This is a collection of three books. Very thin books. "Can I Come Down Now Dad?" and "These Were Your Father's" were produced in 1991 and 1994 respectively. "The Brother-in-Law and Other Animals' originally appeared as a short-run title from the author's own Down the Publishing Company. All three volumes share an interest in the absurdity and tragedy of everyday family relationships and where possible humour is used to bring these out. Certain pieces in which there is little or no humour have been marked with an asterisk* to save the energies of those in search of the more comedic experience.*