ANDREW CREAGH
It all happened with a single, stinging sentence made a little too loudly.
There I was, enjoying a long-anticipated catch-up with some good friends in a controlled, physically distanced environment. We air-kissed from 1.5 metres, we bumped elbows, we wanted to hug but didn’t. All was going well and then my friend, Ben, in a voice loud enough for everyone to clearly hear said, “Look, Andrew has grown a little COVID belly.” I was mortified! Firstly, that he said it. Secondly, because everyone looked at my belly. And, thirdly, because I knew it was true and was hoping no one would notice until I had time to get rid of it. Ben is French and a chef, he loves food and loves people enjoying food. His entirely accurate observation wasn’t meant with malice, but its Gallic directness was like a slap in the face with a wet sardine.