Has anyone watched QI? That show on the ABC hosted by Stephen Fry? Tuesday nights at 9.35pm. It really is Quite Interesting (pun fully intended).
I wouldn't say I'm an addict, but (aside from Glee and Top Gear) it's one of the few shows I regularly try and watch.
Stephen Fry is jovial, entertaining and oh-so-earnest, but its his guests who provide the most amusement. Alan Davies, aka the fluffy haired, magical genius Jonathan Creek, is one regular who comes out with some absolute corkers. He'd make a great dinner guest.
This week, the QI group were discussing the Latin name for a giant turtle and as usual the conversation descended into utter madness with Alan and fellow panellist David Mitchell trading dirty jokes faster than Stephen Fry could shout 'stop'. The conversation then paused long enough for Stephen Fry to inform everyone that the giant turtle pictured on the screen was actually an amazing 255 years old; so had been around during the eras of Mozart, Napoleon and countless other historical figures of note. Which is pretty amazing when you think of it. Even if it is a turtle who had no knowledge or care of what humans have ever done as long as they left him alone.
It was at that point Alan Davies brought it all crashing back with a wry smile and the blandly delivered comment:
"And you could list his achievements on the back of a postage stamp"
I think I snorted into my soup at that point.
Hilarious.
But really, poor turtle. I'm sure in the turtle world, he's achieved mighty, mighty things. They just haven't been as measurable as, say, Mozart's achievements. We won't bring Napoleon into the equation. That would be another blog post altogether.
And it got me thinking about my achievements. How many postage stamps would it take to list all of my achievements? A lot, I hope.
But I'm not sure.
So I think I might have to start listing them and see. Just for my own psychological benefit since I'm in a period of doubting my abilities.
And because I'd really, really hate for my epitaph to read "Here lies magical_m... you could list her achievements on the back of a postage stamp".
2 comments:
ooh. that alan davies commest made me cross!
Thinking life should be measured like one measures quantities in a science experiment is not particularly helpful.
Life, IMHO, is about quality of living - how kind have i been, have i made the world a better place by the way i live.
That the turtle has lived through so much human history mad me think about that history. That's more than the back of a postage stamp, yes?
ok, end rant.
ps HI!
Hear, hear lovely elaine. If that turtle could talk I'm sure he'd make a fascinating dinner guest!
Oh and HI!! How was your Morocco trip?
x
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