Of the two people who had a go at the quiz yesterday we have a tie for first place, surprisingly there is no second or third place. Tim and Angela each scored 7 out of 8 so well done to you although I'm not sure what having a tattoo of David Beckham says about me.

Maybe the test was too hard, maybe the weather was too warm or maybe you just didn't like the way I spelled inaugural but only a small percentage of the people who visited managed to complete the test. After all it was only a bit of fun.

In other news, I have added a sign-up box on the right hand side so that you can sign up for my newsletter. I'm not going to spam you eternally, and I'm not going to send you emails every time I post to this blog but I will tell you when I get a new trade and this is all important. So sign up by typing your email address into the box provided.

I have also added myself to the worldwide ranking of blogs, I managed to be top for a short while because I had 1 visit and 1 vote (100% record) but then it all went wrong as I finished the day with 50 odd visits and still one vote (2% is nowhere near as good). The weighting is not just on percentage throughput but it is a big factor so please vote for me if you like this site.

Still waiting for the next trade to arrive in the post and I will let you know the moment it goes through my letterbox (unless I'm in bed or at work or something). I will today reveal that the next trade is brought to me by Soccerbid.co.uk and they have been very generous.

Pop Quiz Hotshot...

It is time for the inaugral Money For Old Rope quiz. Aren't you lucky people. It won't be like the old days of school where you had to learn the 16 times table rote fashion or the capitals of every East African nation. No, this one is open book; you have all the information in front of you.

What awaits the winner? A Car, a Speedboat, how about a set of steak knives; no, actually you will just get eternal adulation when your name is printed next to your winning answers on this blog. Just email me the answers or leave a comment on this blog. I will announce the winners tomorrow.

1. Okay, easy one first. What was my last completed trade for?
a) A Sydney 2000 Olympics official's shirt
b) A Sydney 2000 Olympics official's shoe
c) A Sydney 2000 Olympics official

2. I would like to say that they get harder from here but they probably don't. How many babies are born with congenital heart disease?
a) 8 in 1,000,000
b) 8 in 1,000
c) 80 in 1,000

3. What tattoo do I have?
a) A dragon
b) A rose
c) David Beckham

4. Where did I make my first trade?
a) Bulgaria
b) The Wirral
c) David Beckham

5. Which of these celebrities has congenital heart disease?
a) Dennis Rodman
b) Tiger Woods
c) Arnold Schwarzenegger

6. What is my dog's name? Ah, getting a bit more difficult now aren't we.
a) Tarantino
b) Spike
c) Quentin

7. Really difficult one now. How many big scars do I have as a result of my heart operations?
a) One
b) Two
c) Three

8. That last one wasn't really fair so I'll give you an easy one now. Which charity am I supporting with this blog?
a) GUCH
b) RSPCA
c) RSPB

I think I'll finish it there. If you want to submit an answer then just send me a string of the letters that you think are the correct answers. eg. abcabcab

Have fun.

You know when you just can't think of an opening line that is worthy enough? That's what has happened to me today.

Yesterday I had the best day in this blogs history; I had over 100 unique hits, I surpassed the 1000 unique viewers mark and I received around 40 emails. I should be shouting from the rooftops but instead I am lost for words.

Some beautiful person submitted a link to this site on a site called BadMothersClub.co.uk and it seems their entire readership was sent over here; brilliant.

I was also posted at HeartLine and countless blogs around the world which I will link to in good time, but please, bear with me on that one.

I have thought that since I have had such a fantastic day I may give you a clue as to what the next trade is, but then I thought no, you must wait til it arrives. But fortunately I woke up on the correct side of my bed this morning and have decided on the following snippet.

I have made a trade with a sporting merchandise company (which you find the name of when the trade arrives) for a autographed action photo of a sports star who doesn't sign photos very often. The sports star in question is quite specific to England so you may not have heard of him or her if you are outside of the UK but trust me, I think I should get a good trade out of this one and I am sure that I have made the right decision.

Keep in touch by bookmarking this site - there is a link at the bottom of this page - I will also be adding a mail list in the very near future but if you would like to be added to the very first Money For Old Rope mail list to be informed of trades when they happen then please drop me an email with subscribe in the subject line.

Cheers til tomorrow.

The best way to pay something a compliment is to copy it. That's what I did with the oneredpaperclip quest. I took the format but changed the rules slightly so that a charity could benefit from it.

Does Kyle MacDonald - the man behind the fantastically popular trading game - mind? He sent me an email from which I'll quote:

"cool man!"

There are countless trading games popping up all over the place. I'm still looking for a charity one but I guess mine is unique for the moment. I have put a list down the right hand side of other trading blogs that I think also have something unique to offer. Check them out.

The internet should not be about competition, it should be about collaboration; so I don't mind if you go to someone else's blog and stay there, if you find something worthwhile then I have done something worthwhile sending you there.

Have fun surfing.

I have had an offer of a trade!!!

The Official's shirt from the Sydney Olympic games has found a new owner, well it will have in a few days. I am going to keep you in suspense for a short time while the trade is being completed but I hope to have the new item very soon.

The trade has come from a very generous commercial enterprise this time and I am very thankful to them. If I was to tell you who they were now then it would give the game away but you will hear their name soon enough.

Please keep checking back and very soon you can start bidding on the next trade.

Hi it's Sharons blog again, only 8 days late (I never was very punctual).

I thought I would explore the meaning of the word Guch, this is what I have found:-

GUCH- a UK charity for adults who have congenital heart defects. But you already knew that!!!!!!

Guch- a slang term for perineum, this is even listed in the medical dictionary. Kids if you don't know what your guch is ask your dad, or teacher, or anyone who blushes easily.

Ian Guch- Chemisry teacher, I'm sure he is very interesting but I couldn't be bothered to read about him.

Guch- A Turkish boys name meaning 'strength'.

Graham Gooch- English cricketer, I wont say more as cricket makes me fall asleep zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...................................

Sir William Gooch- born in Yarmouth, UK- served as governor of Virginia US 1727-1749.

Gooch Close Gang- Manchester underground gang at their strongest in the '90s when the 'Madchester' schene was plagued with gang warfare.


As you can see this list is relatively short, but as with everything in life, if it doesn't appear on the first two pages of google it may as well not exist????