Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Hats off to Cheeta and Voytek

Brethren (and sistren), let us turn away from the depressing world of human vice and folly, and ponder two heartening stories from the animal kingdom. The impending memoirs of Cheeta the Chimp - a tale of high living, scandalous behaviour and addictions overcome - will surely rock Hollywood on its heels. How much was he paid, I wonder - and will he name the lady chimps in his life or maintain a gentlemanly silence? The latter, I hope. I liked the cut of Cheeta's jib, last time I saw him, lounging by the pool with a cigar and a whisky.
Meanwhile, the Scots clamour, quite rightly, for a fitting memorial to this heroic bear, another who discovered the pleasures of booze and baccy, but only in the course of duty. A shame he did not live to write his memoirs - he certainly had a good war.

5 comments:

  1. I'd suggest memorials to both - cigar in one paw, bottle o' booze in the other - right outside the offices of the Health and Safety Executive.

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  2. How splendid. Clearly a most heroic bear and an interestingly debauched primate.

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  3. Speaking of interestingly debauched primates, I wonder how the Bishop of Southwark is these days.

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  4. Good point Sophie - tho 'interestingly' is pushing it. I always have a quiet chuckle when he turns up on Thought For The Day, booming his hearty platitudes as if nothing had happened. He made it through the festive season without being overcome by the urge to tell people who he is and what he does (while throwing toys out of their car) - but what I'd like to know is (a) was he invited to the Irish Embassy and (b) did he say no?

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  5. Nige, I gather the Irish Embassy went all coy when asked whether the bish would be attending their bash this time. Even if he didn't go, hats off to him for coining that most useful phrase. I used it most recently on my husband when trying to explain why I had failed in my mission to buy us something for supper but had at the same time managed to acquire a new pair of shoes.

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