E N T E R TA I N M E N T
e m a G e h t g Playin This is likely to be a Christmas and New Year unlike any other and presents an ideal opportunity to relive the parlour games of the past, or bring “new life” to some of our family favourites. TIPPIT How’s your poker face? You will need a good one for this centuries old Welsh bluffing game. The idea is that the “hiders” make the “guessers” choose the wrong hand when finding a hidden coin. So tom-foolery, misleading looks and verbal banter are definitely the order of the day, steering them in the wrong direction. Two teams of two or more face each other across a table (or tables if online). A coin toss decides who goes first and the hiders secretly move the coin between their hands under the table. When ready, the team captain knocks the table three times and the hiders place their clenched hands on top (one containing the coin). One by one, the guessers say either: a. “Left/right hand away”. If there’s no coin the hand is no longer in play and the guesser goes again. If it’s there, the hiders win a point and it’s their turn to hide. b. “Tippit left/right”. If the coin is revealed, the guessers have won and they become the hiders. If not, the hiders score a point and hide it again. The winning team is the first to reach a pre-determined score of at least 11.
TUNE UP Traditionally you would play the first few bars of a tune and have people guess the name or the next line, but you could also try clapping the tune out (don’t forget syllables and length of notes), or humming it instead. Or why not give a kazoo a go! It could be a song by a 90s girl band or a Christmas carol, pick something that lets you pick up the beat and stay true to your inner music mogul!
JUICE PONG This could be messy so is best played outside or where the floor can be mopped! Place 6 or 10 plastic cups at each end of a table, in a triangle. The teams take turns in throwing ping pong balls into the opponent’s cups. If successful, the opposing team drink the (remaining) contents and the cup is removed. The first team to eliminate the other team’s cups is the winner. You can make up your own rules about whether bounces and swatting away bouncing balls are allowed, and the order of play. Are you sure you are leaving the best ‘til last? Of course, as well as juice, this game could be played with beer or wine but, as they say, please drink responsibly!
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