The popular American humorist on his move to Paris was inspired to write some hilarious pieces about his attempt to learn French. His family is another inspiration. Anyone who has heard him speaking live or on the radio may recall his attempts to learn French from a sadistic teacher who declared that 'every day spent with you is like having a caesarean section'. 'You Can't Kill the Rooster' is a portrait of his brother who talks incessant hip-hop slang to his bewildered father. No one hones a finer fury in response to such modern annoyances as restaurant meals presented in ludicrous towers of food, and cashiers with six-inch fingernails. Wonderfully astute observations, thoughtful honest and humorous writing such as 'Knuckle of flash-seared crappie served with a collar of chided ginger' and some pretty rude toilet humour. 272pp, paperback.

Would you rather be a tennis ball or tennis racket? Would you rather be married to King Henry VIII (in spite of his flatulence) or be in the Charge of the Light Brigade? Would you rather have a Swiss Army hand or an Inspector Gadget helicopter blade that emerged from your head? Would you rather die on your feet, live on your knees or slide down a bank of snow on your bottom? Hundreds of family-friendly fun conundrums and questions including an adult section with slightly older nostalgic references to films, music, TV, politics or older gadgets: 'Would you rather own a Bunsen burner or an overhead projector?' Of course the kids would scratch their heads not knowing what they were! A totally bonkers gift with lined pages at the end for your own notes and daft thoughts. 204pp.

Interrupting video calls, stepping on computer keyboards for a snuggle and a rub, knocking things off the table, spilling your coffee, leaving cat hair everywhere. If you've ever tried to work from home with a cat, this may sound all too familiar. They are the cutest co-workers and we wouldn't have it any other way. Despite all the struggles, cats like Peanut in the book are always by our side when we need them, even on the hardest and loneliest workdays, hogging your chair, disrupting your yoga routine, or clamouring onto the hot stove. Heidi Moreno's tabby has a lot of personality and cattitude and her artworks are very appealing in this thoughtful, fun book. 72pp, colour cartoons.

Tim Walker's photographs have been entrancing the readers of Vogue for over a decade, the V&A Museum and the NPG. Pour yourself a cuppa tea and join the journeys of Miss Marple-types eloping to Egypt in head-to-toe tartan or jetting off to Mars on a flying saucer. A special twinset collection of characterful photographs of real grannies accompanied by short, gently humorous verses by Kit Hesketh-Harvey. The volume is delightfully populated with Lawrence Mynott's drawings of lively old ladies - spirited, stylish, sweet like Lucinda with her hat addiction, Kitty whose knitting skills are second to none and our late Her Majesty the Queen. It is a whimsical vision of rose-printed, feline-filled arcadia where fur coats, tiny pooches, yummy cakes, walking sticks, glasses and grey hair are matched with great style in this alphabet with M for Mink and H for Hat etc. The book has a fashion photographer's genius touch and beautiful shots of grannies doing things that they love with great style. A Thames & Hudson luxury publication, 148pp, 20.3 x 27cm, two volumes slipcased.

In the heyday of British manufacturing, when Britian was the biggest trading nation in the world, inventors who wished to patent their designs had to submit two detailed drawings to the Patents Office. Professionals and amateurs were eager to contribute to the country's technological progress, and some inventions, such as the telephone and lightbulb, were more successful than others. This book's fascinating examples of Victorian ingenuity and eccentricity have been dug out from the National Archives to create an attractively produced volume. An intense interest in how things worked crossed all ages and classes. Gadgets for personal safety or appliances promoting increased health were extremely popular, though the author comments that many seem as perilous as the dangers they hoped to mitigate. Some designs are intended to alleviate dangers that have long since passed, for instance an overheated head in a top hat or a boot and shoe warmer for the days before central heating. Names are a source of interest, for instance the "somapantic" bath designed to maximise water coverage. The debate between a three or four-pronged fork apparently formed the subject of many a dinner-party conversation. The flush water closets popularised mid-century usually disgorged into the local river, leading to the pollution we are now experiencing once again, and there were numerous patents ensuring a more effective flush. The "omnidirective shower bath" of 1843 pointed to the future but for many years remained unheated. The "noiseless cornice-pole and ring" was presumably intended to eliminate the misery of a rattling curtain rail. Out and about there were numerous gadgets addressing the challenge of leaving the house, for instance a portable cooking apparatus, an anti-explosive alarm whistle, a tennis racket with ball-picker, and a currant-cleaning machine, not to mention an anti-garrotting cravat. The medical section includes some interesting paraphernalia to improve the childbearing experience, usually invented by men. 17.8 x 24.9cm, 224pp, drawings on every page.
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How to be Happy Though Married, How I Got Licked and Why, The English: Are They Human?, Erections on Allotments, Drummer Dick's Discharge, Planet of the Knob Heads, Tosser Gunman, How to Avoid Being Drowned, Scouts in Bondage, The Art of Faking Exhibition Poultry, Moles and Their Meaning - here is a celebration of all the weird and wonderful books to treat all bibliophiles, booksellers and fans of the bizarre. Complete with covers from our past and books that have inexplicably fallen out of print - now never be forgotten. Beautifully produced full page colour covers, marbled endpapers. 128pp.

