I was not having a drink the other night in Ibiza when I had
this great idea for a new children's programme on the BBC to be called "Watch
with Mullah." It´s time everyone - even the
tiny tots who've not yet suffered anthraxiety - learned how to do their Sunnis.
Religion is everyone's business now, even here. Paperback
Korans are selling in millions, which is more than can be said for both the Bible
and non-alcoholic beer in San Antonio. By the way, I can
see the sea while I labour away at these puns and try to figure out how to get
across it. While I gaze out despairingly I've just come up with another - how
about Islam-approved low-strength Kaliban. We shouldn't
laugh really because my Mum has just told me on the mobile that America's redundant
passenger planes are being stockpiled in the Mojave Desert. That could explain
why I can't get home just yet (that and the promise of a barbecue at an old finca
tomorrow). Trust the Americans to park planes in the desert.
Don´t they realise, as I once discovered on a holiday romance, that sand
gets everywhere. I did promise to report on the Ibiza History Culture
inaugural get-together at Rias Baixas and it was what the Yanks would call a bonding
session. Louise, our hotshot newshound, tells me that the glamorous restaurant's
name means low water. Well I drank lots of that while the rest of them downed
what I would once have called just a few. Nevertheless
it was a joyous gathering. We laughed until I thought the soufflé would
collapse. I shared a big fish with Gary called a Roja
and I'm not going to comment on that at all except to say the roasted head came
separately. I had spent all afternoon with Kirk watching videos he shot of the
original form of bungee jumping in Vanuatu and all evening talking about the relative
values of pick and mix religions with Emily. I had spent
the morning with Louise talking to an artist whose husband was the architect of
the biggest literary hoax of the last century and what puzzles me is why I never
even thought about a drink either during or at least after a day like that. Even
a large Kaliban on the rocks would have gone down a treat. And
now I have to figure out how to get home and be in time for my Christian church
ensemble on Sunday where no doubt they'll be praying for peace everywhere. Not
drinking clearly has its virtues. Sober Christians, Jews, Muslims and Tallymen
go to great places and get to party with terrifically interesting people and I've
not even mentioned the others at the feast, the captivating Eco warrior Jose,
and the indefatigable webmaster Toni. I even had the cheek to ask Gary for some
of the Roja´s cheek. And without a drink
I can not only savour but also remember it all. P.S.:
The presents. Louise´s is in the post (if I ever get home). I didn't know
she was a veggie, so I've had to rethink the Moroccan anchovies in a tin which
has been nurtured and turned every six months for five years; Gary's is the 2002
Campaign for Real Ale Good Beer Guide in an attempt to make him homesick;
Jose's is Food For Free, by Richard Mabey, the definitive guide to the
native store of wild things in the English countryside published by Collins; Emily's
is Prehistoric Cooking, by Jacqui Wood (Tempus) which includes salt mined
in Cheshire; and Kirk´s was a caddy of Crabtree and Evelyn´s afternoon
tea which we supped looking out over Portus Magnus yesterday. There was nothing
for Toni because I didn't realise he was going to be there, but I´ll think
of something even if it´s only praise for his extreme patience, skill and
diligence which is the best present of all. Next week
I´ll tell you about the Ten Things I Took Home from Ibiza.
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