Chip Dale Is Away
I’ll go out on a limb and say that Bryan Appleyard writes the best blog out there. Eschewing politics and personal anecdote, he writes a blog that’s eclectic, odd, strange, and weirdly compulsive. It looks into the dark dusty corners of the world and finds curios you never knew existed. They are the misshapen bric-a-brac that make life interesting, or, at least, make our alienation within the world feel somehow more natural. Some say it's morose or gloomy, but I like morose and I love gloomy. Comedy usually begins and ends somewhere in the dark.
I wasn’t at all surprised, therefore, that 'Thought Experiments' featured in the Blog Spot section of The Sunday Times today. They had printed a recent piece about Elton John along with couple of comments from readers. Naturally, I coughed up a lung full of my Alpen oats when I noticed that they chose to print my comment.
This is the first time I’ve ever seen my words in print in a national newspaper. You might think it insignificant but I’m only a stripper in Wales and something like this is life defining. This is, after all, a Paper of Record and it had finally recorded a bit of The Chipster's wisdom. I was also a bit surprised because, to be honest, I always feel a bit out of place leaving comments on a blog where real intellectuals gather. I always feel like the cousin at a family reunion who is a bit slower than his relatives and hasn't 'made good'. Perhaps he’s still not found a wife but does have the world's biggest collection of Jim Reeves records.
I make my comments but wonder if they’re appreciated or merely tolerated.
My comment about Elton John was typically lightweight:
As delighted as I was to see my opinion of Queen Elton in print, all dreams of national fame were dulled when I noticed they'd attributed my comment it to 'Anonymous'. Anonymous!! What’s wrong with ‘Chip Dale’? Is it something about my face or is it just my name? I signed my comment so why make this mistake? Why erase my name from the Paper of Record?
So, I'm left wondering this morning: what’s anonymous about me? The Chipster is more obvious than any other person I know. I stand up on a stage and get naked at least once a week. I’m hardly discreet. You can hardly be more obvious. Perhaps I should write to them and explain their oversight. I could use the opportunity to offer them a piece about life stripping in North Wales.
I could become the A.A. Gill of thongdom.
12 comments:
I suppose that explains why you chose to comment at Chez Trixy!
Pah...
Chez Trixy is my home away from home and I always feel welcome there.
Of course, being Welsh, I don't understand a thing you post about the EU. If Wales were in the EU, I'd have you blog as my homepage.
Chippy, you and I both had a weekend of it! My "Jane "Winslet" rant was quoted in yesterday's Guardian.
But imagine the horror! WHY have they not printed your name? They should realise what their readers will miss out on. I feel sure you have a natural readership among the readers of the Times.
After all, you ARE the AA Gill of thongdom.
Is Chez Trixy a private club?
Ah, Ms. Baroque, you've trumped me! That's much more impressive.
You don't actually mention if being the A.A. Gill of thongdom is a good thing?
Chez Trixy is a place for shy retiring types such as Christian knitters.
All are welcome at Chez Trixy, except people who are very pompous and self righteous.
Perhaps it should be a club?
My dear chip, you should not feel so out of place amongst intellectuals. I can't help thinking that I have never seen Brian Appleyard and yourself in the same room so could you be hiding your light under a bushel chip, or can I call you Bri?. Anyway, It's not a chap's choice of underwear that makes him a member of the intelligentsia, nor whether he wears anything else over it in public, but rather what is going on between his ears whilst the world watches what is going on between his..well, you get the gist. If you're are going to be AA Gill however you may want to check out dress codes before you go out to do those restaurant reviews though...
Tell them they got it wrong, Chippy. Journalists like nothing better than being told they've made a mistake (nearly as much as taking phonecalls from PR people pimping their press releases)
Wow, thanks, Chip. Who calls me morose? I want addresses.
Chip, at the risk of a double entendre, surely this postbag counts, at last, as your very own bumper bundle?
Arise, Sir Chip AA Dale.
No thong jokes, please...
GGPP
Bryan, thanks for the visit. I feel like I should get out the expensive biscuits. Do you like custard creams?
As for being morose, it's either that dark portrait you use or the book about death. You should consider either having a bright pink background behind you or a bow tie.
Rilly: I’m a stripper out of place among intellectuals. I don’t want to increase my alienation by doing restaurant reviews as well. I wouldn’t know which spoon to use.
M&M: I emails The Sunday Times and demanded a correction on the front page of next week’s magazine. All I can do is wait to see what happens. After that, it will be passed to my lawyers.
GGPP: You’re so right. This is a record number of comments. I clearly have to master writing things that generate debate, such as guesses what your name actually means. Is it Hawaiian?
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