The Young Ones tickled Kate's funny bone.
"It's a laugh, isn't it?"
"What is?"
"That noise you make at the back of your throat, when you hear something funny."
"Yeah, that's a laugh."
From the cult comedy series, The Young Ones, way back in the '80s and probably my favourite comedy show of all times.
Why? Because it appealed to my sense of humour.
Although humour is an incredibly diverse and subjective thing, I can't, for the life of me, even begin to imagine what life would be like without laughter.
Despite there being no right or wrong way to be, I believe you can tell an awful lot about a person, from their sense of humour - or lack thereof.
My sense of humour, which is undoubtedly not to everyone's liking, has seen me survive some of the darkest times in my life. It's literally been my saviour.
It's also a good place to hide ... I remember a few years ago, taking Clone the Younger to an outpatient appointment at the hospital. I was not having the best of days. I checked in at the reception desk and was asked which clinic I would be attending. I gave the life form's name and stated very matter of factly that we were there for the euthanasia clinic, at which point the receptionist burst out laughing. Just the sound of her laughter made me feel better, instantly, and despite the fact that she thought I was joking, I got to say what I really felt in that moment.
It doesn't always work out that way. Had I said the same thing to someone who didn't share my sense of humour, I would, in all probability, have been reported to the necessary authorities, who would have removed the life form from my care, on the grounds of child endangerment. Talk about a fairytale ending.
Try as they might, no straight-laced, po-faced, pathetic, laughless freak is going to dampen the spirits of this authentic consumer of humour. How truly sad it must be to not know humour or to never experience catching the bug of infectious laughter, mind you, I don't suppose they know otherwise.
And it can have its downsides. I'm also a nervous laugher, which can lead to some embarrassing moments. Nothing worse than getting an uncontrollable fit of the giggles in the most inappropriate set of social settings.
With me, seeing a funny side to everything is almost a compulsion, even in the most tragic of circumstances ... I just want to lighten the mood a little and change things up a bit. The old crone and I were watching one of those rescue reality shows a few weeks back where some guy on a fishing boat had chopped off his finger. The severed digit was salvaged for reattachment and the bleeding hand was bandaged. A helicopter was dispatched immediately to come to the rescue and as they prepared to lower the winch, I turned to the crone and said "Wouldn't it be funny if they only air-lifted the finger back to safety and left him to sail back?"
I don't ask to think this way, I just do. No doubt some people will find it highly offensive and in poor taste and there will probably be letters to the editor, seeking the removal of the psychotic columnist at the Chronicle. Don't be too hard on Sir Bob Jones, I rather enjoy his articles.
Rick, from The Young Ones, is slacking on the job, his punishment is a cricket bat to the nuts ... his response "Ha ha, missed both legs".
I've all but given up on trying to figure out what makes me tick but I'm positive that my sense of humour plays a very vital role. Like it or not, it's here to stay. I know this much to be true, I'd rather laugh than cry ... or better yet, laugh until I cry. Life doesn't offer up too many good things for free. Laughter is one of them and it comes with proven health benefits.
Live a little, laugh a lot ... become a humour consumer.
Share the laughter by emailing me, investik8@gmail.com
Kate Stewart is an unemployed, reluctant mother of three, currently running amok in the city ... approach with caution or cheesecake.
'It was probably a bit traumatic for the people that got locked in there.'