The Last Farewell...

Yesterday, we bid farewell to an old and valued friend, Dave Robin (aka MacDonald).









We first met in the halcyon mid 1970's, when gigs were aplenty and so were many other temptations of showbiz, which we took full advantage of regularly.

Post gig, we would assemble, along with all the other acts, in The Long Bar on Oxford Street, Manchester, together with most of the exotic dancers from the Bertie Topham stable at The 21 Club, where I was Emcee and Dave performed his sixties extravaganza. After staggering out of the Long Bar, we'd invariably visit Charlie Chans restaurant in Chinatown for Goldie Hawns in Men of Harlech (Prawns in garlic- Teppanyaki style) and further liquid refreshment. In those dark days, the restaurants weren't licensed to serve alcohol after 2am, so wine would be dispensed in a teapot, under the guise of Chinese tea!




He worked at the Golden Garter 1969/72 With the G set trio, and also compared the venue.

Dave also played with The Ivy League for a spell.

He also attended Salford College of Music.



He was an avid comic writer and composed several humorous stories for Stockport-based publications and The Stage Newspaper. Dave always maintained that he bought a second-hand guitar off Adam Ant. It was £50, but Adam told Dave that for an extra £10 he would throw in a Stand and Deliver.

 

We saw each other most weeks and failing that, we'd exchange phone calls containing hilarious banter that was entirely nonsensical and worthy of Edward Lear's rhetoric.




In 1980, I was the best man at his wedding, and the Manchester club circuit was still mega-busy, with doubles at weekends and lots of midweek gigs too.










Rest in peace, dear friend. It was a privilege to know you. Life will be infinitely poorer for your passing.

                        

Straight Up Hormuz....

                                                     

Surreal Scenario: I’m still trying to comprehend the fact that in Makerfield, the Labour MP stood down to run a Labour candidate to remove the Labour Prime Minister. Moreover, folk still voted for Labour! Are we in a parallel universe?

There is something quite quirky and idiosyncratic about a middle-class British couple going for an afternoon sail and almost starting a war with Russia. It's very much like an Ealing comedy.

I ordered a deck of cards from Amazon, but they didn’t arrive, so I called Customer Services, and they told me that they’re dealing with it!

Non-Stick Nora has reached the unfortunate conclusion that her body is no longer a temple. It’s now more of a bouncy castle, which means anyone can have a go as long as they’ve got a quid and remove their shoes first. Yesterday, she told Barmy Albert that he’s not the most idiotic person in all the world, but he’d better hope the most idiotic person doesn’t die.”

Last week, Non-stick Nora’s dog died. In a futile effort to cheer her up, Barmy Albert bought her an identical one. Nora was livid and incandescent with rage! She screamed at Albert: “What the hell am I going to do with two dead dogs!”

Fascinating Fact: Whenever I point the remote control directly at the telly, nothing happens. However, if I accidentally drop it between the sofa cushions, it switches from Netflix to Amazon Prime, opens six different apps, changes the subtitles to Japanese, and mysteriously starts playing Christmas carols!

Three conspiracy theorists walk into the Pitt Bull and Stanley Knife pub and each orders a tankard of Farquharson's Auld and Filthy Ale. Now you can’t tell me that’s a coincidence! They were swiftly followed by a pessimist and an optimist. The pessimist declared: “Things can’t get any worse!” The optimist replied: “Oh yes, they can!” They were both right, and the pair of them went home sober…

Octogenarian Tommy Grabknuckle arrived home and was greeted by his wife, Elsie, who shouted: “What's going on? You have four penguins in the back seat of the car!” Tommy sez: “I know! When I stopped at the traffic lights in Stalybridge, they all jumped into the back seat, and now I don’t know what to do with them!” Elsie pondered this unusual situation and concluded: “You’ll have to take them to Chester Zoo.” Tommy thought it was an excellent idea and set off towards Chester. Later that day, Tommy returned with the same four penguins, only now, they’ve all got buckets and spades. Elsie asked: “I thought I told you to take them to the zoo?” Tommy answered: “I did. We had a fantastic time, so now we’re going to Blackpool beach!”
                                       

Young Woody Eckerslyke had a job interview and got into the lift at Scropton Street Skyscraper and went up to the 15th floor. As he was getting out, the lift operator said: “Have a good day, son.” Woody replied: “Don’t call me son. You are not my father.” The lift attendant says: “No. But I brought you up, didn’t I?” After his interview, Woody got back in the lift, and the same attendant was there. They descended in an awkward silence. Upon reaching the ground floor, the attendant confessed: “I’m sorry.” Woody answered: “Because you thought you were my dad?” The attendant shook his head and replied: “No, son. It’s because I let you down…” This joke is wrong on so many levels.

We all make terrible mistakes as we weave a weary course through life’s rich tapestry. Last night, I slept with my best friend's wife, and now I feel terrible. She must have given me a cold or summat.

                                             

  


                                                 

Life is a rollercoaster!

                                             

Non-Stick Nora was shopping up Scropton Street Precinct and spotted octogenarian Elsie Grabknuckle visibly upset and weeping outside the haberdashery, so she approached her to see what the matter was. Nora says: “Are you alright, Elsie. You look a tad crestfallen?” She sobbed and replied: “No, my best friend Cynthia passed away yesterday while we were at the MECCA Bingo Hall.”  Nora opined: “I’m so sorry to hear that you must have been close? Elsie replied tearfully, “Yes, we were very close. She needed number 37, and I was sweating on number 82 for the full house!”



