I’ve started so I’ll finish

On November 21, 2015February 25, 2016 By Conversations with StrangersIn Entertainment, Life, London, SportLeave a comment

“I’ll totally understand if you want to bail” came the text from choir friend Kate. “No” I wrote back, “I said I’ll come and I will – no matter about the three hours sleep, I’m up now!”

The event for which I could not resist supporting my singing chum was the Men’s Health Survival of the Fittest at Wembley – apparently the world’s ‘biggest urban obstacle course race’. Three wicking outfitted gals and me headed to a venue where if memory serves I last visited for a Madonna gig.

This was somewhat different. A biting wind greeted us as we left the station and tried to find the start line. Pumping music led us to it.

Keith – a feisty sounding scotsman – yelled on the mike to a male participant: “WHAT WORD IS GOING TO GET YOU THROUGH THE DARK TIMES AHEAD TODAY MATE? AND, TRUST ME THERE WILL BE LOTS OF THEM!!”
“WOMEN!” his interviewee yelled back with equal force.

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Sublimely Silvestro

On November 13, 2015February 25, 2016 By Conversations with StrangersIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

More designer brand than man. More Dolce and Gabbana than a nation of Italians. So physically fit looking, so handsome, so on brief I wondered if he was indeed the first humanoid robot.

He took me to one side peering over the top of thick black Mad Men style spectacle frames. “You are a tailor you say” he said in conspiratorial fashion.

“Um, well yes, I am” I replied. “But I’m pretty good at selling too.” He smiled. The smile of a man accustomed to ingratiating himself to foreign princes and celebrities. It was a smile that said ‘I can give you this much, no more, no less. I’m going to spend minimum amount of time and physical energy to get what’s required from you’.

“We do need someone to do alterations” he said.

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Nuts! Whole hazel nuts!

On November 8, 2015February 25, 2016 By Conversations with StrangersIn Entertainment, London, Parties, The Cuban Brothers, UncategorizedLeave a comment

We like a charity do in aid of encouraging people to be creative, particularly the youngest amongst us in inner London who might otherwise use their energies in less productive ways.

The launch of H Fest to support such an initiative at The Hospital Club was just such an event. An indoor festival spread over six floors in this handsome red brick building welcomed us on a warm November night. “It reminds me of a McCann Christmas party in the garage” Rach said as we dropped our coats off. There was indeed a whiff of the 90’s about it.

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‘Tonight Matthew I’m going to be … Kris Jenner’

On November 6, 2015February 25, 2016 By Conversations with StrangersIn Fashion, Life, LondonLeave a comment

Stars in one person’s eyes is quite enough to be dealing with, but the entire Kardashian/Olivier Rousteing fan club descending on H&M in London is quite another. I’m not sure how ‘Kris Jenner’ these shades make me look, but one thing’s for sure the company I was keeping yesterday made it quite clear that I couldn’t pass for Kendall.

I’ve done over half of these designer at H&M collaborations over the years from Madonna to Wang but the reaction and response to yesterday’s Balmain collection in the Managing Director of H&M UK’s own words was ‘Unprecedented.’

I’d started off slow. 7am found me at Westfield White City where there were not one but two enormous queues, and the coveted wristbands that give you a time slot to shop for 10 minutes had all been handed out already.

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All that glitters

On October 23, 2015February 25, 2016 By Conversations with StrangersIn Art, Entertainment, Life, London, Parties, People you may have heard of2 Comments

Denise and I hugged goodbye. “Keep in touch” she said. “I want an update on Tolga.”

Indeed there could not have been a more appropriate private view in the world to attend other than Lincoln Townley’s ‘W1’ last night. I wasn’t even sure why I was there – other than a very lovely invite from my celeb cuz who I’m occasionally honoured to accompany on such jaunts. But, at the end of the evening I knew exactly why.

I googled the artist en route to the Royal Academy, only to discover he is way up there with the portrait painters of today. Hollywood hasn’t escaped him – and recognition is worldly and unanimous. I was particularly struck by his painting of Al Pacino.

Having found the gallery within this noble institution – ‘To the right of the courtyard at the far end’ Bex’s message said – I wandered in to friends and family of the artist and various other showbiz acquaintances.

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