Have you heard the one...

By taking her to see stand-ups, he created the illusion that he was a funny guy. He told only scripted jokes. Rented funny movies, watched funny TV shows, only took her out with his funny (but not funniest) friends. They were always laughing when they were together and for some time the illusion worked. She thought, I am always laughing when I’m with him = he makes me laugh. She didn't think hard enough. He was funny by proxy. That all-important space between a laugh and a giggle, between having a sense of humour and being funny.

It was their holiday that did it. No stand-ups, no movies, no television, no friends and he’d run out of jokes. Here, when misplaced luggage, rain, surly service and a grotty hotel room with no view most called upon humour to save the day, he was lost.