling the truth (Blandings, many; Ashenden, Lord Ickenham; Mallow, Horace Appleby), while the others were not.

3. Three of the houses share their name with the nearest town (Ashenden Oakshott, Blandings Parva/Market Blandings, and Totleigh-in-the-Wold), while the other three (Market Snodsbury, Loose Chippings, Wellingford) do not.

4. Three are seats of Justices of the Peace (Ashenden, Blandings, Totleigh), while the other three are not.

Round 378 - 5 December 2008

1. Lord Emsworth (A) accepts a note on a salver from Beach (B). It turns out to be from Baxter (C). From "The Crime Wave at Blandings".

2. This is Pongo Twistleton giving a pep talk to housemaid Elsie Bean (D) with ref to her brother Bert (E). Uncle Dynamite, ch. 8.

3. Sir Watkyn Bassett (F) seems to have found the blue bird, apparently as a result of clicking with an Aunt (J) of Roderick Spode (G)'s . From The Code of the Woosters, ch. 3.

4. Lord Emsworth is still A, his brother Gally (K) has been conversing with pigman George Cyril Wellbeloved (L) in Pigs Have Wings, ch. 5.

5. M is Cyril "Barmy" Fotheringay-Phipps in Chapter 14 of Barmy in Wonderland.

6. Lionel Green (P) and Anne Benedick (N) are in different states of mind in Money in the Bank, ch. 22.

7. Bertie Wooster reporting to Aunt Dahlia (Q) about the Venus (S) expunged as wished by La Fothergill (R) from the short story "Jeeves Makes an Omelette".

Round 379 - 13 December 2008

1. Gertrude in "Company for Gertrude" is speaking of her Uncle Clarence, Lord Emsworth (A) and fiancé the Rev. Rupert Bingham (B).

2. Bertie Wooster discovering his Aunt Dahlia at Brinkley Court in Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit [UK]/Bertie Wooster Sees It Through [US], Ch 9.

3. Catherine Jipson (X) makes this offer in "Unpleasantness at Kozy Kot", from the US edition of A Few Quick Ones.

4. Bingo Little was planning to ask his Aunt Myrtle (C) to join him for a night at the theatre.

Bonus A: Lady Beatrice Bracken in Chapter 2 of Hot Water.

Bonus B: Barmy Fotheringay-Phipps ends up reluctant leader of a bus tour in "Tried in the Furnace". We are left at the end of "Jeeves and the Greasy Bird" believing that Sir Roderick Glossop will be playing Santa Claus at a children's entertainment as a result of this sort of accident. Whether he will see that as trouble or enjoy it is not known.

Round 380 - 22 December 2008

Part 1, Christmas Numbers of Periodicals:

Variety, Barmy in Wonderland Ch. 7

The Lancet – "Romance at Droitgate Spa" the illustrious patient Joe Boffin was interviewed for the Christmas number

The Animal-Lovers’ Gazette commissioned a poem from Charlotte Mulliner for its Christmas number, but was not pleased with her “Good Gnus” (“Unpleasantness at Bludleigh Court”)

Playboy – Grayce Llewellyn is speaking of her husband Ivor in Chapter 3 of Pearls, Girls and Monty Bodkin.

The Weekly Bookover – in the short story "Best Seller" Egbert Mulliner is assigned to provide “A Chat with Evangeline Pembury” for its Christmas Special Number.

Bonus:

K = 8. In "The Metropolitan Touch" Bingo Little rings up Bertie Wooster to ask that question.

L = 11 Mr JG Butterwick is described by Monty Bodkin in Chapter 5 of Heavy Weather. In Pearls, Girls and Monty Bodkin Chapter 6, it is revealed that Mr Butterwick and daughter Gertrude live at 11, Croxted Road, West Dulwich.

M= 40 The clean-shaven Santa Claus is ex-bookie Percy Stout, who sells a fake piecrust table for 40 quid in “Ukridge Starts a Bank Account”.

N = 24 Bertie is trying to soften up Aunt Dahlia with two dozen long-stemmed roses in “Jeeves and the Greasy Bird”.

P = 41, going by the account Wodehouse himself gives in Louder and Funnier of receiving the gift for Christmas first in 1922.

Q = 3 Freddie's cousin George's advice in Ice in the Bedroom, Chapter 24.

R= 6, with the magazine title being "Strand". The first passage is from “The Masked Troubadour”, which appeared in Strand Magazine in December 1936. The November 1934 Strand, which has been described as the "Christmas number", contained “Noblesse Oblige”, in which Freddie tries to raise 1,000 francs.

S = 4 Lord Ickenham makes the comment in “Uncle Fred Flits By".

So for the calculation, (N-L)**Q - (M+K)R + (P+N-S) = 13**3 - 288 +61= 1970.

In December 1970 "Another Christmas Carol" appeared in Playboy.