My whole family fell for this...
In the early '80s, I was watching Blue Peter with my mother when they had a feature on a new exhibit at London Zoo - it was a rare primate and it was known in its native region as a "Lirpa Loof".

It was about three or four feet tall and cute. What was most impressive about it, though, was its mimicry: it would copy the movements of members of the public who gathered around its enclosure exactly.

I was spellbound. So was my mother. My excuse is that I was about 7 years old. Hers is that... well, she's clearly not very bright.

Anyway: it was her birthday in a couple of weeks. (I shudder to think that she was about the age that I am now. Eek.) We decided that it would be fun to have a daytrip to London zoo to see this creature to celebrate - and so we did.

It was a fabulous sunny mid-April day. We wandered around the zoo, but could find no sign of the Lirpa Loof. (You know where this is going, don't you?) Dad went off to find a warden - maybe even the great Johnny Morris himself - and ask where we could find this amazing specimen that had been on Blue Peter.

Two minutes later, he came back looking rather sheepish.

The zookeeper told him that he should spell the animal's name backwards.
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Fri 22 Aug 2008, 10:39, 9 replies)

Lirpa Loof
I remember that, I'm sure it was on That's Life though - I recall Esther commenting on the purple poo it allegedly left.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Fri 22 Aug 2008, 10:40, closed)

GAH!
The whole BBC was conspiring! (I don't think I'd have been old enough still to be awake by the time That's Life came on - I used to get sent to bed quite early.)
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Fri 22 Aug 2008, 10:42, closed)

You are the twat child...
... of a family of twats.


Twat.
(Star Wars Starwarsy McStarwars Face, Fri 22 Aug 2008, 10:46, closed)

@Star Wars
Thanks for that.
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Fri 22 Aug 2008, 10:49, closed)

**click**
Those L-Plates are there for a reason...

**just got the Peter Ustinov 404 message when I tried replying. Great stuff!**
( ousgg is not seeking approval, Fri 22 Aug 2008, 10:53, closed)

Nice, Star Wars
Real nice...
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Fri 22 Aug 2008, 11:17, closed)

I'm impressed with
the talent demonstrated by Star War's response there. He's gonna be an asset to the B3ta community I can tell.

He's my "One to watch" for 2008 for sure.
(Bazongaloid, Fri 22 Aug 2008, 11:17, closed)

2 clicks...

One on 'I like this' to Enzyme...

One on 'Ignore' to Star Wars...

Only on B3ta 6 days and on ignore already? That's gotta be some sort of record.

@Star Wars...Congratulations for making me forever now associate my favourite collection of movies with a putrified turd gargler like yourself.
( Pooflake braces for an onslaught..., Fri 22 Aug 2008, 11:26, closed)

There really should
be a "I like this" button for replies.

Putrified turd gargler indeed
(bamboozled Can hear you getting fatter, Sun 24 Aug 2008, 3:22, closed)