That's Absurd

I’ve no doubt you will have noticed that much of my writing here is… nonsensical, absurd and possibly a little unhinged. And I make no apology for that. None. But what I’m going to do here, is try to explain in as sensible a way as I can, why I write like it. 

(I fear the worse -Ed)

The Goon Show ran from 1951 to 1960. Before I was born (yes, you at the back, I’m not that old). But the Goons had a massive influence. Without it, there would have been no Monty Python, for example. 

I have a complete set of the Goon Show scripts. And I cherish them. Because they represent quintessentially British humour. For many people, it remains the moment when comedy discovered that it could be gloriously, unapologetically daft — and never look back.

It so happens that another favourite author of mine, Mr Douglas Adams, was heavily influenced by the Goons. Imagine having no The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy? The world would be a far worse off place. So would the dolphins. 

It makes me quite melancholy when I think about that fantastic, anarchic humour has passed into the annals of history. And will never likely return. 

Well SOD that. 

I, at least, will write with AS MUCH utter chaos as I can merengue. And while I’m at it, I’ll take massive kites at bureaucratic nonsense and stuffy authoritarianism. Because, I’m standing in the shoes of giants. I write how I write in the spirit of the legends that went before me. I’ll not reach the heights of their brilliance. But at least I’ll keep anarchic nonsense alive. 

“You’re not kidding.” 

“Ah, Editor, I wondered when you’d turn up.” 

“I’ll admit, apart from a few wanderings, this is not too bad.” 

High praise. I’ll take that, although the Coronation Chicken sandwich I had earlier is repeating on me, although the Coronation Chicken sandwich I had earlier is repeating on me, although the Coronation Chicken sandwich I had earlier is repeating on me…

“Oi!”

“What now?”

“Don’t ruin it!”

When did you last watch a sketch show that made you laugh to the point where you lost control of your body? You laughed, making such a huge guffaw, you sounded like Cthulhu with toothache?

When did you last listen to a radio show so bonkers that you laughed hard enough to fall off your chair? 

Spike Milligan, the Pythons, Douglas Adams, Tom Sharpe… They all had me guffawing and falling off chairs. I miss them. 

So, this has been me, a sixty one year-old who never grew up, in a slightly lemon tonic melancholy mood. Trying to explain why I write how I write. 

I hope it makes sense. If it doesn’t, try refreshing the page. 

There once was a writer who snored,
Because he was terribly bored.
He scripted solemn things,
With an ink pen that rings,
Then decided to throw in a fjord.