956 minutes or 15 hours and 56 minutes featuring great names like actors Duncan Preston, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Peter Ellis, Celia Imrie, Pete Postlethwaite, Maureen Lipman, Patricia Routledge, Kenny Ireland, Susie Blake, in this collection of all the complete BBC TV series. Starring Britain's best loved comedienne, it includes As Seen On TV, Acorn Antiques, all six short plays from Victoria Wood Presents, and the travel documentary series Victoria's Empire. The Pat and Margaret CD is an absolutely stunning piece of writing which delves into the stories between two sisters who haven't seen each other for years after being split up as youngsters, one achieving fame and fortune, the other living a poor life in comparison as the heartbreaking story unfolds. Victoria's Empire is a well written documentary of how the trade such as in opium and tea helped create the British Empire. An amazing collection to buy at this bargain price. Seven DVD discs, colour.

The entire audio soundtrack of the film in a new remastered and expanded version with booklet enclosed plus the trailer to go with your original LP (and add in our double CD Collection 95171 Monty Python Sings). An incredible 24 tracks plus three bonus tracks Arthur's Song, Documentary with Terry Jones and Michael Palin and Run Away Song. It begins with an Introduction, Arrival At Castle, Constitutional Peasants, Witch Burning, Camelot and Camelot Song, Arthur and God, French Castle, the Story So Far, Brave Sir Robin, The Knights Who Say 'Ni', Marilyn Monroe, Sir Lancelot and The Swamp, Tim The Enchanter, Hand Grenade Of Antioch, and End of Quest. Incredible value audio version, you'll be rushing back to see the film. Bargain price CD.

Deluxe two CD set featuring three never-before-released songs and three new recordings. New track Lousy Song premiered on Simon Mayo's Radio 2 show. The classics to get us singing along on the first CD begins with Always Look On the Bright Side of Life, The Silly Walk Song, Penis Song, Money Song, Accountancy Shanty, Medical Love Song, Every Sperm Is Sacred, Never Be Rude to an Arab, Eric the Half a Bee, Rudyard Kipling, Bruce's Philosophers Song, Knights of the Round Table, All Things Dull and Ugly, Rainy Day in Berlin, Christmas in Heaven, Spam Song and ending with the Lumberjack Song. That's 31 tracks on disc one alone. The second disc is entitled Monty Python's Flying Circus (Live) from 1970 and features 19 tracks beginning with Flying Sheep, A Man With Three Buttocks (TV Interviews), Crunchy Frog (Trade Description Act), Nudge Nudge Wink Wink, Barber Shop Sketch, Lumberjack Song, Arthur Two Sheds, Children's Stories, Albatross, Mr Hitler, The North Minehead By-election, Dead Parrot Sketch and Self Defence among them. Bargain complete compilation with advisory sticker that 'This is a very rude album and occasionally we say something really smutty - it's all Graham's fault.'

It takes a fair amount of hard-necked heichtynes (old Scots word for temerity) to wrap oneself up in the mantle of Reverend Brewer who back in the Victorian era initiated the whole phrase-and-fable industry. He beavered for obscure allusions in the arcana of ancient texts, compiling scholarly serendipity and giving birth to his famous and eponymous Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. First published in 2012 and now updated 2021 with hundreds of new and expanded entries, this edition focusses on 4,500 Scottish phrases and fables, incorporating the texture and fabric of the nation's ever-shifting sense of itself. From Aald Rock to Zeenty-teenty, it is an unputdownable gallimaufry of curious sayings, put-downs, insults, mottos, traditions, legends, folklore, customs, festivals, games, songs, dances, nicknames, bards and characters, doctors and high days to The Broons. There are completely new entries including Big Tam, the Third Forth Bridge, the Loony Dook, and the War of the One-eyed Woman. Past and present, it is a kaleidoscopic snapshot of the Scottish nation, from the mythical origins of the Scots in ancient Scythia to the foibles of modern Follyrood, from Sawney Bean to Oor Wullie, and from 'The end of an old song' to 'Aw fur coat and nae knickers' and 'Ye cannae shove yer granny aff a bus'. Curiously useful eclectic scholarship which is wilfully idiosyncratic, this is a real linguistic treasure trove and hours of sheer joy. 584pp and a large size, 19.5 x 25cm.