Our October non-fiction choice is There Was An Old Geezer Called Caesar by Mick Twister. Post your own limerick and you could win £100 of Anova books

[RebeccaSMumsnet]

Mick Twister has been tweeting the daily news in limerick form for the past three years. And now he's reflected the whole of human history in 100 limericks.

There Was An Old Geezer Called Caesar is a wonderfully witty book covering everything from the Big Bang to Cleopatra, Einstein, the invention of the atom bomb and many more.

With each page containing a catchy limerick and short description of the historical events, this brilliantly entertaining book is an ideal way to brush up on those things you feel you ought to know.

As well as giving away 50 copies of the book we're also running a competition to find the best limerick about Mumsnet starting with the line:

A website frequented by mums...

The finest limerick will net its author a brilliant bundle of books from Anova Books Group, including crafts, cooking and children's books, worth £100.

Apply for a copy and post your limerick on the discussion thread and we'll announce the winner at the end of October.

[InsultingBadger]

Just bought the book on Amazon.. Looking forward to having a read

[FeverAndTheFret]

A website frequented by mums
Iconic, as big as it comes
Fount of wisdom and wit
Parents' Survival Kit
To its charms everyone succumbs!

(Re-posted to correct typos!)

[johnworf]

Mine arrived at the weekend. It's a super cute little book which is well made and looks fab.

Within, you'll find a potted history of events with accompanying limerick for each topic. It goes on to discuss further within a few paragraphs so doesn't bombard you with facts and dates.

My verdict?

Great for a gift to a wide ranging audience. Not too heavy that you would lose interest. You can dip in and out as you wish and the index at the front tells you what historical event is where. Shame there aren't more illustrations. But still, totally recommended from me

[KatherinaMinola]

Revising my own effort of Wed 09-Oct-13 10:43:08:

A website frequented by mums:
who'd imagine the depths that it plumbs?
"Is your pelvic floor weaker?"
"D'you dunk in a beaker
(or does your DH, when he comes)?"

[InsultingBadger]

Ha ha ha the beaker had to appear

[nushcar]

A website frequented by mums
Who do more than sit on their bums
They share insight, they network, they blog
They recognise parenting is a great yet tough job
Made easier with a community of chums

[FeverAndTheFret]

A website frequented by mums
Drawn in by the lively forums
A place we will meet
Folks not from our street:
I've met good chums from the doldrums

[nushcar]

A less clunky version of earlier suggestion:

A website frequented by mums
Who do more than sit on their bums
They share and they blog
They do a tough job
Made easier with lots of chums

[katb1973]

Thanks so much Mumsnet, received my copy last week and have had a real laugh reading it. I learnt loads of new historical information that when I checked if it was true....was!!! Really well written by someone who obviously has a brilliant mind for rhyming. Brilliant stocking filler for those "hard to buy for" people.

[InsultingBadger]

I got my book in the post today... Starting it tonight

[doodlecrayon]

Thanks for my copy, MN. I've really enjoyed dipping in. I wouldn't say it's laugh-out-loud funny, but it is diverting and amusing. It's a lovely looking little book, too. I'd say it's a perfect stocking filler or secret Santa for anyone who likes trivia or quizzes.

[doodlecrayon]

Thanks for my copy, MN. I've really enjoyed dipping in. I wouldn't say it's laugh-out-loud funny, but it is diverting and amusing. It's a lovely looking little book, too. I'd say it's a perfect stocking filler or secret Santa for anyone who likes trivia or quizzes.

[doodlecrayon]

Thanks for my copy, MN. I've really enjoyed dipping in. I wouldn't say it's laugh-out-loud funny, but it is diverting and amusing. It's a lovely looking little book, too. I'd say it's a perfect stocking filler or secret Santa for anyone who likes trivia or quizzes.

[helenajane]

Thank you, I enjoyed my copy, i admire people who can come up with witty lines, no matter how many times i tried, i kept coming up with a word at the end i couldn't make rhyme with any other word! So, i will just say its a nice little book that is easy to read & will amuse most children.

[BigGapMum]

This is a fun little book. I'm just in awe of people who can do this sort of thing. I tried but couldn't even come up with a limerick to enter the competition.

This book is a nice stocking filler, especially as an alternative history book for someone interested in history, or indeed would be good for anyone with a bit of a sense of humour.

My only criticism would be that there is a bit too much very recent history. I suspect that's because the author had already written those for his regular daily tweet.

[RachelMumsnet]

The limerick competition is now closed. We were blown away by the standard of great limericks and have really enjoyed reading this thread over the course of the month.

Thanks also to those who sent in feedback about Was an Old Geezer Called Caesar. Author Mick Twister has also been following the thread and will be picking the winner of the comp later this eve and the winner will be announced tomorrow.

Because there are so many great entrants, we're going to create a page of some of our favourites which we'll link to next week.

[GeraldineMumsnet]

As promised, here is the winner of October's limerick competition



The WINNER is RyvitaHayworth for:

A website frequented by mums:
how quickly the newbie succumbs,
giving strangers (or worse)
mothers' chapter and verse,
while her own child gnaws soap with his gums.

Mick Twister said: "Hard to pick a winner, with such a lot of great limericks. Ryvita shaded it in the end with a smooth metre, nice choice of rhymes - 'succumbs' is a great word - and a funny punchline."

And his honourable menshes go to:

KatherinaMinola for her topical (!) entry:

A website frequented by mums:
who'd imagine the depths that it plumbs?
"Is your pelvic floor weaker?"
"D'you dunk in a beaker
(or does your DH, when he comes)?"

And for rhyming 'neutrals' with 'poo trolls', which was quite special - as was aaaaagh's rhyming of 'DCs' with 'faeces'!

Dappledawn also produced several very good limericks - this is the pick of the bunch (the plum?):

A website frequented by mums
Produces some absolute plums -
With pants that are sodden,
We'll help the downtrodden,
Ignoring our burgeoning tums!

So thanks again for all the brilliant entries. As RachelMumsnet said yesterday, we aim to produce a page showcasing our favourites by next week.

And RyvitaHayworth, please email [email protected] with your name and address, so we can get your prize in the post. :)

[RyvitaHayworth]

Whoop whoop!

Thanks a million Mick, hope your book is in the bundle. What a great start to the weekend.

Congratulations to the Hons too.

[KatherinaMinola]

Yep, that would have been my pick too, and for the same reasons. Congratulations Ryvita

[dappledawn]

Congratulations Ryvita! This competition has been a lot of fun

[idleweiss]

This book is fantastic!! Its clever,fun, informative and hard to put down, Me and my DD had lots of fun reading this, even my DH! Learning some of these limericks is a great way for older children to remember historical events (as well as adults too!). Would recommend this and already have! I have also bought another copy to give as a Christmas gift! A brilliant little read! :)

[GeraldineMumsnet]

As promised, we've collated some of your finest efforts on this thread into a page.

Thanks again to everyone who took part. What larks :)

[gazzalw]

There's an awful lot of talented people on Mumsnet! Well done to everyone whose limericks were chosen!

[CarolLesley]

This was a great little book for my reluctant to read teenager, informative and funny. Dare I suggest an excellent stocking filler? Thank you Mumsnet!

[RyvitaHayworth]

My box of books arrived, thanks so much MN and Anova.

What a gorgeous treat! Mmmmmmmm.