Wished the politicians I had met ones turning up at the day job
more than on occasion, that I was right by…politicians.
It was as surreal and other-worldly as it was gratifying! Not only that, the audience also seemed to agree with some of my points. This is not, as my wife would tell you, a common occurrence. I have to say I enjoyed the novelty but, having said that, it was an open goal for someone like me.
Going on the telly to lambast politicians for wasting three precious years over Brexit, eroding our faith in democracy and creating all the polarisation, division and hatred that goes with our interminable debate over Europe, is not the trickiest task.
As someone who is clearly not a politician and can speak his mind honestly, without having to worry about keeping to party lines, it was a free hit.
And I never forgot that politicians are masters of debate, well-practised in the art of rhetorical self-defence.
One of the oldest tricks in their book is, when the audience seems to be slipping toward their opponent, to turn the tables by politely agreeing with them, diplomatically praising their points, and telling them how righ, they are.
It is a classic diversion from what they are not doing – which is answering the question.
And on a night full of enjoyable debate, there were still many more questions than answers.
And at least one earful of cider. I had the pleasure of visiting on its first anniversary the new V&A museum that dominates Dundee’s revitalised and rejuvenated waterfront.
I was there with rising star Stephanie Cheape, who was asked to play her new single Cool My Mind live on Janice Forsyth’s radio show. Well the V&A is certainly cool, and it blew my mind. What a magnificent museum.
Ever better was meeting the beaming and rightly-proud architect Kengo Kuma.
As museums go, the V&A is ship-shape in more ways than one. I thought there had been a mistake when
I heard there was a Scottish Children’s Parliament and that it was calling for alcohol to be made less visible to children in shops, on TV billboards and in the home. I thought it was Holyrood they were referring to. But, no, there is a Children’s Parliament for 9 to 11-year-olds and, along with Alcohol Focus, it wants booze stripped from the shelves and a ban on TV and media advertising, saying it makes them feel uncomfortable, especially when mum and dad get drunk in front of them! Some of the points I actually agree with but let’s not forget that great strides have been made in reducing alcohol-related crime, that fewer children now drink alcohol and that, for the vast majority of families, as with many Europeans, it is drunk responsibly.