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Being a Lancastrian, I enjoyed Stanley Holloway's Albert and the Lion as a child and so resolved to attempt monologues of my own, choosing the main character, Albert Ramsbottom in tribute to that earlier story. My first tale, A Visit to the Zoo is now being followed by Cats in which Albert retains all his ability to get in and out of trouble. His sense of mischief is not always appreciated by his companion, Lucky the bulldog.
As a boy, I too owned a bulldog, although naturally, I allowed my mum to perform the more mundane tasks relating to the animal's welfare such as feeding and cleaning up any little mishaps. I have witnessed my eldest daughter, Sarah, perform the same services to dogs with ownership being claimed by her own sons, who despite their careless attitudes towards their pet's daily needs, have been rewarded with that same unquestioning loyalty and affection.
I do hope you enjoy the book and that it makes you smile when reading it to your young audience or indeed to yourself.
About the author
The author is retired and came to writing late in life. Although he has lived his adult years in the South of England, this story however has North of England ethos, reflecting his upbringing and his spiritual home. The story, originally intended to entertain his grandchildren, is not seeking to inculcate any deep moral values but rather to amuse and perhaps even to encourage an occasional 'kick against the pricks' of conformity. He too was once an 'Albert'.
