LocalLoves

mark said...

I think that Robert Plant out of Led Zeppelin is a dead ringer for my mate Paul these days, give or take the odd mane of hair.

Paul's been no stranger to the rock n' roll lifestyle in the past either, it has to be said. By the time he was twenty he was a successful film producer and it was London and it was the eighties - what's a horny, minted young chap to do? As well as being good at playing hard, Paul was a very good producer (I can vouch for that as I used to work with him). He's a great organiser and motivator; he's creative, energetic, funny, smart, witty and has charm in spades.

He also had the advantage of being totally unfazed by dealing with showbiz types, having grown up the son of a BBC broadcaster (Paul on the phone is like listening to Radio 4, with swearing). The job often took him on tour around the world and he even lived in Sweden for a few years. I don't think he smashed up hotel rooms but I'm sure he broke a few hearts (Paul knows how to treat the ladies, so he tells me).

However, a career in the media is a bit like surfing; if you fall off, it's very difficult to get back up, and frankly Paul fell off big time. Typically though, he's managed to use his production skills to turn his own life around. Part of the cure has been getting the word, 'humble' tattooed on his wrist as a reminder of what he didn't used to be and what he wanted to become. Eccentric? Maybe, but I can tell you it's worked.

I'm just full of admiration for the way Paul's coped with the bad cards he's been dealt, without wallowing into self-pity. He's now embarking on a second career as a counsellor and I'm sure he'll be very good at that as well. So, add good listener, caring, sensitive, empathic etc. to his CV.

He may bear a passing resemblance to Planty but Paul's a real one off. He's never been a man's man. Yes he does follow a football team but it's Arsenal Ladies FC (He's just waiting for them to swap shirts, the old goat!). You won't find him with the lads down the pub either as he's even given up drinking. These days you're more likely to find him walking on Hampstead Heath in shorts, which he wears for about nine months of the year!

Paul's lived life to extremes and it's nearly been the death of him, but what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, not to mention more interesting and yes, more humble. The guy really deserves a good woman and a good woman really deserves Paul. Someone to watch films with (he'll know half the people on the credits), listen to music (he'll be related to the guitarist) and someone to keep him company on The Heath (if you get out that is!).

So, to sum up; Robert Plant in shorts with a 'humble' tattoo watching Arsenal Ladies and swearing in Swedish - what's not to like?