Many moons ago, I recollect chatting to a lovely young lady in a hotel bar, and we became quite friendly. I asked her back to my room for an evening of unbridled passion, and I drank vintage Champagne out of her shoes. I was paralytic drunk for the next two days. She was wearing wellies.


                                          

It’s 2:00 am, and Barmy Albert is stopped by the traffic police driving a golf buggy and buzzing down the hard shoulder of M67. Albert is wearing a Hawaiian shirt, cargo shorts, and flip-flops.

The efficient policeman walks up and asks, "Alright, buddy, where are you heading in a golf buggy at this ungodly hour?” With a forlorn frown, Albert looks him in the eye and explains: "Officer, I am currently en route to a mandatory, high-intensity seminar on chronic alcohol abuse, the respiratory dangers of chain-smoking cigars, and the psychological toll of staying out late at the clubhouse." The copper looks around the empty motorway and asks: "Seriously? Who the hell is giving a lecture on that at two in the morning in this neck of the woods?" Barmy Albert sighs and replies: "That would be my wife!”



Fascinating Fact: AI won’t replace people. Folks who understand how to use AI will replace people, until AI replaces them too. Furthermore, AI will never replace natural stupidity.



I came home from my local pub, The Pitt Bull and Stanley Knife, and my wife sat me down for a serious discussion about our marriage. She gazed at me with much disdain and opined: “We’re at a crossroads in our relationship.” She continued: “One road will lead to hard work and total commitment, whereas the other is a dead end.” I replied: “That’s not a crossroads. That is a T-Junction.” That’s when the fight started!



I remember reading a paragraph in the Tameside Reporter a few years ago. It was a wonderful use of the word 'suspected'. It read: "A man was arrested on Market Street, Stalybridge, yesterday. He was suspected of robbing a launderette on Market Street. He was wearing 13 jumpers, some of which were still damp.”
                                   

Fascinating Fact: I can't get 10CC’s hit song "I'm Not in Love" out of my head! It's probably just a silly phase I'm going through. Moreover, I tried Gary Barlow’s new wine range last night and got really drunk. Can’t remember much of the evening, but just want to say that whatever I said, whatever I did, I didn't mean it.



Top Tip: You should always agree to a quick half-hour beer with friends, because that impromptu hour and three-quarters could turn out to be the best five hours of your entire life!



It’s difficult to believe that exactly twenty-five years ago today, will mark the day that I asked my girlfriend, soulmate and the love of my life to marry me. It’s even harder for me to believe that all three said no…

                                

The Kerfuffle Down Scropton Street Abbatoir...

                                     

The cost-of-living crisis is real! British people don’t actually recover financially anymore. Your income goes into the bank and immediately gets divvied up like a drug cartel payout. Mortgage takes half. Council tax, electricity, gas and water take the rest. Then Tesco somehow charges you eighty-eight quid for what appears to be a leg of mince, a jar of pickled herrings, a lump of scrag end and untold emotional damage. By the third week of the month, you’re sauntering around Lidl whispering: “Do I really need Fairy Liquid or should I start using paper plates and plastic cutlery? Nothing humbles you quicker than after one ‘quick trip’ to B & M. You walk in for four AA batteries and come out £46 poorer, carrying a bamboo bath tray, 14 snacks you’ve never heard of, a lava lamp, patio citronella candles (despite not owning a patio) and a Japanese ornamental Aspidistra shaped like a rugby ball. I also bought some essential oils. I’m wondering how I got through life before I started using them if they're so essential. Isn’t life grand when you’re barmy!

Busy week last week! Ever since joining the Glen Campbell fan club, I keep getting cards and letters from people I don’t even know. Moreover, I had to see my accountant yesterday. His office is on the 7th floor. I asked the receptionist if there was a lift, and she said, “We call it an elevator where I come from.” I reckon we were just raised differently.

Barmy Albert’s mum always told him to be a gentleman and give up his seat on the bus to a blind man. Yesterday, he lost his job as a bus driver.

Many moons ago, when I had my own flat, I remember taking this young lady back one night. Fast forward to the following month, as another girl and I lay on the bed, a mysterious voice announced: “She’s a stone lighter than the last one you brought home!” The girl asked me, “Who the flaming hell was that?” I replied: “It’s the memory foam mattress!” Curses! Foiled again!

                            

Non-Stick Nora attended an auction where she spotted an exotic parrot. She really wanted this magnificent bird, so she got caught up in the bidding. Unfortunately, she kept getting outbid, and the price kept rising, leaving her more tenacious with each bid. Finally, after bidding much more than she had intended, she won the auction. The parrot was hers! As she was paying for the parrot, she told the auctioneer, “I sincerely hope that this parrot isn’t defective. I’d hate to fork out so much money, only to get home and discover that he can’t talk!” “Of course he can talk,” replied the auctioneer. “Who do you think kept outbidding you?”

Yesterday, a strange woman (She had a face like a Chihuahua, chewing a wasp) approached me near the Scropton Street Abbatoir, and declared that she knew me from the Vegetarian group. I’d swear that I’d never seen Herbivore….

