It all began at 10.30pm on July 21, 1960. The fireworks were in full swing, a gentle evening heat had taken the place of the afternoon draught, and the people were dancing, laughing and singing their joy: here I am. A splendidly chubby baby boy, ridiculously named Étienne, the third son of a close-knit, poor but honest family steeped in Christian values, driving a three-speed Opel Rekord (poor I say). I wear size 43 1/2. I’ve done all kinds of jobs: actor, poacher, marshal, thief, tightrope walker… I like cocooning, discovering, walking, art deco and art nouveau. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. I like water, canals, lakes, lochs. Cities, nature, sunshine. Museums, reading, little restaurants. I’m making a delicious scampi curry with ginger and vegetables. Here’s my recipe. I put sliced garlic and onions in a stewpot. After ten minutes, I add 3 teaspoons of red curry powder, chopped fresh tomatoes and minced fresh ginger. Another ten minutes and I add peas and then good scampi (which don’t need to cook for long) and serve in bowls. Sprinkle with coarsely chopped fresh coriander. A real treat.