Showing posts with label London. Show all posts
Showing posts with label London. Show all posts

Tuesday, 8 November 2011

Anjelica Huston on the King's Road

    One afternoon I was wandering down the King's Road in Chelsea and thinking that I had not seen any celebrities. I do not often go to Chelsea but when I do I often see a famous person on the King's Road. As I was walking along I heard a vaguely familiar American accent behind me. There were two American women having a converation as they walked behind me. Then one of them said "I was John Huston's daughter and could not get a break."
    The only John Huston I knew of was the American film director and he had a daughter Anjelica Huston. The other woman replied "That was why I got married". As they both laughed I glanced round and it was indeed Anjelica Huston, Morticia Addams in The Addams Family. So that was why the voice sounded so familiar.
   I did wonder if the other woman had got married in order to get a break or because she could not get a break. I later found out that Anjelica was in London for the filming of  "The Golden Bowl". At least it goes to show that there is always a celebrity somewhere on the King's Road and it is really helpful if they identify themselves so clearly so that you can recognise them.

©Conor Cotter


Monday, 7 November 2011

Kylie Minogue on King's Road?

    One afternoon I was walking along the King's Road in Chelsea, London. As I crossed the road I noticed a young man and a young woman walking past. They were both wearing dark glasses. As I neared the pavement I had a side view of the woman who was wearing a black sleeveless top and I thought that her bare arms were very thin. It then occured to me that she looked like Kylie Minogue from the Australian soap Neighbours. By the time I reached the pavement they had gone passed. I paused and watched them for a moment. As I turned to go in the other direction I heard a female voice say "Well he thinks it is Kylie !" and two female teenagers walked past. Clearly there were following the couple to see if it really was Kylie. To be honest I was not sure at the time if it was her, so I did not follow them. I did wonder however how obvious it had been that I thought it was Kylie. I did not expect to be watched so closely.
    I later found out that at the time Kylie's boyfriend was Billy Zane who resembled the young man and Kylie lived in Chelsea, so it probably was Kylie. A few years she said in an interview that she had been learning karate for the Jean-Claude Van Damme film Streetfighter and it had made her arms bigger, so her arms were no longer as thin as before.

