9) that, despite a population of more than a billion, China has only about 200 family names.

8) that in 1965, John and Lynne won a Austin 1100 in a national competition (they put a tiger in their tank). They enjoyed many weeks of rust-free driving.

7) that we all weigh 1% less at the equator (which is why Sue is going to Mauritius for her holiday).

6) that gold is the only metal that doesn’t decay, even if it is buried in the ground for thousands of years.

5) that the first living creature to go into space was a dog called Laika. She was launched, in the Soviet Sputnik 2 spacecraft in November 1957, to see how space would affect living things. Laika died in space when her oxygen supply ran out.

4) that the names of the Three Wise Monkeys are Mizaru (see no evil), Mikazaru (hear no evil) and Mazaru (speak no evil).

3) that many years ago, the Lawns sold Wards beer.

2) that the sound you hear when you put a seashell to your ear is not the sea but blood flowing through your head.

1) that in May 1986, a group of 12 schoolchildren, in China, were sucked up in a tornado. They were carried for 12 miles and dropped in some sand dunes. They were completely unharmed.