Friday, 19 December 2025

20 December: 354

It’s the 354th day of the year. 10 fun facts about this number.

  1. The year 354 was a common year starting on Saturday, known at the time as the Year of the Consulship of Constantius and Constantius.

  2. The Roman numeral for 354 is CCCLIV.

  3. +354 is the international dialling code for Iceland.

  4. The A354 is a road in England which runs from Salisbury in Wiltshire to Easton on the Isle of Portland in Dorset, a total distance of 51 miles (82 km).

  5. ASTM A354 is an ASTM International standard that defines chemical and mechanical properties for alloy steel bolts, screws, studs, and other externally threaded fasteners.

  6. 354 Eleonora is a large, stony main-belt asteroid discovered by the French astronomer Auguste Charlois in 1893, in Nice.

  7. The Amiot 354 was the last in a series of fast, twin-engine bombers which fought with the French Air Force in limited numbers during the Battle of France.

  8. London bus route 354 runs from High Street Penge and Maple Road to Bromley North Station.

  9. The Chronograph of 354 is an ancient book produced in 354 AD by the calligrapher and illustrator Furius Dionysius Filocalus for a wealthy Roman Christian named Valentinus. It's the first book known to have had full page illustrations.

  10. In Squid Game, Player 354 was one of the players who panicked and ran to the doors during the first game, Red Light, Green Light, following the death of Kang Mi-na. She was therefore shot by the snipers.



A Very Variant Christmas

Last year, Jade and Gloria were embroiled in a bitter conflict to win back their throne and their ancestral home. This year, Queen Jade and Princess Gloria want to host the biggest and best Christmas party ever in their palace. They invite all their friends to come and bring guests. Not even the birth of Jade's heir just before Christmas will stop them.

The guest list includes most of Britain's complement of super-powered crime-fighters, their families and friends. What could possibly go wrong?

Gatecrashers, unexpected arrivals, exploding Christmas crackers and a kidnapping, for starters.

Far away in space, the Constellations, a cosmic peacekeeping force, have suffered a tragic loss. They need to recruit a new member to replace their dead colleague. The two top candidates are both at Jade and Gloria's party. The arrival of the recruitment delegation on Christmas Eve is a surprise for everyone; but their visit means one guest now faces a life-changing decision.

Meanwhile, an alliance of the enemies of various guests at the party has infiltrated the palace; they hide in the dungeon, plotting how best to get rid of the crime-fighters and the royal family once and for all. Problem is, they all have their own agendas and differences of opinion on how to achieve their aims.

Not to mention that this year, the ghosts who walk the corridors of the palace on Christmas Eve will be as surprised by the living as the living are by them.

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