Ok, this is where the dark façade drops…or is a more jovial one erected? When I work out the answer, I’ll let you know.  

Unlike most of the other topics I take an interest in, humour is probably the one that comes naturally to me. I make connections, plays on words, spontaneous innuendo and sparkling wit without thinking about it. It’s a curse…in the same way as winning the lottery would be. As my good friend described it, my sense of humour is “abstract”. What else could you call someone who designs a psychopathic Easter bunny?  

There are three sources that I would like to blame – or maybe that should be thank – for this disease I have. The first would have to be a combined effort from Terry Pratchett and Robert Rankin, who were probably the first humorous authors I encountered. Second would be The Goon Show along with Peter Sellers and Spike Milligan, who’s insane form of parody and comedy has definitely been a constant in my work. Finally, for giving me a true idea of sardonic wit, of meticulously manufactured monologues and cleverly crafted crafty wordplay, it has to be the late, great Ronnie Barker.   

Ok, slavering and arse-kissing over, it’s confession time. I haven’t written anything for this section…except…

Working in a Customer Services Department, and in Project Management, I had the opportunity to put my sense of humour to work in two distinct ways. One was the promotion of another department (more details can be found under the Art section), the other was in the company newsletter. With two articles entitled “News At 10 & A Half”, then later changed to “Tales From The Back Side”, I was able to create fantasy from the everyday running of the company. Unfortunately I didn’t get paid any extra for it, but I got to do something that I love – turn everything that was familiar on its head. As the icing on the cake, in a vote on all of the regular newsletter articles, I am the most popular written article in there – although I was beaten into second place on the overall ranking, by 4 points. What amazing entry could knock me from the top? One word – Dingbats, that wonderful little game of working out sayings, films and people from a series of pictures. I laughed for hours about that.

Out of the Tales From The Backside series, I have also found a knack for producing my take on some classic stories. Similar in humour to Spike Milligan’s According to series, these are the books that have become my first published work.

The first of this Retold series, is Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, and is Now available to buy through the Store page or through the Tales Website.  Taking the well known story and incorporating my own humour into it, this is Dickens as it was never meant to be seen. Including missing thumbs, hungry ghosts, and a host of thieves and swines, this will have Dickens somersaulting in his grave. Other stories that will soon be coming to the series are Dracula, The Wizard of Oz, Dr Jeckyl and Mr Hyde, Oliver Twist and The Jungle Book.

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