Barmy Albert was struggling with his accounts, where he had to separate the VAT from the gross amount. He called Non-Stick Nora and sez to her: “You’re good at maths, so maybe you could help me with this. If I were to give you £300 minus 20%, how much would you take off?” Nora replied: “Everything but my earrings!” Is she a temptress or a Jezebel?

The missus asked me to take her to see Pirates of the Caribbean. However, dropping her off on the Somalian coastline wasn’t quite what she expected. That’s when the fight started!

                                     

The Senseless Scropton Street Stand-off Scenario!

                                                  

Breaking News: Police in Dover have seized 5,000 litres of petrol concealed in a shipment of cocaine!

I’ve got two top-of-the-range EV’s. A Jag and a Porsche. I can’t see what people’s problems are. They look fantastic. The performance is great. Hardly any maintenance. The only small criticism is that if I really push them into a corner, they can fly off the track and get stuck under the settee.

My dad got fired from the M & M factory for throwing away all the W's. He lost many a good job through the sack. He used to work for a company that manufactured toilet rolls and light bulbs. Well, I think he did, because that’s all he ever brought home…

A woman called Tameside Hospital and asked: "I want to know if the patient Elsie Grabknuckle in Ward 7 is getting any better?" The Receptionist replied: "She is doing very well. She had her first solid meal today, her blood pressure is fine and if she continues improving, she might even be sent home in a couple of days!" The woman sez: "Thank God! That's wonderful news!" The Receptionist answered; “I take it you are a family member or a close friend!" Woman sez: "No. I’m Elsie Grabknuckle. No one tells me anything in here!”

                                       

I’ve purchased a new pair of gloves; however, they're both 'lefts,' which, on the one hand, is great, but on the other, it's just not right. I got them from the second-hand shop. Even the local prosthetics outlet has changed hands.

It’s that rough up Scropton Street, where Barmy Albert lives, you have to bring the doorstep in at night! Yesterday, a teenage thug threw a brick through his kitchenette window, and it hit Non-Sick Nora on the head, knocking her out cold. Albert ran outside and chased the spotty, precocious youth. then dragged him back to the house and pointed to the unconscious Nora in a heap on the floor. He grabbed a bread knife and shouted: “It's time to face the consequences of your unruly actions".. Quaking in his trainers, the yoof replied: "What are you going to do?" ”Me?" Albert replied, handing him the knife. "I'm not going to do anything. YOU'RE going to finish making my corned beef butty!"

I told the missus: “In all the twenty years we’ve been together, the only thing you’ve done is correct and contradict everything I’ve ever said!” She looked at me with much disdain and replied: “Twenty-one years!” That’s when the fight started!

Octogenarian Cissie Slopbucket was sitting at her husband's funeral when young Woody Eckerslyke leaned over to her and asked: “Mind if I say a word?” Cissie was pleased with his request, and told him to go ahead. Young Woody clears his throat and says: “Plethora.” And sits back down. Cissie looked at him and sez: “Thank you. That means a lot…”

                               

While I was parked at my local pub The Pitt Bull and Stanley Knife, I left my car unattended with my accordion on view on the front passenger seat. Upon my return, some scallywag had broken into my car and left another accordion!

An East Midlands Euro Millions winner is to buy Derby County Football Club. His wife told this newspaper: “God knows what he would have done if he’d got four numbers!!

                                         

                                       

The Andy Burnham Shapeshifting Shenanigans....

                                     

Should it still be called a Bank Holiday now that all the banks are shut? In my humble opinion, it should be renamed Vape Shop or Turkish Barber Holiday Monday. We could also have Tattoo Shop Tuesday. I used to be an atheist, but I gave it up because I wasn’t getting any holidays

There's an old chestnut joke about Andy Burnham that has been recycled since he started making eyes at No. 10. A Blairite, a Brownite, a Milibandite, a Starmerite, an insider, and an outsider walk into The Pitt Bull and Stanley Knife pub. The landlord asks: “What are you having, Andy?” Burnham is such a maestro of political shapeshifting shenanigans that he could walk down the road in Albert Square, Manchester and turn into Downing Street, SW1A 2AA!

Meanwhile, back at Nicholls Ardwick High School, I fondly recollect asking my maths teacher if I would ever use algebra when I grew up. He curtly informed me that I wouldn’t, but one of the clever kids might. I have since concluded that divorce is much akin to algebra. Primarily because you look at the X and think Y?

Prince Harry went to see his dad to reconcile their differences and they were getting along famously until Charles asked him if he wanted a cup of tea. Harry said “Yes please, Father.”. He then asked: “Would you like a biscuit?” Harry sez: “Yes, please”. Charles replied: “Ginger? That’s when it all kicked off again!

                       

  

A woman who only speaks Spanish saunters into Primark. She walks over to a sales assistant and asks: "Donde estan los calcetines?" The assistant doesn't speak Spanish but tries to help her anyway. He holds up a T-shirt saying, "Is this what you need?" She shakes her head, frowning. Next, he holds up a pair of pantaloons, and she shakes her head again. After 5 or 6 attempts, he finally holds up a pair of socks, looking exasperated. The woman smiles and sez: "Eso si que es!" The assistant pulls a saturnine grimace and replies: "If you knew how to spell it, why didn't you start with that in the first place?"

Thieves broke into Barmy Albert's garden last night and stole all his astro turf. Non-Stick Nora saw him this morning looking forlorn...

