Best Selling Books by Geoff Tibballs

A collection of strange but true anecdotes from throughout the history the Olympic Games.

When we think of the world''s great museums, we tend to think of the Louvre, the Guggenheim or the Victoria and Albert. We do not immediately think of the Dog Collar Museum, the Kansas Barbed Wire Museum, the Museum of Broken Relationships or Barney Smith''s Toilet Seat Art Museum. Yet scattered across the globe are museums dedicated to every conceivable subject, from bananas to Bigfoot, lawnmowers to leprechauns, teapots to tapeworms, mustard to moist towelettes, and pencils to penises. Many are serious collections housed in grand buildings, others are located in tiny premises and are open to visitors by appointment only, often the result of one person''s crazy lifetime obsession. This book lists the world''s 100 weirdest museums in order of quirkiness, encompassing such delights as The Museum of Witchcraft in Cornwall, a museum in Kentucky that houses 800 ventriloquists'' dolls, the Museum of Bad Art in Massachusetts, the Paris Sewer Museum, the French Fry Museum in Bruges, the Museum of Contraception and Abortion in Vienna, the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum in Tennessee, Japan''s Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum (quite possibly the world''s only museum devoted to instant noodles), and the Kunstkamera in St Petersburg, home to Peter the Great''s collection of oddities including deformed fetuses and the decapitated head of a love rival preserved in vinegar. After all, what holiday is complete until you have seen a 300-year-old decapitated human head in a jar? Each entry will include address, contact and admission details, so the next time you are in Berlin there is no excuse for missing out on a visit to the Currywurst Museum, the world''s leading museum dedicated to sausages in hot ketchup.

An illustrated companion to the acclaimed TV comedy drama, now in its third series. It includes profiles of the series'' main characters, interviews with the cast, crew and the creator, and takes a behind-the-scenes look at the filming.

With over 10,000 entries, arranged by topic and fully indexed, here is a giant new collection of witticisms and wisecracks for the 21st century. If you''re looking for a bon mot for an after-dinner talk, struggling to put the finishing touches to a wedding speech or just want to cheer yourself and your mates up, this fabulous fat book provides all you''ll ever need. Entries range from insults, put-downs, gags and one-liners to homespun philosophy, witty proverbs, movie quotes and graffiti. Among the contributors featured are Woody Allen, Dave Barry, P. J. O''Rourke, Winston Churchill, Will Rogers, Jay Leno, P. G. Wodehouse, Bill Cosby, W. C. Fields, Oscar Wilde, Spike Milligan, Groucho Marx, George Bernard Shaw and many more. Never be stuck for a good line again! ''Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.'' P. J. O''Rourke ''I''m sure sex wouldn''t be as rewarding as winning the World Cup. It''s not that sex isn''t good, but the World Cup is every four years and sex is not.'' Ronaldo

Describing how the Channel 4 series Brookside is made, from script to screen, this book includes a month-by-month plot summary of its first ten years. It also has individual profiles of the main characters and the cast, and examines the reactions to the series from the press, public and industry.

Would you Adam and Eve it? Over a hundred years after it was first heard on the streets of Ye Olde London Towne, Cockney rhyming slang is still going strong, and this book contains the most comprehensive and entertaining guide yet. Presented in an easy-to-read A to Z format, it explains the meaning of hundreds of terms, from old favourites such as apples and pears (stairs) and plates of meat (feet) to the more obscure band of hope (soap) and cuts and scratches (matches) through to modern classics such as Anthea Turner (earner) and Ashley Cole (own goal), as well as providing fascinating background info and curious Cockney facts throughout. Also included are a series of language tests so that readers can brush up on their newfound knowledge on their way to becoming a true Cockney Geezer. All in all, The Ultimate Cockney Geezer''s Guide to Rhyming Slang is well worth your bread and honey to have a butcher''s.

"Traces the history of the popular British comedy series, and offers plot summaries for all 69 episodes." -- Amazon.com.

YES, IT''S EUROVISION TIME AGAIN! THE PERFECT GIFT FOR THE EUROVISION FAN IN YOUR LIFE! For 60 years the Eurovision Song Contest has existed in a parallel universe where a song about the construction of a hydro-electric power station is considered cutting-edge pop, where half a dozen warbling Russian grandmothers are considered Saturday night entertainment, where a tune repeating the word ''la'' 138 times is considered a winner, and where Australia is considered part of Europe During those sixty years we have witnessed scandals: in 1957, Denmark''s Birthe Wilke and Gustav Winckler enjoyed an outrageously long 13-second kiss because the stage manager forgot to say ''cut'' during the live broadcast. We have witnessed national outrage: the 1976 Greek entry was a savage indictment of Turkish foreign policy in Cyprus. But most have all we have witnessed silly costumes, terrible lyrics and performers as diverse as Celine Dion and Dustin the Turkey. This book chronicles the 100 craziest moments in the history of Eurovision - the drag acts, the bad acts, the nul points heroes and the night in Luxembourg when the floor manager warned the audience not to stand up while they applauded because they might be shot by security forces. It captures some of the magic from this yearly event that continues to beguile and bemuse in equal measure.

