Rant: Meet the neighbours
By Stevie HarrisonMost people feel the same way about their neighbours, their lawn is always greener, their car bigger ... and shinier. Through the windows you can’t quite see what they are doing and you can never quite make out the noises coming through the walls.
As a result every so often you invite them over for dinner, you know they’re going to knock on the door with a bottle of pricey fine wine in hand and then grab all the attention - but it’s good to know have them round, just to keep an eye on them.
So last week it was Britain’s turn to host the neighbours and like every good neighbour the French had to rub it in that little bit. President ‘Bling Bling’ Sarkozy turned up with Carla Bruni on his arm.
Given the publicity of the visit you would almost believe it was her
who had received the invite and that the French President was just the
plus one.
We put on our best show, he was given a journey in a horse-drawn carriage with the Queen and we held a state banquet for him where our Prime Minister got lost ... and Le Sarko seemed suitably impressed.
While France, for us, is a fairy-tale land where the countryside is filled with fine lazy vineyards and the cities full of romantic boulevards Sarko has always been a fan of the English.
When the party ended and it was time for the glamourous next door neighbours go home, there were plenty of smiles. They will not doubt return the invitation sometime - but only once they have had ample opportunity to prepare a better party.
As you say goodnight and wave your guests off at the end of the evening, you reflect. You don’t want to be like them. Well, maybe you wouldn’t mind one or two things.
We put on our best show, he was given a journey in a horse-drawn carriage with the Queen and we held a state banquet for him where our Prime Minister got lost ... and Le Sarko seemed suitably impressed.
While France, for us, is a fairy-tale land where the countryside is filled with fine lazy vineyards and the cities full of romantic boulevards Sarko has always been a fan of the English.
When the party ended and it was time for the glamourous next door neighbours go home, there were plenty of smiles. They will not doubt return the invitation sometime - but only once they have had ample opportunity to prepare a better party.
As you say goodnight and wave your guests off at the end of the evening, you reflect. You don’t want to be like them. Well, maybe you wouldn’t mind one or two things.
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