I shouted the missus and told her: "I've broken a glass in the kitchenette" She replied: "Don’t worry. I'm coming with the broom". I exclaimed: "it's not that urgent, you can come on foot." That’s when the fight started!

Questions about EV’s that require answering: Do you need a current licence to drive an electric car?
Do they store enough power to get Ohm?

                               

Last night on Channel 4, I watched a shocking documentary whilst sitting with both my feet behind my head. It made for some very uncomfortable viewing.

All the members of the company's Board of Directors were called into the Chairman's office, one after another, until only Barmy Albert, the caretaker, was left sitting outside. Finally, it was his turn to be summoned. Albert entered the office to find the Chairman and the other four Directors seated at the far end of the boardroom table. Albert was instructed to stand at the other end of the table. The Chairman looked Albert squarely in the eye, and with a stern voice, he asked: "Have you ever had hanky-panky with my secretary, Miss Scroggins?" "Oh, no, sir, positively not...!" Albert affirmed. "Are you absolutely sure...?" asked the chairman. "Honestly, I've never been close enough to even touch her...!" "You'd swear to that...?""Yes, I swear I've never had any slap and tickle with Miss Scroggins, anytime, anywhere, not no how, not never ever…" insisted Barmy Albert. "Good. Then YOU fire her!”

                                

The bloke who invented the hot tub...

                       

I’ve noticed that petrol pumps are much more advanced and faster than they used to be. It used to take me two minutes to reach sixty quid, but now I can do it in 25 seconds! Well done, petrol stations!

After a dodgy curry, the night before, Barmy Albert attended the weekly darts and dominoes competition at his local pub, the Pitt Bull and Stanly Knife. He was suddenly stricken with the urge to visit the Gents' khazi forthwith. In his desperation, he kicked the cubicle door open, dropped his pants and took his seat upon the lavatorial throne. With eyes like burning embers, he glanced down, only to see a pair of plimsolls betwixt his legs. The plimsolls were attached to a pair of legs. He gingerly stood up, only to discover young Willy Eckerslyke already ensconced upon the toilet! Albert was thoroughly embarrassed and apologised profusely. “Oh, I didn’t see you sitting there.” Declared Albert. Young Willy replied: “I didn’t think that you did, that’s why I pulled your trousers back up!”

I applied to be a TV Reporter. I asked: “What do I have to do?” They said, “Just shout inane and stupid questions at folk going in and out of number 10 Downing Street.”

Barmy Albert told Non-Stick Nora that his mate Jack was the bloke who invented the hot tub. Nora replied: “Jack? Who’s he?”

Fascinating Fact: The United Kingdom is made up of two population groups: The 99% or the 1%. These are made up of the people who want Starmer to resign or support him. You either belong to one, or you are the one!

                                             

  

The missus left me just over a fortnight ago. She said the reason for her abrupt departure was my obsession with Sinead O’ Connor. In fact, it’s been seven hours and 15 days.

Non-Stick Nora was talking to Chester Draws, who is a very famous lawyer. She asked him what his fees were. He told her, “I charge £300 for three questions.” Nora was shocked. She replied: “Wow! That’s pretty expensive, isn’t it?” Chester sez: “Yes, indeed it is. Now what's your third question?”

Two Scousers are riding a tandem just outside Liverpool and inadvertently hit a pothole, which rendered their bicycle in need of repair. So, they start hitching a lift back into town. A friendly trucker stops to see if he can help, and the Scousers ask him for a ride. He tells them they can ride in the trailer if they can fit in with 20,000 bowling balls he is hauling. They manage to squeeze themselves and their bike into the back, and the driver shuts the doors and gets on his way. Wanting to make up time, the trucker speeds up. Sure enough, a blonde police traffic officer pulls him over for exceeding the speed limit. The officer asks the driver what he is carrying, to which he jokingly replies, "Scouse eggs." The blonde lady cop obviously doesn't believe this, so she takes a look in the trailer. She opens the back door and, shocked, quickly shuts it and locks it. She calls for immediate backup and a SWAT team. The operator asks what emergency she has that requires so many officers. "I stopped a Trailer with 20,000 Scouse eggs in it. Two have hatched, and they've already nicked a bicycle!"

                        

Meanwhile, in a muddy meadow...

                                                                

After a thorough thrashing in last week's elections, Sir Kier Starmer asked: “Tell me the truth. Am I totally out of touch with the common man?” “Maybe a little.” Replied his butler. Starmer continued: “I jeer and mock, but my mouth is so full of lobster, Beluga caviar and vintage champagne that I start coughing and almost choke. His butler patted him on the back a few times, and Starmer wheezed, “Don’t manhandle my supreme being, without your Marigolds on!”



I took the missus to see Hamilton. She didn’t enjoy it at all. She thought it was all quite appalling.
They lost 4-0 to Partick Thistle. Other disappointing results were East Fife 5. Forfar 4, so far. Cowdenbeath 2. - Corned Beef 1. West Ham 1 – Boiled Ham 2. In an effort to make things right and get in her good books, I booked us a nice table for two. Turns out that she doesn’t like snooker either. That’s when the fight started!



Barmy Albert had a shunt in his car. When the police arrived, he claimed the woman he hit was entirely to blame. “She was on the phone and drinking a glass of wine at the time. Can you believe it!” With all the dignity that he could muster, the copper replied: “She can do whatever she wants in her own conservatory!”



