It feels like just yesterday we were ringing in the New Year, and now the scent of pine and gingerbread is filling the air once more. Welcome to my 89th blog post, and what better way to celebrate the festive season than with my third-ever quiz!

I've taken your feedback to heart. While my last quiz was perhaps a little challenging, and we all know many Christmas quizzes are simply too easy—especially for seasoned Christmas fans like yourselves—I believe I've struck the perfect balance this time.

VGT's (Thoughtful) Christmas Quiz: The Knowledge Test!

Welcome to my third Christmas Quiz! To get started, we're taking a scenic detour. Imagine you're a London taxi driver who needs to pass a version of "The Knowledge" exam to proceed!

  • You can Google away to get the answers, but be warned—it's tricky!
  • To unlock the next part of the quiz, you must correctly answer at least three out of eight questions.

However, your Participation is the Key! (How to Unlock the Answers)
I have 20 wonderful members subscribed to this blog, and I'd love to know if these posts, poems, stories, and quizzes are hitting the mark. This is where the power of the community comes in!

To move to the next section and keep the quiz going, I need to receive at least 6 responses (a return rate of just 30%).

Here is the deal—it's quick!


Simply reply to this post/email (or you message me via WhatsApp/Facebook, those who communicate that way) with your score. As a reminder my e-mail for the blog is tvincent481@gmail.com.

Example response: "I got 4/8! Please keep the quizzes coming!"

Optional, but appreciated: Quickly tell me one thing you'd like to see more of on the blog (e.g., more poems, more stories, easier quizzes, more guest speakers).

If we hit our target of 6 responses, I will update and publish the answers and the next part of the quiz (advent calendar style) on Dec 8th. That's your first chocolate from the calendar!

If the response is consistently very low, it signals that my time might be better spent focusing on other writing projects that connect with a wider audience. Your simple reply helps me understand which content you value most. Let's see if you want to keep subscribing!

Thank you and Good luck!

Here are the eight questions.

  1. Starting at the largest toy store on Regent Street, head south and turn left. You pass the iconic Eros statue and arrive at the circus where London's famous 'Spirit of Christmas' angel lights begin. Where are you?
  2. 2.Head over the river to the South Bank and you’ll find a massive annual Winter Wonderland fair containing the UK's largest open-air ice rink, rides, and market chalets. Which Royal Park hosts this enormous event?
  3. From Trafalgar Square (home to London's annual Christmas Tree gift from Norway), walk south toward the river. You will eventually arrive at the historic market that famously hosts a festive food and drink market beneath its elaborate Victorian glass roof. Name the market.
  4. You are looking at the most famous window display on Brompton Road in Knightsbridge. This department store is famous for its festive displays and its green awnings, and even has its own Christmas bear. Which luxury store is this?
  5. Find the famous market near the West End that is known for its giant Christmas bells, baubles, and a towering 60ft tree in its piazza, and also hosts the London Transport Museum. Where is this historic shopping destination?
  6. In A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens’ character Ebenezer Scrooge lived in a counting-house near the historic financial district of London, right next to this famous cathedral designed by Sir Christopher Wren. What is the name of the cathedral?
  7. If you are travelling north from Clapham Common and cross the former rail lines, you arrive at this massive, redeveloped brick structure on the Thames, famous for its four white chimneys and now a major shopping and residential area. What is the building?
  8. To reach this spooky, grand Victorian cemetery known for its overgrown "Circle of Lebanon" and the final resting place of Karl Marx, you must travel up to a hilly, affluent North London village. Name the cemetery.

In the meantime, prepare for a change of pace.

The Christmas cheer is about to get a little chilly. Next up is The Christmas Ghost Story, following a fresh-faced naval recruit joining his first air station in misty Cornwall. His first odd encounter? It's not the receiving Chief Petty Officer; it's the strange, silent figure that joins his bus ride somewhere between Redruth and Helston.

Your next read is best served with a cup of cocoa and a locked door.

POEM

The Heart of the Season

The year 2025, brought us some cheer, And Christmas is here to remember the year. This festive small card has arrived through this post, But people ask: What do you truly want most?

Not gifts or great riches I’m hoping to see, But family and friends, full of smiles and of glee. If you give me the gift of your voices and love, I'll keep on writing—a gift from above!

To all of my followers, loyal and true, I'm throwing one big Christmas kiss right to you.

The Christmas Quiz is set to resume post feedback - on December 9th !

Keep texting...