minor waste of your time

Vanessa Mae was in town this evening, to talk at the Union, and since I was at a loose end, I decided to go along; pleasantly surprised.

I can clearly remember when she made her popular debut in the mid-nineties with her album, The Violin Player, soon going on to steal the show at Zurich's Out in the Green, where her twenty minute ovation kept Rod Stewart off the stage for a full half-hour, or the live broadcast from Sopot where - billed alongside Annie Lennox - her explosive performance drove the crowds crazy, and pushed the prime-time news clear of its slot.

She was never a particular favourite of mine, but her obvious passion and skill certainly made her a pleasure to watch. In person, she remains utterly engaging; very modest, though not self-deprecative, animated, not at all cagey, rather funny at that. And since she answered my silly questions with patience and saccharine sweetness, she is in my good books. If any of you ever become famous, remember to humour the small-folk; it makes us feel good.