[Ann Drysdale]

Hairy Porter... Joanne...wizard...

I'm sure I don't know...

But then I thought the Invisible Man was HG wells.

[John Whitworth]

Thank you Ann. Truth makes all things plain.

[basil ransome-davies]

Originally Posted by Ann Drysdale

Hairy Porter... Joanne...wizard...

I'm sure I don't know...

But then I thought the Invisible Man was HG wells.

Ho ho, Ann. Roger doesn't do subtlety either. And yes, The Invisible Man was H G Wells. Ralph Ellison's title lacks the definite article.

There's something about this bloody comp that seems to stifle humour (aside from John's chuckleworthy entry). I still haven't the ghost of an idea. Back to the cat videos.

[Adrian Fry]

That Whitsun, I got away early, catching the 9.27 train. Not early enough to avoid the usual Bank Holiday passenger list; frowsy Mums in floral frocks, Dads bereft without the toad work, squalling kiddies demented having been promised freedom and delivered confinement. Thank Christ, I’d brought a book. Damn Christ; it was an Iris Murdoch. Smiled thinly at, in lieu of murdering, a kiddie who spilt cloudy lemonade on my trousers. Then, a spry old character – I mean bore - sat opposite and asked ‘D’you think we’ll see any weddings this early?’
‘Weddings?’ I said. ‘On a train?’
‘Wedding parties, rather. Sending off the brides and grooms on honeymoon. Afternoons you tend to see them; proud parents, drunk Uncles and the like.’
I’d sooner parties of schoolgirls, but didn’t say so. ‘No.’ is what I actually said.
‘The confetti, the ribald joshing – well, you can imagine.’
Eventually. extraordinarily, I could.

[basil ransome-davies]

Oh, that's funny, especially the Iris Murdoch joke.

[John Whitworth]

Yes it is. But what was he doing with a Iris Murdoch novel in the first place? And Larkin's taste sometimes surprises you. Who would have thought he would be a fan of Stevie Smith? Or, to a certain extent at least, of Bob Dylan's lyrics?

[Brian Allgar]

In fairness to Iris Murdoch, she wrote a few very good books - especially her first one, 'Under the Net'.

[John Whitworth]

Indeed she did. But it's true they wouldn't be to Larkin's taste. I've got about ten up on my bookshelf on my right.