When we think of the world''s great sporting events, we tend to focus on spectacles such as the World Cup, the Olympics, the Derby, the Monaco Grand Prix or the University Boat Race. Yet there is also an alternative world of competition where participants risk life, limb and often dignity for meagre rewards in truly weird sporting pursuits. Step forward the Indonesian sport of sepak bola api, a variation of football in which the barefoot players kick a ball that is on fire; Germany''s Mud Olympics, at which competitors play soccer, volleyball and handball while knee-deep in mud; yak racing from Mongolia; Oregon''s Pig-N-Ford Races where drivers speed around the track while carrying a live pig under one arm; and Australia''s variation of the Boat Race, the Henley-on-Todd Regatta, where, instead of rowing, teams carry their boats along the dry bed of the River Todd. This book lists geographically the world''s 100 weirdest sports events, giving full details of their rules and colourful history. They include the grotesque (the national sport of Afghanistan is buzkashi, in which riders on horseback aim to drag the headless carcass of a dead goat towards their opponents'' goal), the dangerous (Japanese hardcore wrestlers batter each other with glass fluorescent light tubes instead of their bare hands), and the downright daft in the form of the World Black Pudding Throwing Championships, the World Flounder Tramping Championships, the World Gravy Wrestling Championships and the World Shin-Kicking Championships. Races are staged in all kinds of transportation. Canada is home to the Great Klondike Outhouse Race (for portable toilets), the Vancouver Bathtub Race, and the Windsor Pumpkin Regatta; Colorado hosts the annual Emma Crawford Coffin Races; and the pride of Yorkshire is the Great Knaresborough Bed Race, where teams push a bed (containing human occupant) along a 2.4-mile course that requires a wet crossing of the River Nidd. Animals feature heavily, too. As well as traditional races for ostriches (complete with jockeys), cockroaches (no jockey required), armadillos, sheep, and Oklahoma City''s splendid Dachshund Dash, rubber-duck racing is one of the fastest growing sports of recent years with events being held in several countries. Other competitions test an animal''s ability to do more than just run or float, such as elephant polo, dog surfing, camel wrestling, rabbit show jumping and pig diving. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that in the near future we may even be treated to synchronized pig diving. Although the plunging porkers might disagree, the appeal of many of these sports is enhanced by taking part. If cheese rolling or volcano boarding are too energetic for your taste, ice golf or underwater hockey too uncomfortable, and lingerie football wouldn''t show off your legs to best effect, you could always enjoy more leisurely pursuits like the world championships in rock, paper, scissors or pooh sticks. If, on the other hand, you prefer a watching brief, you could try your hand at cow patty bingo, a North American contest where a field is divided into numbered squares, and contestants bet on which square the cow will take a poop. It is probably the only occasion in life when you can make money from one number two on top of another.

In New Year, Same You you''ll find lots of laugh-out-loud humour to brighten your day (or not). Filled with words from the wise, this is the perfect book for grumps everywhere.

Chronicles the events surrounding the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004.

The classic pocket guide to the language of London. This wonderful little guide to cockney rhyming slang contains over 1,700 old and new rhymes translated from Cockney to English and English to Cockney, including: Custard and jelly - telly Hot cross bun - nun Lemon tart - smart Rock ’n’ roll - dole Sticky toffee - coffee ...and many more. Master the art of the Cockney rhyme and discover the Cockney origins of common British phrases.

An encyclopedia of oddities features unexpected and unimaginable people, places, and creatures from around the world.

Nobody does irony or sarcasm like the English. The Wicked Wit of England is celebration of British humour, featuring a collection of stories, anecdotes, quips and quotes that capture the various idiosyncrasies of the English character.

An illustrated collection of oddities that are sure to shock the reader.

''He dribbles a lot and the opposition doesn''t like it - you can see it all over their faces'' - Ron Atkinson ''Rugby is a good occasion for keeping thirty bullies far from the city centre'' - Oscar Wilde Whether over the moon or sick as a parrot, sportsmen and women can invariably be relied upon to come out with a humorous quote...even if it''s not always intentional. The Bowler''s Holding, The Batsman''s Willey provides the definitive collection of sporting wit, from participants and observers alike. The book covers the full gamut of the sports spectrum and provides over 4,000 side-splittingly funny quotes - some examples of incisive sporting wit, others inadvertent howlers never to be forgotten; ranging from the cutting remarks of Brian Clough and Muhammad Ali to the studied observations of John Arlott and the hilarious gaffes of Murray Walker. The Bowler''s Holding, The Batsman''s Willey is an absolute must for any sports fan.

