And call me a pig, but isn't it brilliantly refreshing how early the Dutch eat dinner? When they're still laying out the cutlery in achingly hip Barcelona, they're hanging the Closed sign on the restaurant doors of old Amsterdam.

Fame is no sanctuary from the passing of youth... suicide is much easier and more acceptable in Hollywood than growing old gracefully.

I've never been nostalgic, personally or politically - if the past was so great, how come it's history?

I didn't cry when I left free-booting, smash-and-grab papers that would have appeared to be far more natural homes for me and, at the risk of being vulgar, paid far better for my services.

I feel even less patience with transsexuals.

I'll declare my own interest right here at the start and admit that, like the vast majority of people, I find youthful looks appealing.

Whenever I am sent a new book on the lively arts, the first thing I do is look for myself in the index.