Always look on the bright side of life

While my classmates were undoubtedly doing their homework, I'd sit with my father on school nights roaring with laughter while we watched Monty Python's Flying Circus.

It may have been my initiation into oh so silly British humour, but he was an old hand. I don't need to dig deep for memories of my parents glued to The Goon Show.

Or for family excursions to see Jacques Tati films. The only thing that upstaged them in my father's eyes was the time my mother was engulfed in the claret curtain so popular in cinemas in those days. In the gloom we hadn't noticed we'd lost her until we heard the bat-bat of her small hands beating against the heavy fabric.

While life isn't necessarily a barrel of laughs, I learnt at an early age that you could quickstep into absurdity. And what better example than 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life'? The crucifixion scene turned into a song and dance act.