What pronouns do donkeys go by? He/Haw. What do Blackpool donkeys get for lunch? Half an hour, like everyone else.

                                            

Meanwhile, in a muddy meadow, a pig was lounging about beside a donkey and suddenly declared, “I don’t know how you cope with it all. There you are, up at the crack of dawn, hauling huge loads, grinding grain, dragging a heavy plough through the rough soil, and when the sun goes down, all they feed you is a lump of grass. Whereas I spend my days like a Labour politician with my snout in the trough, eating till I’m full, napping whenever I want to and wallowing around without a care in the world. It sure feels good not being in your hooves.” The donkey glanced at him with a saturnine grimace and replied: “Yeah, right. The pig that was here last year said the exact same thing, and so did Kier Starmer!”

                                       

Thursday Quiz: Q) What seven-letter word starts with ‘egg’ and ends in ‘soup’?

A) Chicken. B) Eggsoup.



Non-Stick Nora was at Stalybridge Station and stepped up to the kiosk to buy her ticket. Nearby, there is a couple hugging and tearfully saying goodbye. Nora says to the clerk in the kiosk: “You must have witnessed a lot of sad good-byes. What was the saddest goodbye you’ve ever seen?” The clerk thought for a moment and sez: “It was a soldier saying good-bye to his dog.” Nora exclaimed: “Really! Where was the dog going?”


I asked my German friend if he knew what the square root of 81 is. He said, “No.”


An elephant escaped from the zoo, and a few hours later, the police station received a phone call from a nearby small village. “A huge rat is standing in my vegetable garden, and it’s tearing up my cabbage with its tail!” The desk sergeant replied: “Calm down! Now what is it doing with the cabbage?” The caller said: “You’re not going to believe this…”



LADIES! Listen Up! You must exercise extreme caution in the ladies' toilet in any restaurant. All the dates that I’ve taken out for a meal have visited the loo and never returned! Spooky or what?

                               
                                                                        

Starmer on toast....

                                           

Today is polling day! I am aware that I’ve said previously in this column that Starmer is toast, but this week it will definitely happen. If it doesn't happen this week, then it’ll most certainly be next week or next month. Next year, Starmer will be a memory, lost in the sands of time. And if he isn’t, then he will be in due course, or the week after that. Vote Imbecile! Because you’ll get one anyway! You read it here first, folks!

On Bank Holiday Monday, I prepared a nice, healthy tuna salad. Unfortunately, I had to improvise a bit. I didn't have any tuna, so I substituted it with quarter-pound beef burgers. Moreover, I didn't have any salad, so I used triple-fried oven chips. I also ate a whole French baguette and my stomach really hurt. I now know the meaning of the word pain. We couldn’t watch Lassie on telly, because it was ban collie day. It’s all political correctness gone mad! The woke agenda is continuing apace!

                                     

 

My father always used to say, "The first rule of theatre is to leave them wanting more." Fantastic bloke, but a terrible anaesthetist. When I was a plastic surgeon, I made a huge mistake with one female patient. When she spotted it, I’ll never forget the expression on her elbow!

Non-Stick Nora went to KFC drive-thru to grab the grandkids summat to eat. They wanted a kids’ meal with a leg, so at the window, she sez: “Kids’ meal with a leg.” The lady on the intercom asked, “Sure, which side?” Nora was dumbfounded and just sat there in complete silence, trying to process this life-changing question. Finally, after an awkward silence, Nora opined:  “Erm…I guess the right side? I don’t really know the difference.” She erupts into laughter and says, “No, Honey. Which side do you want with the leg? Fries, mashed potatoes or wedges?” At this juncture, she threw her hands in the air and said... "Lord, please, take the wheel. It’s been a long day!"

A police traffic officer pulled a car over for speeding on the M67. When he asked the driver why he was in such a hurry, the geezer explained he was a juggler on his way to perform at the Glossop Circus and didn’t want to be late. The efficient copper sez, "I've always been fascinated by juggling. If you put on a little show for me, I'll let you off with just a warning." The juggler got out, lit four torches, and began juggling right there on the hard shoulder. During his performance, another car pulled up behind the police car. A drunk bloke staggered out, walked straight over to the patrol car, opened the back door, and climbed in. The policeman went over, opened the door, and asked, "What do you think you're doing?" The drunk replied, "You might as well take me to jail now, because there’s no way I’m passing that test!"

                                                         

Riddle me this: If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, then doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed. Well, I’m gabberflasted by it all!

I could tell that I was getting old when I started fancying the women in the adverts for affordable cremation plans. I’m losing the plot!

Fascinating Fact: Karl Marx had a sister named Onya, who was the inventor of the starting pistol...

Barmy Albert went to Blackpool, and when he was on The Big One roller coaster, he had brought some spare nuts and bolts. As it started clambering upwards, he tapped Non-Stick Nora on the shoulder and exclaimed, “Nora! These just fell out of the back of your seat.”

                 

Elsie, the benevolent barmaid....

                   

Manchester Police are on the hunt for a drag queen who robbed a High Street Jewellery Shop. They have ascertained that he's a local man with a Wigan address.

