'Great power involves great responsibility’ this quote has been attributed to FDR but more recently came into the popular vernacular via the Spiderman film franchise.  It’s an obvious truism and I’ve been feeling responsibility this week, not that I’m in the possession of the smallest iota of super or earthly power.  But when you are in the position of offering advice and that advice has consequences, you do feel a certain weight, or you should at least.  I’m finding it hard enough to select a paint colour for my hallway.

‘She has a certain, c’est quoi le mot en Anglais, j’ai oublie, I do not know the exact translation but in French, we call it allure.’  So said my Lebanese godmother in describing her daughter.  It’s certainly true; she has it.  I could only respond, ‘I believe it’s the same word in English.’  To which I had a raise of an eyebrow and a, ‘vraiment?’   I have a great admiration for those who flick effortlessly through different languages as my godmother does, often incorporating three through the course of a conversation.  It’s a mark of sophistication in my mind.

So I thought I’d take a chance on the smart fat girl.  The others were all such....disappointments.  I had hope....lord knows I live on it.’  I’m quoting (perhaps somewhat inaccurately) recent Oscar winner Meryl Streep as the Anna Wintour character in ‘The Devils Wear Prada.’  It was on television the other night and I had forgotten what a good movie (of its own light-hearted genre) it is.  Streep, of course, gives a stellar performance, witheringly dismissive and deliciously unforgiving as a fashion doyenne.