The Image of Beauty

On May 18, 2016May 18, 2016 By Conversations with StrangersIn Beauty, Life, London, Uncategorized1 Comment

The first pedicure of the season is always a reason to be cheerful. And, cheerful is the order of the day at Village of Beauty.

I walked in to sunshine streaming onto the plumply cushioned window seats. Instantly at home I felt the need to lie down on one, like a kitten about to be pampered to within an inch of its life.

“Oh, our clients often want to do this” Kamila told me, “In fact one of them did, she fell asleep right there.”

I could just imagine. What’s not to love about a comfy sofa-like seat, sunshine on your face and the gentle hum around you of ‘me’ time being relished.

Downstairs I lay back on the therapist’s bed and thought of beaches and waves, sea salt and sangria that a treatment of this nature usually precludes. Kamila’s voice softly spoke to me, and any pain was minimised.

I noticed a photograph of Marilyn on the wall and asked where it came from. “I’ve never seen that picture of her in my life before” I said, astonished.
“Ah, I pick it up at a car boot sale – it was just £1, somewhere in Wimbledon I think.”

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One of the boys

On May 3, 2016May 4, 2016 By Conversations with StrangersIn Entertainment, Life, LondonLeave a comment

I was here again. Years have elapsed since the last time I sat in the backseat of my parents’ car en route somewhere while my brothers played ‘I spy the flash automobile.’ Actually, I lie, the automobiles didn’t have to be flash – it was the identifying of them that was key. Whenever I spotted one and called out the name, I was generally ignored.

Fast forward to now: Regent Street on May 2 and the arrival of the Gumball 3000. To the uninitiated that’s a kind of race where, to quote a stranger I met on the day, ‘Rich guys drive from one place in the world to another showing off their souped-up motors’. The reason I’m aware of it is that one of my favourite entertainment acts of all time quite often compere the arrival of these gas guzzling beasts to whatever destination may be on the agenda. I’m talking about Los Hermanos Cubanos of course.

‘Oh yeah, they’re on at about 7pm’ an official told me early on in the morning. I texted to get some insider info. ‘No, we’re actually in bonnie Scotland’ came the reply. Never mind. Given I’d yet to experience these cars roll into town in all their revved up glory, I decided I’d go along, see what all the fuss was about.

Wedged in the crush between various fans hours later, one of them let me in front to take photos. ‘Oh, I think that’s a Hummer coming – that gold one, is it?’ I asked of my new friends. No answer.

‘Ohhhhhh mate, can you hear that – what is it?’
‘I think it’s a Lambo, mate.’

I forget sometimes, I am a mere girl.

‘Oh, mate, I think this is Mr Gumball comin’.’
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The One and Only

On April 27, 2016April 27, 2016 By Conversations with StrangersIn Entertainment, Food and drinks, Life, LondonLeave a comment

“Whaddya mean you’re having another double espresso?! What’s the matter with you Al?!”
“I dunno, something’s gotten into me, and the coffee is pretty good here.”

It was all my fault as usual. Having left a rather brilliant but harrowing movie – Victoria – we needed something to take the edge off. The cinema bar told us it was closing: “Well, we are in London after all and it’s almost midnight, so that makes sense” said my droll companion.

We walked out onto the festival type crowded streets of Soho wondering where to go, when it occurred to me. There really is only one place for such a moment. “Bar Italia” I said, “Let’s go there.”

Like a homing pigeon I found my way easily. Perhaps 20 years have elapsed since I last visited but on walking past the jovial heat-lamp-lit tables outside, I was relieved to see absolutely nothing had changed. The large screen at the back relayed football; even the waiters looked the same.

Miraculously two stools appeared free at the counter top. I quickly commandeered them whilst Al did the honours in the queue. Reaching for one seat nestled up close to another on which sat an elderly gent in animated conversation with a distinguished looking waiter, my hand was seized. “You’re trying to touch his ass?” Roxano, the latter, asked.
“No! No! I just need to grab the stool next to him!” I said laughing.
“You will see, it is as hard as a rock.”

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Boy Blue

On April 13, 2016April 14, 2016 By Conversations with StrangersIn Life, London, SportLeave a comment

Brushing past pink tinged magnolia blossom, I stepped through my front gate.

I noticed the hair first: Blond, slicked back from his forehead like freshly-washed with a comb running through it. I’ve seen quite a few of these chaps recently – how do they do it? How does the hair stay so rigorously in place? Is it back-in-the-day brylcreem? I needed to investigate but perhaps now wasn’t the time. A navy blue rain mac, umbrella swinging from his left hand, and a briefcase in the other completed the picture.

He kept up a steady pace one step behind me. I’ll let him pass I thought – save an awkward situation. He drew level. “Do you know the way to Warwick Avenue?” he said.
“Yes, second right.”
“Are you going there – you look like a local? I’ve just moved in.”
“Um, yes, I am.”
“I’ll stick with you then ’til we get to the tube.”

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Fast Cars and Late Shifts

On April 3, 2016April 7, 2016 By Conversations with StrangersIn Entertainment, Life, LondonLeave a comment

P1070595 ‘Oh look, they’ve rolled out the red carpet T’ I commented as we crossed Piccadilly on a rainy Saturday night to get to BAFTA. I’d spied some velvet ropes and given this was after all the UK premiere of the ‘World’s first cinematic interactive movie’ – Late Shift, it seemed logical.
‘Ah, I see they’ve got a super car at the entrance’ was T’s response.

So far, so unexpected. But then in a world where one can choose a date to suit one’s location, deciding where you want your movie to go is simply another option on an ever extending smörgåsbord of perambulations and possibilities in life.

Past the super BMW, through the red-carpetless maze we went, entering the auditorium to a screen which gave us the app downloading instructions. As options flashed up during the movie – enabling us to decide which turn it would take – we would vote on our phones. It was simple: ‘Getting in control is easy’ read the text above our heads.

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