Non-Stick Nora was eavesdropping on a conversation in The Pitt Bull and Stanley-knife pub between two car mechanics discussing the benefits of swapping over the wheels of a car from left to right. Apparently, this helps reduce the tyre tread wear. Now, Nora herself doesn’t have a car, but she did notice that the heel of her right shoe was wearing out much faster than the heel of her left shoe. Ever since she started wearing her right shoe on her left foot and her left one on her right foot, she’s really noticed her shoes wearing down equally. Nora reckons it’s a real money saver, although it makes sauntering up Scropton Street back snicket a little bit more arduous and attracts much unwanted attention from many amused passers-by.

A clown wanders into The Pitt Bull and Stanley-Knife pub, and his general demeanour really is quite appalling. He asks the barmaid for a beer, but tells her he’s skint and won't be able to pay for it. Elsie, the benevolent barmaid, takes one look at his fizzog and decides he needs it. "Sure, mate. You look awful. Wanna talk about it?" The clown downed the pint and replied: "Gadzooks! Today is the worst day of my entire life. I'm in town for the comedy festival, but my Joke Gopher was stolen, my show was cancelled, my hotel reservation was cancelled because of the show, and my bank accounts have been frozen!" He slumps in his seat and shakes his head. Elsie, the barmaid, pours him another beer. "Wow, that's a really awful day. Pardon my ignorance, but what's a Joke Gopher?" The clown shakes his head again. "Not much these days, or I wouldn't be begging for drinks!" Poor clown. I wouldn’t like to be in his shoes. Altogether, fifty-two clowns attended the festival, and they all arrived in the same car! Apparently, when the clown's wife was in labour, he read her some of his jokes to distract her from the pain of the contractions, but she wasn’t amused. It must’ve been the delivery…

                           

At the comedy festival, there was the annual joke competition, and the prize was £100. The winning gag was submitted by comedian Joe King and went as follows: “Two hunters are out in the jungle, when one of them collapses. He doesn’t appear to be breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other bloke whips out his phone and called the emergency services. He exclaimed: “My friend is dead! What should I do?” The operator replied: “Calm down. I can help. First of all, let’s make sure he’s dead.” There is a silence. Then a shot is heard. Back on the phone, the guy sez: “Okay. Now what?”

Fascinating Fact; Dyslexics are teople poo…

Barmy Albert pulled up a stool in the Pitt Bull and Stanley Knife pub and declared: Non-Stick Nora must love me more than any woman has loved any man on this planet!” Young Willy Eckerslyke asked him: “Whatever makes you say that, Albert?” Albert beamed with pride and announced: “Last week, I had the flu and had to take a few sick days off work. She was so thrilled to have me at home that whenever the milkman called in the morning, she’d sprint down the driveway frantically waving her arms and yelling: “My husband’s home! My husband’s home!”

My photo shows Sir Kier Starmer taking appropriate advice and discussing the security vetting regarding the appointment of Lord Mandelson as US Ambassador. What could possibly go wrong?

                         

Parting is such sweet sorrow. I am away on holiday for the next fortnight, and this column will reappear sometime in May. You can still have a chortle by visiting my Jokey-Bloggington via my website: Just clickety-click on www.ComedianUK.com and exercise your guffaw glands!

                         

  

Trump maintains that intelligence played no role in his decision to start the war....

                                            

I met this gangster in Manchester who had a speech impediment and the unfortunate habit of pulling up the back of folks' undergarments as a practical joke. His name was Wedgie Kway. He couldn’t pronounce his ‘F’s or ‘T’s, so he couldn’t say fairer than that!

The police knocked on Wedgie Kway's door in a dawn raid one morning last week. “Do the letters Z or B mean anything to you?” They asked. “No,” he told them.” “What about G or K then?” “Nope, means nowt to me,” he answered. “How about A and P?” “Look,” Wedgie replied, “Am I suspected of something?” “No, sir.” They said, “These are just our initial enquiries.”

Yesterday, I just popped out to post a padded envelope full of classical music. ...Bach in a Jiffy!

BREAKING NEWS: Trump maintains that intelligence played no role in his decision to start the war.

Unfortunately, the cost of living has finally caught up with me, and I’m going to have to make radical changes I never could have imagined. So, in order to offset the extra costs for food and fuel, I have to make some extra money on the side. I'm now proud to announce that I'm selling adult toys. I hope no one feels embarrassed about asking for them. I have all kinds, sizes, and styles according to your needs. I can send pictures and dimensions, etc. I have everything you need. Zimmer frames -Wheelchairs (Electric or manual) -Oxygen Respirators -Walking canes -Defibrillators- Tena Pads and suppositories plus much more. All delivered discreetly in a brown paper parcel!

   

Fascinating Fact: The human brain is an amazing organ. It keeps on working 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 52 weeks a year, from when you are born, right up until you vote Labour!

I have been attempting to get rid of all the clutter in the house this week, and flogging stuff off at car boot sales and on the Yorkshire internet auction site ‘Ebay-Gum’ in a desperate attempt to accumulate valuable Wetherspoon tokens. The house looks quite ‘minimalist’ now, primarily coz its empty! Because of this unfortunate farrago, an excuse was urgently required, so I have told everybody that I have suddenly developed a profound interest in the art of feng shui. Feng shui is a discipline with guidelines that are compatible with many techniques of agricultural planning as well as internal furniture arrangements. It's all to do with your Yings and your Yangs, which, to the layman, are positive and negative influences and all that manner of magnetic activity in the ether and beyond. I suppose that you would never consider that a couch potato like me would study an ancient art like Feng-Shui, but dear reader, you would be wrong. If you pop round to my house, you would notice that all the chairs face the telly! My house is also near a pub and a betting shop, so this constitutes perfect harmony. Geomagnetism is a basic component of feng shui. Proponents claim that feng shui has an effect on health, wealth, and personal relationships. This is where the pub and the betting shop come in.

