Anyone that has ever seen me lose it completely would have been in for a treat tonight.... for those that have never seen it, when something really tickles me I turn into a helpless quaking laughter machine, tears rolling down my cheeks, usually to the complete bemusement of those around me as it's often something that others don't quite get.
In this case, it was one of my Christmas Presents. Some time ago I discovered a rather wonderful book that for those of an easily-offended nature I shall call the "Alton Towers Book". Written by the people behind the website of the non-existent newspaper the Framley Examiner, it was a book about what it described as "Uncommonly British Days Out" - about as far removed from the average theme park as you can get. It featured such delights as the former Nuclear Bunker at Kelvedon, Southport's Lawnmower Museum, the Cumberland Pencil Museum, the set of Eastenders - or at least such of it as is visible over the fence that surrounds it, the David Beckham Trail, and the Morpeth Bagpipe Museum.
Unsurprisingly, the same authors have come up with a sequel. While reading this tonight I came across the chapter on the National Coracle Centre, and there, in the footnotes, was something that reduced me to tears.
One of the events apparently done in coracles involves a race in Yorkshire in coracles made effectively from Yorkshire Pudding Batter. The footnote pointed out another project from the person that made this happen: the North Yorkshire Elvis Bus Tour, in which a group of people dressed like Elvis, and went on a Bus Tour round Ryedale. Singing Elvis Songs. To the tune of "On Ilkley Moor Baht 'At." (Incidentally, there's a little bit more about it here.)
This may give you an insight into my sense of humour, or it may not. Either way, you have been warned.....
