Recommended viewing: ‘I Told You I Was Ill’

Today’s my birthday, so I’m going to celebrate by recommending you all watch this lovely documentary about Spike Milligan, by his children, in particular Jane Milligan who narrates through this 2005 film. Enjoy!

And, apropos of nothing, a poem.

Jumbo Jet

I saw a little elephant standing in my garden.

I said: 'You don't belong in here.' He said: 'I beg your pardon?'

I said: 'This place is England, what are you doing here?'

He said: 'Ah, then I must be lost,' and then, 'Oh dear, oh dear.'

'I should be back in Africa, on Serengetti's Plain,

Pray, where is the nearest station where I may catch a train?'

He caught the bus to Finchley and then to Mincing Lane,

And over the Embankment, where he got lost, again.

The police they put him in a cell, but it was far too small,

So they tied him to a lamppost and he slept against the wall.

But as the policeman lay sleeping by the twinkling light of dawn

The lamppost and the wall were there, but the elephant was gawn!

So if you see an elephant in a jumbo jet,

You can be sure that Africa's the place he's trying to get!

Spike Milligan