                 

  

Stress is such a prolific factor in our lives now that in America (where else?) you can employ a professional worrier. It’s catching on here in the United Kingdom as well. These professional worriers charge five hundred quid per week, and for this exorbitant fee, they will do all your worrying for you, thus leaving you with a totally stress-free environment. I thought that this was such an awesome concept that I have employed three of these so-called professional worriers to come and work for me on a personal basis. Of course, you are probably thinking how I can afford fifteen hundred pounds per week? Well, the simple answer is, I can’t. But I’ll let the worriers worry about that! 

                     

When the Jehovah's Witnesses call....

                                           

Ladies! Listen up! You say that you want to meet a man who’s funny and spontaneous. However, when you rap on their window at midnight wearing a clown costume, suddenly, it’s all screaming and throwing a tantrum and police sirens and restraining orders!

Fascinating Fact: Did you know the first French city to have more than one public toilet was Toulouse...

The good news is that the Americans are going to the moon. The bad news is, there's only room for four of them on the spaceship.

Storm Dave has been re-named after a mistake at the Meteorological Office. It's actually Storm Rodney......

                                                          

TOP TIP: When the Jehovah's Witnesses call, engage them in conversation, but whatever they say, pretend you’re talking to a local councillor and complain about the bins not being emptied, potholes in the road, dog poo on the pavement, and not cutting the grass verges anymore. They’ll think you’re pots for rags and soon have it away on their toes.

I want to advise all my readers that if anyone wants any copies of Osteopath Weekly, I have back issues....

When he made a terrible mistake, or a glaring error, what did the inventor of the drawing board go back to?

With the price of fuel these days, I thought I'd do a runner from the garage. So, I put in £50 worth and drove off without paying. Got caught, though. I'd run out of petrol before I left the forecourt.

Albert Einstein dies and goes to heaven. God greets him warmly and says, "Albert, we are all very impressed with your life's work. As a reward, you can ask me for anything you want to know."
Einstein says, "I spent my entire life trying to unify quantum mechanics and general relativity, but I never succeeded. Please, can you show me the true formula that governs the entire universe?"
"Of course," God smiles, and conjures a chalkboard covered in an incredibly complex equation.
Einstein studies the massive formula intently. Suddenly, he points at a section and gasps, "Wait... there's a mistake right here!" God nods, "I know."



I asked Arnold Schwarzenegger what his fave holiday was, and he told me: “Has to be Easter, baby…”



As Non-Stick Nora’s son proudly handed her a new grandchild, she asked him if he knew the difference between a cranky two-year-old kid and a duckling. Somewhat perplexed, he replied: “No. What?” Nora chuckled: “One is a whiny toddler, whereas the other is a tiny waddler!”



Barmy Albert sauntered into The Pitt Bull and Stanley knife pub and shouted: “All Manchester United fans are wankers!” This huge bloke at the bar shouted: “I take offence at that!” Albert asked him, “Are you a Manchester United fan?” He replied: “No! I’m a Wanker!”
                                                     

Barmy Albert was being interviewed for the position of Tripe Gouger at Scropton Street Abbatoir and was asked by the boss: “What’s been your greatest achievement in your current job?” Albert told him that he was responsible for several new guidelines in the employee handbook. The boss says: ”That’s most impressive! What inspired you to create those guidelines?” With all the decorum he could rally, Albert replied: “That’s not what I said….”



Octogenarian Tommy Grabknuckle visited his doctor, who was able to have him fitted for a set of hearing aids that allowed him to hear perfectly for the first time in a long time. A month later, he was back for a follow-up consultation. The doctor pronounced, "Your hearing is perfect. Your family must be really pleased that you can hear again." “Oh, I haven't told my family yet. I just sit around and listen to the conversations. I've changed my will three times!"

                                          

The Chester Draws Interview....

                                    

I did a gig at a working men's club last weekend, and I spied a member's notice on the board which read: “Due to cutbacks, to save on postage, membership cards will no longer be posted out to members and can now be collected from the club. We have written to all members to inform them of this.

My photo shows me at Granada TV at The Wheeltappers and Shunters Club, with my old mate, Colin Crompton. I wrote a couple of Concert Secretary jokes for him, and they were: “As regards the sign in the gents, which says ‘Wet Paint.’ This is not an instruction!” “We have been informed that there is £5,000 missing from club funds and we shall have a word with the Treasurer, as soon as he gets back from the Caribbean.”

