Cambridge has nothing on Common People
Isn’t it interesting that the actress Naomie Harris says studying at Cambridge opened doors for her?” I idly (not really idly…) remarked to my 18-year-old at breakfast.
“What?” she barked in response. A bit abrupt but, hey, at least it wasn’t a déclassé “Pardon me?”
“I mean, she read political and social science and didn’t enjoy it much, but that’s turned out to be far less important than the professional connections she subsequently made Because She Went To Cambridge. She became a Bond girl, you know.”
“I have no idea who you are talking about.”
I helpfully show her the newspaper. This is met with icy froideur.
“What age is she, anyway? How can you call someone in their late 50s a girl? You are so horribly sexist. I’m embarrassed for you.” “She’s only 44! And, yes, I grant you that ‘girl’ has fallen out of popular usage. Naomie herself has said that female characters in the modern 007 franchise are ‘formidable women’, although it hasn’t got quite the same ring to it…”
“Why are you going on and on about this?”
“Well, darling, given that you
now have your grades and are taking a year out, I was wondering if you would like to have a rethink and apply to Cambridge? Or Oxford?”
“OMG, no. I’m not a social climber like you.” Ouch. Talk about a serpent’s tooth.
“Besides, you told me, and I quote, ‘you can get drunk and fraternise with unsuitable boys anywhere, so make sure you at least choose a course you enjoy’.”
Yes, I did say that. I stick by it, too. But somewhere deep inside, there’s obviously a “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” pushy parent battling to interfere with her life choices.
“I just want you to be happy,” I say, and I mean it, too. Sort of.
“I’ve told you I want to go somewhere that’s grittier and more urban, where I’ll meet a wider social demographic and experience real life,” she says. “I don’t want to end up in some sort of privileged bubble full of students like me.”
Such robust egalitarianism is to be commended. My girl hasn’t heard of Pulp’s 1995 hit, yet she wants to live with Common People. Did I mention she’s going to Bristol?