Are you having a laugh?

This blog was started so that I could write about the things that amused and surprised me with the occasional rant.  By nature, I am an optimist and my glass is usually half full, but recently the world has seemed like a rather disturbing and depressing place.   There is certainly plenty to rant about.   I saw this the other day and wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry out in disbelief –  there is a new film that has raised the question as to whether dog show judges manipulating the genitalia of male dogs constitutes sexual harassment.   Surely this must be a joke   My father always used to say, ‘To the pure, all things are pure’ and all I can say is someone with a very impure mind must have raised that concern.

However, there is always something to cheer one up if you look hard enough.  Recently I was helping out at a Pony Club event.   I had forgotten about Pony Club mothers – the most formidable and admirable group of people – a regiment composed of these women would never be defeated.   And what is more they are bringing up fearless children who understand that life is full of obstacles that can be overcome – such as a bolting pony or a tumble over its neck!   ‘You’re fine…hang on…oh, dear, never mind… just get back on.   You can do it.   Don’t cry, it’s fine.’     It was wonderful and so refreshing after all we hear about gentle parenting!   Music to my hard boiled ears – it reminded me of the way things used to be and cheered me up enormously.  

I have always considered a day without laughter to be a wasted day, but sometimes you have to search quite hard for the laughs.    I didn’t think the 6.30 comedy programmes on Radio 4 could get less amusing than the News Quiz in its present incarnation, but the Naked Week manages it.   Whatever made the scriptwriters (if they have any) think that the word ‘knob’ used to describe someone would be hilarious – although to judge by the shrieks from the studio audience some people do, unless they are all on drugs.   Of course, the word ‘knob’ is innately funny but is it prime time listening on Radio 4 funny?    More and more I turn to my favourite humourists of the past.   Who doesn’t find P G Wodehouse amusing?  

For example Bertie Wooster asking the wonderful Jeeves his opinion of a new and rather loud tweed suit that he has just bought:

‘Lots of fellows have asked me who my tailor is.’

‘Doubtless in order to avoid him, sir’

Very dated, but still funny.   A reassuring world where Bertie Wooster is a bit of an ass, charming and well intentioned, but an ass nevertheless and Jeeves is so infinitely superior as far as intellect goes, albeit a bit supercilious.   This was a world ruled by aunts – the sort of aunt who has disappeared.   What has happened to the aunts of yesteryear when Aunt called to Aunt like mastodons bellowing across primaeval swamps and every family member leapt to do their bidding?   They certainly don’t make them like that any more.

And more recently the late Alan Coren whose observational humour always made me smile – just putting into words things that I have thought about myself such as:

“There are many mysteries in old age but the greatest, surely, is this: in those adverts for walk-in bathtubs, why doesn’t all the water gush out when you get in?”

A bit obvious but something that I have wondered myself.   David Mitchell said something similar on Radio 4 the other day and he is one of the few modern comedians that I find both intelligent and funny.

Of course, there are others, but you have to look quite hard to find them.   There is no doubt that there is nothing better than having a fit of helpless giggles with a friend or two or that wonderful feeling you get when something has tickled you so much that you just have to share it with someone.   One of the secrets to a happy marriage has to be a shared sense of humour.   Although that can be dangerous if you catch each other’s eye at the wrong moment.   My father loved to make people laugh at the inappropriate time so when he and his brothers went to visit the family solicitor after their mother died he told them that the solicitor, who was a very short man, was taller when seated than when he stood up.   As the brothers came into the office, he got to his feet whereupon my two uncles gave out loud guffaws in front of the poor bewildered man.

Just as an afterthought here is my Mystery of the Week.   English is my first language and I pride myself on having a good vocabulary.   Admittedly I don’t understand a lot of the words my teenage grandchildren use, but surely that is the point of what they say.   On the other hand, I do expect to be able to understand things on mainstream television, so what is ’A Gaffer of an Acca’ – No idea!!!  Something to do with betting?   Am I the only one in the dark here?