Fran Whiting on why we have to keep laughing at ourselves

A mum has revealed a horror experience that left her looking odd – but it reminds us all we have to keep laughing, writes Fran Whiting.

Penny’s Oompa Loompa moment reminds us we have to keep laughing.

First of all, thank you, thank you, thank you to the reader Penny who sent me - along with some very clear “not for publication” instructions - of the results of her first spray tan experience. It was not good.

Apparently Penny was going to a wedding at a beach resort and, at her adult daughter’s urging, had her first spray tan in preparation.

When the attendant asked her if she would like “light, medium or dark”, Penny decided to do exactly what her name suggested - ‘in for a penny, in for a pound’ - and went all in. She asked for dark, the beautician to her credit did ask “are you sure?”, and Penny, not warning to appear like the first time rookie she was, fairly answered “Oh yes, I like a darker shade”. Which was fortunate, because, judging by the photo Penny sent me, that beautician did not disappoint.

Penny did not just look like an Oompa Loompa, Penny looked like an Oompa Loompa who had just been on a three month vacation in the Whitsundays. On a boat.

There is a big downside to getting your spray tan wrong.

Anyway, thank you Penny, your letter made me laugh almost more than the bloke I told you all about last week who put those paper undies on his head with the strings looped around his ears for a massage, instead of his bottom.

Both of those stories have reminded me of the importance of not taking ourselves too seriously. Of laughing at our foibles, our mistakes and very human errors. Of understanding that public embarrassment comes to all of us at some stage of our lives, and also understanding that the best way to deal with it is to laugh it off.

And with that thought, it is my pleasure to tell you about the elderly woman my friend Trish met at an opening night of an orchestra recital recently.

Trish estimated the woman was in her eighties, very stylishly dressed, her hair and make up was immaculate, and she was wearing a very beautiful, two piece suit, comprising of a silky flowy top and matching mid length skirt Trish had admired her outfit earlier in the evening, and admired it again when the woman came out of the bathroom, and walked past her.

And this is when Trish saw what every single one of us has witnessed, or indeed experienced herself, at some stage of our lives. Yes, the dreaded underpants tuck.

This is when we sail confidently out of a bathroom, into a lobby, or a party or an event, blissfully unaware that our skirt is tucked up into our knickers and everyone, as Trish’s Auntie Pat used to say “Can see what day of the week it is”. I have no idea exactly what that means either, but it’s funny.

Anyway, Trish did what all of us must do in this situation and immediately performed a Citizen’s Intervention, where she glided over to the woman, gently put her hand under her elbow and steered her back toward the bathroom, while saying quietly in her ear “your skirt is tucked up into your underpants”. The woman looked at her, nodded and said quietly back “Oh thank you so much - I’m just glad I’m not wearing the red G string.”

Aah, sometimes I really love people.

FRAN LOVES: I was sent a pair of Merry People short, wellington boots recently, and just love them. Mine are forest green and I now look very stylish tramping around my garden. If I wasn’t too old to go to festivals, I’d wear them to them also!

Originally published as Fran Whiting on why we have to keep laughing at ourselves