The other day I was at work, happily and busily counting down the hours, engrossed in a few jobs at the Issue Desk when someone came up to the desk, needing to borrow a book. I turned around and almost recognized someone who a second later turned out to be Amanda Parr; a reporter on the local BBC Bristol television news.
I felt a presence that I remember from being around famous or well-known people. A certain aura; a particular air that someone exudes that subconsciously tells you that this is not an average person. Perhaps it's just the animalistic smell of success that one picks up on, who knows?
Throughout I maintained a professional attitude and didn't let on that I knew her from watching the local news on the telly. She borrowed a book on Victorian seaside piers so I'm expecting an item on the news about the pier at nearby Clevedon soon.
It was a funny idea to realize that not only is she a BBC television reporter but also a Bristol University student who just happened to come into the library to borrow a book. And why not?
Fame is a funny thing. Somehow I often thought that one day I would be famous, or rich, or notorious. When a youngster I achieved a measure of infamy at one point but that's another story. I wouldn't claim that my exploits as a poet and magazine editor bestowed fame on me. But I did get to know quite a few outstanding poets and poetry lovers and they in turn got to know me. Perhaps that's even better than being truly famous?
I felt a presence that I remember from being around famous or well-known people. A certain aura; a particular air that someone exudes that subconsciously tells you that this is not an average person. Perhaps it's just the animalistic smell of success that one picks up on, who knows?
Throughout I maintained a professional attitude and didn't let on that I knew her from watching the local news on the telly. She borrowed a book on Victorian seaside piers so I'm expecting an item on the news about the pier at nearby Clevedon soon.
It was a funny idea to realize that not only is she a BBC television reporter but also a Bristol University student who just happened to come into the library to borrow a book. And why not?
Fame is a funny thing. Somehow I often thought that one day I would be famous, or rich, or notorious. When a youngster I achieved a measure of infamy at one point but that's another story. I wouldn't claim that my exploits as a poet and magazine editor bestowed fame on me. But I did get to know quite a few outstanding poets and poetry lovers and they in turn got to know me. Perhaps that's even better than being truly famous?
