[Ann Drysdale]

Douglas, I can hear that, see that - and dammit, I can smell it! My judgement may be skewed, though, by the fact that have a special relationship with septic tanks and so am aware that, like the best of comedy, this has a wee nugget of truth in it.

Come to think, its probably a wee nugget of something else that blocking the bog - plunge on!

[Douglas G. Brown]

Originally Posted by Ann Drysdale

Douglas, I can hear that, see that - and dammit, I can smell it! My judgement may be skewed, though, by the fact that have a special relationship with septic tanks and so am aware that, like the best of comedy, this has a wee nugget of truth in it.

Come to think, its probably a wee nugget of something else that blocking the bog - plunge on!

Dear Ann, Thank you for your comment. Your piece for this competition is a lot more poetic than mine is. Are the 3 Stooges well-known (or even known at all ?) in the UK? And, more importantly, would the judge at the Spectator likely know who they were?
One of the first 3 Stooges films, back in the mid 1930s was entirely in rhyme, and I had seen a tape of it recently. So, I got this idea of them being the witches in Macbeth. The substitution of a toilet for the cauldron is a natural.
I don't know how the Speccie judge will react to the stage directions, if he/she is not a Stooges fan.

[John Whitworth]

I know the Three Stooges. It might depend on how old you are. Alas!

[Ann Drysdale]

I did a septic tank comp entry once, in the persona of Robert Frost -

"I have been one acquainted with the shite..."

It got nowhere and I can't even remember which comp it was, now.

I know (of) the Three Stooges and perhaps Lucy would. Old US comedy stuff is a bit of a cult in some quarters over here.

I say risk it. And if it doesn't make the grade, there'll be a place for it elsewhere. It's well-made and true to both its sources. There's another layer of comedy in that.

[Brian Allgar]

The Three Stooges? Well, there's Cameron and Clegg, but I've forgotten who the third one is.