1. I was once made homeless by a scheming lady from Kazakhstan. Also it seems by far the least interesting of the 'stans.
2. I think we'd get along fabulously! After all, I am also a cat person. Also, one of my best friends is a Marxist. Though that's only until the revolution at which point he'll shoot me.
3. Hmm, so many! Proper Cheddar is hard to beat. There's some Irish cheese called Armangh or something which is so, so, so nice but I can't get it anywhere - it smells like rotting feet but in the best way possible. Dolcelatte is always a hit, Pecerino Dolce...ooh and Neufchatel!
4. A nice ale or a good claret.
5. The temptation with this question is to stick in nine of history's most sparkling wits. However, this would not work - after all, a great wit needs contrast, either with those who with stimulate hit wit with gentle probing; or else, give a dark contrast to the sparkle of the main speaker.
PJ O'Rourke has written what is, in my opinion, the definitive essay on the dinner party, and therefore he must be included. Boris Johnson's wit would not go amiss, so he's also there.
Three philosophers - the sanguinity of David Hume, the Delian crankiness of JG Hamann, and the dark, bitter wisdom of Joseph de Maistre.
I'm almost certain that Chaucer would make a bawdy drinking companion. Franz Schubert would be nice, plus he could take charge of the post-prandial musical festivities. Add me and we're done!
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2. I think we'd get along fabulously! After all, I am also a cat person. Also, one of my best friends is a Marxist. Though that's only until the revolution at which point he'll shoot me.
3. Hmm, so many! Proper Cheddar is hard to beat. There's some Irish cheese called Armangh or something which is so, so, so nice but I can't get it anywhere - it smells like rotting feet but in the best way possible. Dolcelatte is always a hit, Pecerino Dolce...ooh and Neufchatel!
4. A nice ale or a good claret.
5. The temptation with this question is to stick in nine of history's most sparkling wits. However, this would not work - after all, a great wit needs contrast, either with those who with stimulate hit wit with gentle probing; or else, give a dark contrast to the sparkle of the main speaker.
PJ O'Rourke has written what is, in my opinion, the definitive essay on the dinner party, and therefore he must be included. Boris Johnson's wit would not go amiss, so he's also there.
Three philosophers - the sanguinity of David Hume, the Delian crankiness of JG Hamann, and the dark, bitter wisdom of Joseph de Maistre.
I'm almost certain that Chaucer would make a bawdy drinking companion. Franz Schubert would be nice, plus he could take charge of the post-prandial musical festivities. Add me and we're done!
The cooking would be done by Escoffier.