Barmy Albert and Non-Stick Nora were arguing about who should brew the tea every morning. Nora reckoned, "You should do it because you get up first, and then we don't have to wait as long to get our cup of tea.” Albert maintained that: "You are in charge of catering around here, and you should do it, because that is your job, and I can just wait for my mug of tea." Nora replies, "No, you should do it, and besides, it is in the Bible that the man should make the tea." Albert is perplexed by this and sez, "I can't believe that, show me." So, Nora duly fetched the Bible, opened the New Testament, and showed him at the top of several pages that it indeed does say: "HEBREWS"

Today, be the surprise onion ring in somebody's French fries…

Intrepid Investigative Reporter Chester Draws was interviewing local Farmer Chalfont-Giles, and asked him: “How much milk does your cow produce?” The farmer replied: “Which one. The black one or the white one? Interviewer: “The black one.” Farmer: “2 litres per day.” Interviewer: “And the white one?” Farmer: “2 litres per day.” Interviewer: “Where do they sleep?” Farmer: “The black one or the White one?” Interviewer: “The black one.” Farmer: “In the Barn.” Interviewer: “And the white one?” Farmer: “In the Barn.” Interviewer: “Your cows look healthy...What do you feed them?” Farmer: “Which one, the black one or the white one?” Interviewer: “Black one.” Farmer: “Grass.” Interviewer: “And the white one?” Farmer: “Grass.” Interviewer: (Getting really annoyed) “But why do you keep on asking if black one or white one when answers are just the same?” Farmer: “Because the black one is mine.” Interviewer: “And the white one?” Farmer: “It's also mine.”

When he made a terrible mistake, or a glaring error, what did the inventor of the drawing board go back to?

                                                   

  

Yesterday, I received an email trying to sell me an old Chinese boat! I decided to put it straight into the Junk folder!

Chuck Norris sauntered up to the Pearly Gates and Saint Peter announced: “Oh wow, Mr Norris, the big guy wants to see you immediately!” So, he gets escorted into meet God, and without missing a beat, Chuck sez: “Before we get started, I just wanna let you know you’re sitting in my chair.” RIP Chuck Norris.

Fascinating Fact: For every pop band where each artist has slipped off this mortal coil, where all those old TV shows watched whose cast members are no longer among the living, with our neighbours, friends and families that get reduced and dissipate more every single day until only the last remaining member remains… Millions recognise your pilgrimage as being a part of our existence in some small way, until they turn their toes up. The last thing my grandad said to me before he passed away was: “Hey! Stop shaking this ladder!”

                                             

What did Spartacus say when the lion ate his mother-in-law?

                                            

NCP didn’t want to go into administration, but unfortunately, the Official Receiver's Office had already issued the ticket. Karma eh!

I just spotted young Willy Eckerslyke going up a hill with a wheelbarrow full of horseshoes, four-leaf clovers, and rabbit's feet. I thought to myself, "He's really pushing his luck!"

After his haircut is finished, Barmy Albert is asked by the barber: “Hair gel, sir?” He replies, “No, no, don't bother. If I smell like that, Non-Stick Nora will think I've been to visit a massage parlour.” Tommy Grabknuckle sez: “You can go ahead and put some hair gel on me—my missus doesn't know what a massage parlour smells like!”

There’s a new cafeteria opened on Scropton Street, so I thought I’d give it a whirl. I grabbed a table and waited for a waitress. But the only one I can see seemed rather nonchalant and somewhat aloof. When she finally sauntered by, I ask, "Can I have a shufty at the menu, please?" Only then does she look at me with a forlorn frown and exclaims, "That’s a private matter. The men I please are none of your business!" Am I existing in an abstract parallel universe?

Showbiz Gossip: John Travolta claims to have been visited by the ghost of Olivia Newton-John. He said she was singing, "You're the one that I haunt."

Fascinating Fact: With all the current kerfuffle in the Middle East, I was really chuffed yesterday when I got a full tank of petrol for £70. Admittedly, it was for the lawnmower, but hey, ho!

 

Barmy Albert staggers home paralytic drunk once again, from darts and dominoes night at The Pitt Bull and Stanley knife pub and rather than arguing, Non-Stick Nora decides to adopt some reverse psychology on him. She wears a skimpy negligee, sits him in an armchair, and gives him a neck and temple massage. Then, she whispers seductively, “It’s getting late, big boy. Why don’t we both go upstairs to bed?” Barmy Albert slurs: “We might as well, because I’m gonna be in big trouble when I get back home anyway!”

Octogenarian Tommy Grabknuckle was asked: “Do you still call your wife ‘Honey’ or ‘Darling’ at your age, and if you do, then what’s the secret?” Tommy replied: “It’s been many years now. I’ve forgotten her name and I’m too afraid to ask her now!” Well, her name is Elsie Grabknuckle, and she preserves endangered species. You should taste her panda jam. It’s delicious!

I’ve often wondered if songbirds get mad at hummingbirds because they don’t know the words…

The missus isn’t speaking to me because apparently, I ruined her birthday. Quite how she has reached this absurd conclusion is totally beyond my comprehension, primarily because I didn’t even know it was her birthday…

Some visitors at the Manchester Museum were marvelling at the dinosaur bones and asked the guard how old the dinosaur bones were. The guard informed them that they were 72 million, three years and 6 months old. The visitor sez: “That’s an awfully exact number. How can you ascertain their age so precisely?” The guard replied: “Well, the dinosaur bones were 72 million years old when I started working here, and that was three and a half years ago….”

Breaking News: A wedding photographer was tragically crushed by a 300lb wheel of cheese that accidentally fell off the catering truck. Apparently, all the guests tried to warn him.

THURSDAY QUIZ:

Q: Why do seagulls fly over the sea?

A: If they flew over the bay they’d be bagels. (If they nicked your chips, they’d be chip Bagels!)



Q) What did Spartacus say when the lion ate his mother-in-law?

A) Nothing. He was Gladiator…