More A Way Of Life… Look, this is just between you and me

Showing Off (II)

And on the subject of the widest possible audience, when I (eventually) got home last night, a package was waiting for me: a radically late Christmas present that I can wholeheartedly endorse for anyone with an interest in the male physique (so Darian again).

You know all of those terrible charity calendars that rugby clubs do, with all their players coyly hiding their tackle behind rugby balls (or occasionally a trophy if they're a slightly successful club)? Well the model before which they all need to bow is the annual calendar produced for the last few year by Stade De France. Dieux Du Stade is absolutely stunning. Black and white photos of all Stade's key players, plus several other sportsmen, stunningly photographed and beautifully produced. And because they're rugby players, there's none of that god-awful waify, Attitude-model look.

And the present....? The present is the book that goes with this year's calendar. Hardback, large format, one hundred-plus pages, dozens of photos from the calendar and plenty more besides.

I know there's a case to be made that it's just smut, but if it is, it's smut of the artiest type.