It is often the case that a person's desire to be naked in public is inversely proportional to the public's desire to see them so. And as World Naked Bike Ride flashed past me along Piccadilly yesterday I found myself mentally dressing most of the participants.
But, in these CCTV'd and ASBO'd times it is heartening to see that quite such a mad protest can still take place on the streets of London.
It's good to see the church speak out on social issues.
Not for Cardinal O'Brien the pick and mix apostasy of those Christians who think they can keep the faith, but ignore the unpalatable verses - like being a member of the BNP and claiming you're not a racist. No, the Cardinal prays to a vengeful god. He's a woman hating, homophobic bigot, and proud of it.
The equally charming Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor has suggested that Catholic MPs who vote the 'wrong' way could be denied communion. With Catholic groups planning to 'out' MPs who vote for abortion.
I certainly think religious affiliation should form part of the declaration of members interests. I like to know which parliamentarians are putting cant before their constituencies.
Donations to the National Secular Society can be made here
Maybe GMTV can explain to the next Aliyah Ismail why they're just not photogenic enough for anyone to give a damn about.
And those MPs, with their little yellow ribbons, will no doubt be the same ones who voted to keep 15 and 16 year olds in adult prisons; cut the benefits of refugees, exclude their babies from the protection of the Children's Act; and continue the assault on single mothers.
And the public, with mawkish sentimentality as their new god. No longer parading their virtue in the Sunday pews, they demonstrate the depth of their inner goodness, by forwarding emails. And feeling sad.
To be touched, however vicariously, by the distress of others, quite clearly shows you to be a better person. The veneer of piety without all that bothersome psalm singing and self denial - no wonder it's so popular.
It's a truth, universally acknowledged, that no good can come from the meeting of two women who have nothing in common but you. In the red corner we have (The Former) Miss Right. In the blue, Miss Right Now.
Miss Right thinks, rather unkindly I feel, that Miss Right Now is a cheap slut - just because she's an aerobics instructor doesn't mean she's a bad person. Miss Right Now doesn't really 'do' opinions.
I'm dating neither of them, but it doesn't make it any less awkward. MRN doesn't tune in on MR's snide comments and arched eyebrows, but I'm hearing them loud and clear. I particularly enjoyed being described as having a liking for "the simple pleasures".....
But MRN has got the 'LOOK AT ME EVERYONE' turned up to 11, and it's giving me a headache. And I'm making MR laugh, 'cause I can make her laugh like no-one else can - and she's got a great laugh. MRN can crack a smile too, but it's mainstream riffage.
Yet, MRN is pressed up against me - and the room 'aint that crowded - she's got an ease with intimacy. So, we ditch the party and get a taxi back to her place. But I'm only ever going to be generically amusing to her, so I don't stay over. But, back at the party, MR is be judging me as if I did.
It's hike in/hike out not ski in/ski out. It's 300ft to the summit. It's skiing fall line, just for the ground rush. It's looking down. It's avoiding the next tree; being the only thing on your mind. It's yesterday's precipitous impossibility, being today's nursery slope; and the pleasure and sadness that brings. It's 50 degrees to the vertical. It's 25 degrees below zero. It's always losing, but coming back for more. It's over, far too soon.......
