Staying cool | 26 January 2008

I was outside the Wolseley smoking after dinner, just lighting up my second and peacefully contemplating the relative merits of banana splits and chocolats liègeois. It was raining in fine speckles, not enough to spoil things, just enough to add a glamorising shiny glow to the brightly lit business end of Piccadilly. I was in a good spot. The whole situation was perfect. There were no further requirements. Then a Bentley drew up and a doorman practically fell over in his rush to cover the area around the opening rear door with a huge umbrella. Bob Geldof sprang nimbly out, smiling, brushed the umbrella aside and sashayed across the pavement like a handsome wizard. People so rarely look cooler in real life than they do elsewhere. The lighting was pretty good, as I mentioned, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone look as cool as Bob did just then.