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Debbie Leigh: Giving veggies a bad name
AS someone labelled a bean-eating hippy by a colleague, I know vegetarians can get a raw deal from judgmental types.
We're often typecast as lentil-loving, incense-burning, tree-hugging fun-sponges.
But that's not always strictly true – just like not all meat-eaters are blood-crazed brutes and not all models exist on a diet of caffeine, champers and cigs (although come to think of it, maybe this stereotype is pretty close to the truth).
Still, it's not surprising people get the wrong idea about us, when you see things like the results of a survey carried out by Veggie Vision.
Based on the answers I've seen I'm wondering whether the group should go with the more fitting name of Tunnel Vision, seeing as its fans really do seem unable to contemplate a world that doesn't revolve around chickpeas and brown rice.
Apparently.
VeggieVisionDating quizzed a bunch of veggies and vegans about dating and romance, with some bewildering results.
For example, 10 per cent said they would choose ice-cream over a date with Brad or Angelina.
As someone who has never knowingly said no to ice-cream, and whose wedding tables were even named after different flavours, I know all about its mouth-watering, head-turning, waistband-busting appeal.
And although Brad Pitt wouldn't be the first Hollywood hunk I'd pick if given a choice, I'd still happily trade in the old Ben & Jerry's for a date with him – or skinny Ange for that matter.
Unless my understanding of human psychology is completely out of whack, I'm pretty sure 95 per cent of the population would make the same choice…wouldn't you?
Others surveyed apparently said given the choice of an evening out with half of the aforementioned hottest couple on the planet they would opt for "a vegan meal and good company" or even more outrageously, "a pot of hummus".
Crikey, why don't they throw in colonic irrigation and a meditation session and really let their hair down?
Even their worst dating experiences were dull.
Examples include: "A man I met many years ago lied about his age" and "Not going back to her place – she was not happy about this".
Not the kind of stories you can exactly dine out on are they? (Still, why would they want to when they can stay in and cosy up to a chilled tub of hummus?)
Maybe I've been watching too many conspiracy movies lately but I can't help wondering whether this survey really took place or whether this is actually part of a devious campaign by die-hard meat-lovers, to discredit veggies and convince the world that people who don't eat dead animals are all mentalists.
If it is, they're doing a terrifyingly good job.
My not so secret crush
I'M always intrigued when mates confess to their embarrassing crushes – you know, the ones you only generally reveal when you've had at least half a bottle of wine.
Unless of course you're Hillary Clinton, who owned up to a crush on David Miliband in a (presumably sober) magazine interview.
Some are fairly common, like Alan Davies and Paul Merton, but every so often you get someone really leftfield, like my pal, who admits to a thing for both Jeremy Clarkson and Andrew Marr.
I'm not too sure how common mine is so I thought I would share him and find out.
In fact, as crushes go it's rapidly growing to the stage where I'm not even that embarrassed about it any more.
My unwitting victim is hardcore rapper turned soul singer and actor Plan B – real name Ben Drew.
If you've only seen him playing a terrifying thug in Harry Brown you will probably think I've lost my marbles.
But if you saw him on Jonathan Ross the other week, have heard his delectably sexy voice on new single She Said, or seen his supercool music video, you might just understand his appeal.
He's not what you'd typically call a looker but then that's often part of the appeal of unlikely crushes.
It's that indefinable X-factor – and not the Simon Cowell kind.
Last time Plan B played in Leeds I got completely star-struck and, as he walked through the crowd at the end, I spluttered "Can I give you a kiss?" then planted a smacker on his cheek.
He's playing again in Leeds next month so he'd better watch out.
I've got a feeling there's going to be a few other girls there this time harbouring secret crushes.
Bad Tempah?
I ENJOYED The Occasional Columnist's comments last week on the sad decline of rap from relevant to rubbish.
As I'm rapidly approaching my mid 30s, I'm not really sure whether Tinie Tempah defines himself as a rapper, hip-hop artist or grime star.
Either way, sections of his chart-topping single Pass Out sound like rap to me so I feel I can use him as an example.
I've had the same lyric from that tune rolling around my head for weeks and it makes me smile every time – for all the wrong reasons – "I've got so many clothes I keep some at my aunt's house".
Hold the front page – there's a new definition of rock 'n' roll.
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Weather for Leeds
Wednesday 23 May 2012
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