Gerald Durrell

The bulk of it consisted of gun catalogues for Leslie, fashion magazines for Margo, and animal journals for myself. Larry's post generally contained books and interminable letters from authors, artists, and musicians, about authors, artists, and musicians. Mother's contained a wedge of mail from various relatives, sprinkled with a few seed catalogues.

Um ... a hundred and fifty .

Mother always left until the last a fat letter, addressed in large, firm, well-rounded handwriting, which was the monthly instalment from Great-aunt Hermione.

I am sure, Louie dear, that you would not begrudge a small corner to an old woman who has not much longer to live."

She does nothing else but sing hymns ... "Lead, Kindly Light"

There was a particular gecko that had taken over my bedroom as his hunting ground, and I grew to know him quite well and christened him Geronimo, since his assaults on the insect life seemed to me as cunning and well-planned as anything that famous Red Indian had achieved.

I christened her Cicely

They squatted there like two obese, leprous Buddhas

Kralefsky, a person descended from an intricate tangle of nationalities but predominantly English.

he would announce, giving a distasteful glance at Les Petits Oiseaux de l'Europe.