[John Whitworth]

Bazza won money in competition 4171 - the one about minimising political/military disasters. Well done that man.

The paper shop at the uni has been very remiss about the Staggers lately. I had to go into town to get a peek.

Competition 4174 is a straightforward verse one. 14 lines on a well-known proverb by 20 April to the usual address. Come along now. Many hands make light work.

[Roger Slater]

That's 14 lines max, or 14 lines?

[John Whitworth]

Max, Roger. Here's a little something I prepared earlier.

You Can’t Tell a Book by its Cover

You can’t tell a church from its vicars,
You can’t tell a tart by her knickers,
You can’t tell a swan from a budgie,
You can’t tell a kirk by its kludgie,
You can’t tell a chick from a plover,
You can’t tell a book by its cover.

You can’t tell a nun from a stripper,
You can’t tell a port by its shipper,
You can’t tell a tramp from a totty,
You can’t tell a brat by its botty,
You can’t tell a louse from a lover,
You can’t tell a book by its cover.

You can’t tell a doll from a duchess,
You can’t tell a fiend by his clutches,
You can’t tell a bint from her bruvver,
You can’t tell a book by its cover.

[Roger Slater]

WHAT MY FATHER TOLD ME

'A penny saved is a penny earned.'
'A drowning man will clutch at a straw.'
'Birds of a feather flock together.'
'Hard cases make bad law.'

'A friend in need is a friend indeed.'
'A chain is as strong as its weakest link.'
'The customer is always right.'
'A nod is as good as a wink.'

There's wisdom in these proverbs, son.
But not the kind I'd have you know.
Remember this when I am gone:
'Never eat the yellow snow.'

[Jayne Osborn]

That's very good, Bob, but are they sticklers, John, when they ask for 14 lines on a well-known proverb?

[John Whitworth]

There's only one proverb there, Jayne. The rest I made up.

[Jayne Osborn]

It was RogerBob's I was referring to, John. Are they finicky at the NS?

[John Whitworth]

Sorry, Jayne. Of course you were. I don't know. Come to that I haven't got the EXACT wording, but my memory is it was rather loose.

[Roger Slater]

Birds of a feather flock together.
Birds of a beak know one way to speak.
Cats of a house despise the same mouse.
Birds of a claw obey the same law.

Dogs of a bark prefer the same park.
Birds of a wing have one way to sing.
Bees of a hive all buzz the same dive.
Grapes of a vine all join the same wine.

Trees of a root produce the same fruit.
Bats of a kind are equally blind.
Fish of a gill are schoolmates still.
Birds of a bill know one way to trill.

[John Whitworth]

I like that one even better, Roger. You will have to dust off that nom-de-plume.