©Conor Cotter


Friday, 4 November 2011

The Hat and the Actress

I  had  been  Christmas  shopping.  At  least  I  had  been  trying  to  do  some  Christmas shopping.  I  had  not  been  very  successful.  In  fact  I  had  not  been  at  all  successful.  Nothing  seemed  to  be  suitable.  Giving  up,  I  decided  to  go  into  a  bookshop  on  Piccadilly  before  heading  home.  I  knew  that  in  the  basement  they  had  some  bargain  books  so  I  went  down  the  stairs  and  through  the  door.
   As  I  entered  the  basement,  there  seemed  to  be  a  strange  atmosphere.  Something  was  not  quite  right.  Then  I  noticed  the  hat  moving  around.  From  the  way  it  was  moving  there must  be  a  person  under  the  hat,  but  the  hat  was  so  broad  that  it  was difficult  to  see.  It  was  as  broad  as  a  sombrero  but  flatter. It  was  completely  flat  apart  from  a  small dome  towards  the  middle  of  the  hat.  It  seemed  to  be  a  very  large  hat  but  a  very  small  head.  It  was  dark  red,  perhaps crimson.  Who  would  wear  such  a  hat  in  a  bookshop ?
    As  I  moved  towards  the  bargain  books,  the  hat  moved  towards  the  assistant  behind  his  large  desk.  The  hat  leaned  forward  to  talk  to  the  assistant.  It  was  only  then  from  my  view  from  the  bargain  books  that  I  had  a  glimpse  of  the  person  under  the  hat.   It  was  only  a  brief  glimpse  but  I  could  make  out  that  the  person  was  female  and  she  looked  like  a young  actress  who  was  in  a  play  in  nearby  Shaftesbury  Avenue.  There  had  been  a  story  about  how  she  had  been  attacked  on  the  way  to  the  theatre  a  few  days  before.  Despite  the  incident  she  had  “bravely” performed  in  the  play  that  evening.
    If  it  was  her,  it  would  explain  the  hat.  She  would  have  not  wanted  to  be  recognised  and  she  would  have  worn  the  hat  for  protection.  Clearly  she  was  not  used  to  wearing  hats  apart  from  special  occasions  such  as  weddings,  so  had  ended  up  with  an  absurdly  large  hat.  In  trying  to  hide  herself,  she  had  unwittingly  draw  attention  to  herself  as  nobody  could  fail  to  spot  such  a  wide-brimmed  hat.  It  must  have  been  awkward  to  wear,  as  while  it  stopped  other  people  seeing  your  face  it  also  hindered  you  seeing  where  you  were  going.  She  did  have  a  female  companion  with  her,  presumably  as  a  guide.
   I  just  needed  another  look  to  confirm  that  it  really  was  the  actress.  It  so  happened  that  the  bargain  books  were  the  perfect  position.  In  order  to  leave  she  would  have  to  walk  around  the  assistant’s desk  and  turn  left  just before  the  bargain  books  to  the  door  to  go  upstairs.  I  just  had  to  wait  for  her  to  leave.
   She  took  a  while  talking  to the  assistant  but  then  her  companion  walked  towards  the  door.  Her  companion  had  short  blonde  hair  and  looked  quite  cute  in  jeans.  She  had  that  peculiar  smile  on  her  face  while  looking  at  the  floor  as  she  left.  The  hat  paused  before  leaving.  It  was  working  out  beautifully.  The  companion  left  through  the  door  as  the  hat  gathered  up  her  shopping  bags  and  started  walking  towards  me.  She  even  lifted  up  her  head  so  I  should  get  a  good  look  before  she  turned  to  go  out  the  door. 
    But  then  2  things  went  wrong,  2  things  that  I  had  not  anticipated.  The  first  was  that  because  of  the  broad  rim  of  the  hat  her  face  was  completely  in  shadow.  I  could  not  see  her  face  at  all.  The  second  thing  was  that  she  was  looking  straight  at  me.   I  was  not  wearing  a  hat,  so,  although  I  could  not  see  her  face, she  could  see  mine.  Indeed  there  was  a  moment  when  our  eyes  seemed to meet.  Assuming  her  eyes  were  in  the  right  positions  I  must  have  been  looking  right  into  them  but  I  could  see  nothing. 
   The  moment  soon  passed  and  she  turned  towards  the  door.  She  seemed  not  to  react,  but  then  after  she  had  gone  out  the  door  she  suddenly  said  very  loudly  “How  embarrassing !”  She  was  clearly  saying  it  to  her  companion  who  must  have  been  waiting  on  the  stairs. However  what  the  actress  was  probably  not  aware  was  that  the  door  had  not  fully  shut  behind  her  and  her  remark  was  clearly  audible  in  the  room  she  had  just  left.  Nobody  seemed  to  react  in  the  room. The  door  then  shut  behind  her  so  the  rest  of  the  conversation  could  not  be  heard.
    So  what  was  so  embarrassing ?   Had  I  missed  something ?  Was  it  really  the  actress  or  was  it  somebody  completely  different ?  I  tried  to  think  things  through.  I    think  she  was embarrassed  because  she  was  not  aware  that  I  could  not  see  her  face  when  our  eyes  met.  Even  then  it  should  be  me  who was  embarrassed,  not  her. Perhaps  her  companion  had  deliberately  gone  out  ahead  and  that  the  actress  had  for  some  reason  wanted  to  get  a  look  at  me,  only  to  find  me  looking  at  her.  But  why  would  she  want  a  look  at  me ?
    Possibly  she  was  just  embarrassed  about  the  awkwardness  of  the  hat  or  she  had  had  some  problems  with  the  assistant.  Perhaps  it  was  something  that  happened  before  I  entered  the  scene.  Perhaps  it  was  not  the  actress.  Sometimes  it  is  better  not  to  know  and  allow  yourself  to  come  to  your  own  theory,  but  the  moral  of  the  story  seems  to  be  to  always  make  sure  the  door  is  shut  behind  you  before  you  say  anything,  unless  you  want  to  be  overheard.

©Conor Cotter


(The actress was Tara Fitzgerald. For her biography, see this web page

Sunday, 30 October 2011

The Shop Assistant

I went out with Paul again last night. We have been going out regularly for a few years now. He is fairly reliable. He is happy to spend money on me. He is very protective and considerate. He says that he will do anything for me. But I think he only likes me because I have large breasts.


