Our latest episode of Nicky Tams the King of Nosepipe,  as told by Gordon Thorburn and illustrated by myself Wordsmith Drawingsmith   If you thought King Nicky Tams was a clot, wait until you meet King Canoe. He’s wobbly, he’s weedy, He’s fat he’s wet he’s greedy, C.A.N.O.E. Canooooooooe! (Ang Gonnaseckian children’s playground rhyme) The answerphone was on because Canoe, a fat King and a total pickled cucumber, was spending the morning at the Squash Club in York. He was in York because it was summer. In summer, the King and his Entourage (means ‘Hangers-on’) always retreated from their Scarborough … Continue reading 10. If you thought King Nicky Tams was a clot, wait until you meet King Canoe.

I’m not one for taking pictures of my own lunch but this has to be a worthy exception. Until last week I’d never had East End Eels. I’d heard about Pie and Mash shops and Jellied Eels, of course, but never sampled the delights. A trip to Hackney and there stands an old established Eel and Pie shop. On a perishing cold day, it seemed sensible to have a hot dinner. Under that sea of green lurk the eels in question, the sea of green is described as liquor, but to you and me it would be parsley sauce ( … Continue reading Eels and Mash

Our latest episode of Nicky Tams the King of Nosepipe,  as told by Gordon Thorburn and illustrated by myself Wordsmith Drawingsmith Let loose the dogs of war! Have at ye, varlet! In the Olden Days, soldiers used to say things like that. They also said “Lay on, Macduff” and “I want my mammy”. The Nosepipians’ journey across the sea was total chaos, with quite a few of the ships being sailed by people who had only done wind-surfing before. There were no signs or anything to give them directions, and the weather got worse and worse. They thought they were … Continue reading 9. Let loose the dogs of war! Have at ye, varlet!