Sir Paul McCartney is rumoured to be stepping out with Renée Zellweger now that the pair have been spotted enjoying a candlelit meal together. It’s good to know that divorce difficulties haven’t put Sir Paul off his food, but can he stomach Zellweger’s appetites?
McCartney’s first wife, Linda, inspired Paul to give up eating animals decades ago. Zellweger, on the other hand, had no qualms about using the meat-heavy Atkins Diet to shed those extra Bridget Jones kilos. Now, apparently, she’s on some sort of macrobiotic diet of lean fish with rice and vegetables. But even fish are our friends. So how is Macca going to cope with a carnivorous companion?
I’ve been a vegetarian for 25 years and regard the consumption of animal flesh as an unpleasant habit, akin to picking your nose or speaking with your mouth full. The idea of thrusting my tongue into the mouth of a person who has just devoured a pie full of cow gut is not especially appealing. Similarly, I can’t help but wince a little if I find cutlets nestling next to the soya paté in the fridge. In fact, I’m not too keen on having meat in my kitchen at all, unless it’s for the cat.
Love and lust have, on occasion, tempted me away from fellow vegetarians. I was once awoken in a bed other than my own by the dreadful stench of fried pig; a sharp reminder that I’m not really compatible with committed carnivores. Another blossoming relationship soured over a dish thoughtlessly laced with chicken stock. It cuts both ways — carnivores like to share their passion for bacon sandwiches. Even if I was keen to compromise, I have absolutely no idea how to buy or cook meat.
According to her ex-sister-in-law, Heather Mills became a veggie under Paul’s influence. You’d think she might have rushed out for a burger when they called it a day — instead she went the whole hog, so to speak, and became a vegan. Renée may need to turn her back on tuna if she’s to make a go of it. Or perhaps Paul could take to steak. — Â