Friday, July 04, 2008

Gay Paree

Kirsty Young is a star

Did you hear her persuading Posy Simmonds to make chicken noises on Desert Island Discs?

I did not expect to become a fan when she took over. All that fuss about her showing her knees while reading the News on 5

Actually I stopped listening to the programme on principle when Sue Lawley asked Gordon Brown 3 times if he was sure he wasn’t gay

Quite apart from whatever one might feel about the merit of the question, is that the way you would behave to a friend, or someone you knew?

Would you stay friends with someone who was that pushy?

It was just embarrassing

Sure, there is usually a moment in the programme with Kirsty when you know she is backing away from a difficult area – but that in itself is interesting, informative, & unembarrassing for the listener

Before we got to the chickens I was lost in remembrance of Paris & the tale of Posy’s mother’s reaction when she came home Frenchified & dressed all in black

Does any adolescent nowadays dream of being initiated into some of the mysteries of the adult world in Paris in the springtime?

Eating frites on the street, smoking un Gitane, dunking a croissant in very black coffee on a Left Bank pavement, devouring ice cream in Le Drugstore, being given chocolate sandwiches or Petit Suisse for tea, riding around on the back of une mobilette, listening to Gilbert Bécaud

Ah me. What has happened to the world?