The Answer to This Riddle Is a Number

The key to this riddle is only for you
Below are instructions, above this the clue
First strike the one near the head of a year
Then remove he who begins a cheer
Next take away the end of a tunnel
Then let us go to solve this puzzle
What you first took you must now take again
With three you are left, but fret not dear friend
Fattest to front and thinnest to rear
Add in two “eyes” and all becomes clear

Remark: The instructions in this riddle are quite literal.

The answer is XVIII, or 18 in Roman numerals.

The key is “only for you” – EXCLUSIVE. Remove “the one near the head of a year” – E. Remove “he who begins a cheer” – C. Remove “the end of the tunnel” – L. Remove “us” – U and S. Remove again E. Now you are left with X, I, V. Arrange them “fattest to front and thinnest to rear” – X > V > I. Add “two ‘eyes'” – I and I, so you get XVIII=18.

Source:

Puzzling StackExchange

Breakfast with Friends

One early morning, a group of friends meets in their favorite café.

Ash, the biggest in the group, remarked :

“Must have been millions of years since we were all together, uh?”

Affie, who was wearing her brand new elephant pants, nodded. Anthony kept on complaining about the weather back home.

“Yeah, I am glad to be here with you, it is so cold at my place!”

Eugenie, who was saddened by the loss of a friend, was looking at Samuel and Namur, who were arguing about the possible future election of Donald Trump.

“These two are really inseparable”, she said to herself.

Octavia, the smallest among her friends, stood and spoke :

“Guys, I have a surprise for you! We’re going to the opera tonight!”

The waiter, waiting for the orders, wondered why these customers reminded him of something. But all of a sudden, he said:

“Ladies and gentlemen, may I suggest some sliced bread with butter, slices of cheese and ham? We also have croissants and other pastries. And for drinking, is coffee fine? We also have tea, of course, and orange and apple juice for you.”

Which is this group of friends, and what came to the waiter’s mind?

These are the seven continents – Ash (Asia), Affie (Africa), Anthony (Antarctica), Eugenie (Europe), Samuel (South America), Namur (North America), Octavia (Oceania). Their entire conversation consists of various hints. In the end, the waiter was thinking about bringing them Continental Breakfast.

Source:

Puzzling StackExchange