When Sir Harry Lauder left a concert on Deeside he was mystified that his jokes had not got the response received elsewhere. It perked him up when, from the spilling audience, he heard a voice say, 'Fit a gran comic. It took me aa ma time nae ti lach.' The humour of Scotland's North-east is found at less celebrated levels too. There is the tale of the middle-aged couple who had courted each other for almost thirty years, but had never got round to marriage. One day Jock decided to voice his thoughts on the matter, for he was worried that people were speaking about their phenomenally long relationship. 'Jean,' Is it nae time the twao's were thinkin' aboot getting mairrit?' 'Behave yersel, Jock,' said Jean. 'Fa wid hae ony o's noo?'