Luxury Objects?

[Nurse Duckett]

On Desert Island Discs, guests have to choose a Luxury Object. The rules used to be "of no practical use whatsoever" and dear old Roy Plomley would never allow a grand piano in case anyone used it as a shelter. Yet it is difficult to think of anything which has no practical use whatsoever, given a vivid imagination and enough time.

(Russell Harty famously chose a mirror. He could have signalled with that, couldn't he?)

John Major chose a blow-up life-size replica of The Oval, now there is getting into the spirit of things.

So, what would your luxury object be? Your husband/wife/partner? ;D

A photograph of Her Majesty The Queen's corgis?

An inflatable guitar?

I think I'll go for a bentwood wellyboot stand. For now*.



*right reserved to change mind later, ok crusoe?

[Tiger Lil']

Well, I would take Mr Lil' 'cos he looks like a pirate and knows how to make a bender, but that's too boring so I will have to think.....

I may be some time .

[Nurse Duckett]

The ads at the top have changed to Mrs Wonderful Doll and Blow Up Doll now.



Why that and not inflatable wellyboots?

[Crusoe]

Nurse said:

. The rules used to be "of no practical use whatsoever"

So, what would your luxury object be? Your husband/wife/partner

Are you suggesting that anyone would really consider their partner to be of no practical use whatsoever?

Tiger said:

Well, I would take Mr Lil' '

Oh

And whilst I have no great love of Surrey or the Duchy of Cornwall, I think that blowing up The Oval is a bit harsh.

Wellyboot stands are a good idea but aren’t they of practical use? We all know what happens if you go out without your wellyboots on and having a stand for them is quite practical, otherwise you mightn’t find them when you wanted to go out.

I would have a clockwork radio

[Nurse Duckett]

Crusoe said:

Are you suggesting that anyone would really consider their partner to be of no practical use whatsoever?

Yes.

Wellyboot stands are a good idea but aren’t they of practical use? We all know what happens if you go out without your wellyboots on and having a stand for them is quite practical, otherwise you mightn’t find them when you wanted to go out.

Aren't you being a tad literal here (Sir)?
In fact, can we establish some sort of modus operandi? Either we're literally on a desert island in which case no wellyboots would ever be required; or we're not on a desert island in which case we're just pontificating about being on a desert island, so therefore no wellyboots would be required either.

I didn't get where I am today by ever being a tad literal. Saint Paul went out on the Damascus road a tad literal and where did that get him?

I would have a clockwork radio

You cannot. It's of practical use.

[Saul]

sorted

[Luxury Yacht]

Saul? Are you saying you'd take SUNGLASSES?

Are we in the presence of The Mighty Two in One?

The question of whether something is or is not of practical use: I understood this to mean no tools, books on boatbuilding, ladders to help you reach the coconuts etc. , i.e. nothing which would help you survive in a physical sense, or escape.

IMO things like Ferraris are acceptable, even if they might provide shelter. The Albert Memorial or a Mighty Wurlitzer likewise.

A clockwork radio might help one keep one's sanity, but that's about it as far as practicality goes.

Clearly a welly-boot stand is of little practical use if you don't have any wellies.

Wellies are of practical use: they protect one's feet from hot sand and the scorpions and jellyfish; however I might be inclined to allow pink flowery ones if picked on the grounds that they made me feel frivolous.

I thought John Major wanted to take the actual Oval, not a blow-up replica - and in fact, I seem to remember it was Lord's. Why on earth would he ask for a blow-up replica, when he would be allowed the real thing?

I'll stick with the accordion for the time being, since I probably wouldn't be allowed sunblock.

[Nurse Duckett]

John Major, Lux (though this abbreviation seems rather familiar yet I see others using it) was a man who despite appearances has a sense of humour. I will desist from Edwina jokes. I recall that it was an inflatable Oval not Lord's but am happy to stand corrected. The BBC will know, if they keep archives.

And you are absolutely right about wellyboots. I hadn't thought that they could also be decorative, nay, stylish. But I live mostly in sandals (when off-duty) so am the last person to remark on whatever passes for "fashion", thankfully.

[Saul]

Luxury said:

Saul? Are you saying you'd take SUNGLASSES?

And why not?

The light on that Damascus road can be blindin'

[Luxury Yacht]

Nurse said:

John Major, Lux (though this abbreviation seems rather familiar yet I see others using it)

Nah, s'ok. My permission was asked to call me "Lux" and I said "please do". You may call me "Your Magnificence" if you prefer, but I won't insist.

was a man who despite appearances has a sense of humour.

Well, obviously, since he asked for Lord's cricket ground.

I've just had a quick Google, and a look at the BBC DID site, and cannot find a definitive statement.

However I will bet you ... lessee ... a matchstick (used) that he asked for Lord's cricket ground, with no stipulation that it should be inflatable.

Race you

[Tiger Lil']

Luxury said:

Nah, s'ok. My permission was asked to call me "Lux" and I said "please do". You may call me "Your Magnificence" if you prefer, but I won't insist.

Well, obviously, since he asked for Lord's cricket ground.

I've just had a quick Google, and a look at the BBC DID site, and cannot find a definitive statement.

However I will bet you ... lessee ... a matchstick (used) that he asked for Lord's cricket ground, with no stipulation that it should be inflatable.

Race you

Race to where? For why?
Did you not see the latest castaway that drifted up the beach?

Norma must have chucked him out.

I gave him mouth to mouth, and he perked up no end, but a trip on a Luxury Yacht would probably make him smile big time!

[Nurse Duckett]

Luxury said:

Nah, s'ok. My permission was asked to call me "Lux" and I said "please do". You may call me "Your Magnificence" if you prefer, but I won't insist.

Dear Your Magnificence,

I've just had a quick Google, and a look at the BBC DID site, and cannot find a definitive statement.

I've just done that too, then. I agree, not much in the way of archives, is there. So, he took off his grey suit and put on a hawaiin shirt for the occasion. How interesting. We want to know if it was The Oval or Lord's, not his sartorial choices on the day.

So, Lux, who's going to email the bbc, you or me?

or someone else entirely

[moll]

i would like an ankle-length fur coat please...


_{n.b. we have absolutely no information where this desert island is... for all i know an igloo might be a good idea too... i do remember the sound of seagalls on the DID signature track - and personally i have never seen seagulls int he tropics...}

p.s. tropical islands with lush vegetation, beautiful beaches etc. are just never desert islands....

[Someone Else Entirely]

Nurse said:

So, Lux, who's going to email the bbc, you or me?

or someone else entirely

No thank you.


I pass...

[Pooka]

moll said:

we have absolutely no information where this desert island is...

I think you're standing on it.

Nurse said:

On Desert Island Discs, guests have to choose a Luxury Object. The rules used to be "of no practical use whatsoever"...

Dearest Lux, I'd have to say your name is a bit of an oxymoron. I'd find quite a bit of "practical use" in a Yacht.



My Luxury Object would be a "little coffee maker" for one, as found in the most luxurious of desert island hotels overseas. It has no practical purpose, mind you - any 'caffeine' benefits are simply luxury in my opinion.


Well, I couldn't think of much else.