The Best After Dinner Stories

On dark and cold winter nights, reading a humorous book can cheer you up. The other night I started rereading "The Best After-Dinner Stories" published by my favourite publisher, The Folio Society. The book, compiled by Tim Heald, is a gem if you are a friend of good old-fashioned British humour.

Here is one of my favourite anecdotes:

The Russians were attempting to set up a spy ring in Wales. A top KGB agent called (of course) Vladimir was told, 'Proceed to Cardiff and take the branch line to Abercvmscwt. There you will meet a man called Jones. You will say to him, "The daffodils are blooming early this year". He will reply, "Yes, but the tulips are late." He will tell you how to set up a spy ring.'

Vladimir finally arrives at Abercvmscwt and asks the  ticker collector, 'Do you know a man called Jones?'. The ticket collector replies, 'Well, it depends which Jones you want. There´s Jones the Bread, Jones the Milk, Jones the Death (he´s the funeral director). In fact, my name is Jones.' 'The daffodils are blooming early this year', says Vladimir. 'Oh', says the ticket collector, 'it´s Jones the spy you want.'