I don't know whether it's because I live in London or because I am very old but more and more often I see people on television or listen to them on the radio and realise that I know them. I use "know" in a very loose sense. I suppose I mean people who I have at least been introduced to or had a conversation with. So I count Ken Livingstone who I've met and spoken to several times but I don't count Tony Blair who I've met but we didn't have a deep, meaningful conversation or anything. I pointed him towards the room he needed to go into and he gave me a big cheesy grin. At the time he was wearing a lot of makeup which made it rather difficult to take him seriously.
Last night I was watching a programme on television and I saw this young person who in real life I've seen perform several times. Her father works in the same field as me and every year he organises a concert for charity and his daughter is the prinicipal performer. She is very gifted.
Mainly the people I hear ponitificating are architects or politicians. One MP who I have had dealings with in real life must be on permanent standby every morning to appear on The Today Programme. He is prepared to talk on any topic under the sun; Burma, 9/11, hoodies, abortion, obese children - it's all the same to him. In the real world this man is so socially awkward that he can't look you in the eye when he speaks to you.
I myself have been interviewed on the radio. It was very early in the morning and I was wearing my pyjamas at the time. The interview was by telephone and it wasn't broadcast live. I didn't hear it but someone who did told me that I sounded like a really enthusiastic liar. I am sure this was meant as a compliment.
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