A tribute to Peter Sellers, and celebration of his career in comedy. There are tales of behind-the-scenes antics and practical jokes, a list of film appearances, cast and crew notes, and insider gossip. Interviews with Paul Merton, Steve Coogan, Michael Palin and Spike Milligan are also featured.

We had a battle of magic at Odd Street School! A magician came to do a show and he tried to hatch a scary Zombie Bird out of a silver egg. Eekyfreak! But thanks to Bianca''s trombone, a secret trapdoor, and Martha being invisible ... the Zombie Bird turned out to be the funniest thing ever ha ha! (If you''re scared of magic like our friend Ellie, don''t worry. This book won''t turn you into a frog. Or a rabbit!) Hope you like it, and thanks for reading this BLURB!

More than 150 amusing and interesting lists, ranging from 10 Creatures With Their Own Lights to 20 Choice Political Insults and from 10 Curious Royal Deaths to 10 Near-misses in the Golf Majors. There are lists from the following categories: People, Creatures, Music, Film & TV, The World. and Sport.

Ever since Mrs Malaprop first took to the stage in 1775 and described a gentleman as ''the very pineapple of politeness'', some famous figures have become better known for their slips of the tongue than for anything they said intentionally. In particular, the careers of a number of broadcasters, sporting figures and politicians have become defined by their verbal blunders. Former US Vice-President Dan Quayle is remembered solely for making unfortunate remarks such as ''Republicans understand the importance of bondage between a mother and child.'' Welsh naturalist Iolo Williams sent Twitter into meltdown when, discussing diving sea birds on Springwatch 2016, he asked a female conservationist: ''Is that the deepest shag you''ve ever had?'' Even respected sports broadcaster Harry Carpenter was probably haunted forever by his seemingly innocent comment at the end of the 1977 Boat Race: ''Ah, isn''t that nice? The wife of the Cambridge President is kissing the cox of the Oxford crew.'' I Wish I Hadn''t Said That is a collection of over 3,000 spoken and written blunders - including unintentional double entendres, spoonerisms, mixed metaphors, malapropisms, jaw-dropping remarks, misguided quiz show answers, embarrassing newspaper misprints, and foreign signs and notices that have sadly become lost in translation.

Packed with embarrassing anecdotes, true stories, jokes, sayings - all the wonderful and cringeworthy things dads do and say that make us all sigh and groan.

Following victory in the Champions League 2005, Liverpool seem to be on the up, under their manager Rafa Benitez. It has people, ranging from Graeme Souness through Michael Owen, Jamie Redknapp to Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard. Liverpool has a proud tradition and a loyal support. This book aims to capture the flavour of both.

Ageing is one of those unavoidable facts of life, so it''s best just to see the funny side of it. So as your physical attributes head southwards and your mental attributes head for the hills, reach for the The Little Book of Senior Jokes, which provides you with the perfect way to laugh off any of the obstacles old age throws at you.

Contains information about, illustrations of, and statistics and records pertaining to sports, sporting events, and athletes, discussing basketball, body building, skydiving, running, and more.

Misfortune is never far away on the field of sport. Just when everything seems to be going to plan, the fickle finger of fate can strike without warning to turn a celebration into a commiseration. Ask the Russian marathon runner who turned the wrong way on entering the stadium at the 1954 European Championships and promptly saw a gold medal become bronze; or the jockey who didn''t bother riding his horse flat out because he was mistakenly convinced there was still a circuit to go; or the Irish boxer who took a swing at his opponent, missed, crashed out of the ring and succeeded in knocking himself out. Spanning three centuries and a multitude of sports, this is a classic collection of the finest calamities.

Recounts the bizarre, controversial, inept, heroic and plain unlucky moments from three centuries of the Summer Games. From the inception of the modern Olympic Games in 1896 to Athens 2004, the world¿s greatest sporting occasion has been packed with unusual occurrences. Some unlikely heroes have been created too, including Dorando Pietri, who missed out on a marathon gold when over-anxious London officials helped him over the finish line, and Eric Eel, the slowest swimmer in the history of the Games. Few Olympic champions were as unlikely as U.S. gymnast George Eyser, who overcame the handicap of a wooden leg to win three golds in 1904. ¿This fascinating book will appeal to sports lovers everywhere.¿

An omnibus edition of three true-crime books - Contract Killers, containing 15 tales of hired murderers; Spree Killers, exploring cases involving orgies of random violence; and Sex Killers, featuring individuals such as Jack the Ripper and Jeffrey Dahmer.

This illustrated encyclopaedia covers more than 300 British and American television detective series. The information includes descriptions of the series, characteristics of the detectives, their working methods and styles, cast lists, episode guides, production credits and transmission dates.

A book which ties in with the BBC''s revival of the 1970s show, Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased), which introduced television''s first ghost detective, who helped his very-much-alive partner to solve baffling cases.