Planet Claire

Driving back from my previous visit to Wales to see mum and dad (Icons passim), Radio 4 played a programme about a 104 year old dancer and choreographer whose conversation revealed that she was still in complete command of her faculties.

Coming back from the same mission yesterday, I heard "James Lovelock turns 100" on Today.

Once described as "the most important and original scientific thinker in the world", James Lovelock is still a hugely influential environmental thinker. He's about to celebrate his 100th birthday.

Mishal Hussain spoke to him at his home in Dorset.

He is still whip-smart and, more power to his elbow, was promoting his new book Novacene: The Coming Age of Hyperintelligence.

My dad's conversation, by was of contrast could be taken down verbatim and used as lyrics by the B52s. I can actually imagine him saying

She came from Planet Claire

I knew she came from there

She drove a Plymouth Satellite

Oh, faster than the speed of light

Planet Claire has pink air

All the trees are red

No one ever dies there

No one has a head

Some say she's from Mars

Or one of the seven stars

That shine after 3:30 in the morning

Well, she isn't!

She came from Planet Claire

She came from Planet Claire

She came from Planet Claire

How much does luck and how much does lifestyle influence the state of your third age noggin I wonder? If it lifestyle, sign me up.