You can see it on his face. That familiar grin that gives his thoughts away. I guess I am use to it by now. Men so rarely look me in the face, even when I am talking to them. I often have to repeat what I am saying, as they are thinking about other things. It is obvious where there interest lies.


It is so predictable and so annoying. Some men try not to be too obvious about it, but they give themselves away with the unnatural expressions on their faces. Others blatantly stare and are not ashamed of it. Some men are too intimidated to say much. Others say too much and make outrageous suggestions.


Few men seem interested in me as a person, but they all want a good look. Women become jealous of the attention I get. They try to ignore me, but then give me nervous glances. Even my friends are affected by it. Everyone waits to see how I react.


You have no control over it and you feel so exposed. You find yourself struggling to overcome the awkwardness of the situation. It is both a compliment and a threat. Any response you make may be misinterpreted. The men, lost in their own thoughts tend to overreact by reading too much into casual remarks and become irrational in their expectations.


Paul is not much different from the rest, but he happened to be around when I needed someone. We were at school together and seemed to drift together. There was little effort on my part. He always seemed to be around. Without me knowing it, he suddenly became my boyfriend. He may not have been the prettiest, but he knew how to say the right things and to take control of the situation without overstepping the mark.


There have been others passing through, but somehow he has persisted. He has been good to me. He takes care of me and tries to keep me happy. He pretends to be so big and strong, but really he is so sweet and gentle. I can relax with him and it is nice to have someone to look after you.


He has the same desires as the others, but he knows to wait for the right opportunity and not to be too forceful. He knows how to behave in public and can be a proper gentleman when he wants. However, when we are alone, it is difficult to say no all the time. Trying to stop him can be like trying to stop a steamroller, as he is not easily distracted. He knows I can give him what he wants..


He can be too protective and we have our arguments. He is proud of me and shows me off to his friends, but he does not like me going out without him. However I manage the occasional night out with girl friends to catch up with the gossip.


Even then, I seem to attract attention so quickly that it is difficult to relax and enjoy myself. I wish I was not so conspicuous. It is obvious what the men are thinking.


Some men are so ruthless when it comes to women and will say anything to try to please you. They lie so easily. They make extravagant claims about themselves and expect you to be so impressed by them. They treat women as mere bedroom fodder. They do not like being turned down and try to blame you for leading them on, as if it is your fault for having large breasts.


I have to be careful what I wear. I avoid tight clothes, as they are too uncomfortable, particularly in a crowd. It gets worse during the summer, when it is too hot to have much clothing on. The less clothing you are wearing, the more you are looked at.


I look forward to winter when I can cover up more. Even then, it is difficult to disguise my figure without looking too bloated. Naturally I prefer dark clothes as they are less revealing, but it would be nice to be able to wear some bright colours for a change.


By contrast, my friend Donna is virtually flat-chested and can wear what she likes without being pestered by men. She can flirt with men and treat it as a joke. She can be outrageous and get away with it. She is far more adventurous than me. She does not worry about what others might think. She just likes having a good time and is not afraid to take the lead with men.


She can make things happen and liven up a place. She does not have a long-term boyfriend, but she does not lack male friends. She is a good mover and knows how to get noticed. We have fun together. Paul thinks she is funny, but ignores her most of the time.


You are only young once so you might as well try to enjoy it. However everything seems to favour men. Life is easier for them. They are use to taking control and making the big decisions, so they are more confident and get the bigger jobs.. They do not have to cope with periods and pregnancies. They even age better than us.


As a woman, most of the time you are merely reacting to events over which you have no control. Women are given little chance of independence. It is tempting to get pregnant in order to give yourself something of your own to control., even though it further limits your actions. Perhaps women give in too easily.


At times Paul treats me like a lucky mascots, taking me everywhere with him. When we are alone, he is just like the rest and he wants me all to himself. At least I can make him happy and bring a smile to his face.


He has his faults, but he makes up for it with his warmth and energy. He is very physical. He prefers actions to words. He means well, even though he sometimes gets things wrong. He does his best to please me, but he does not have much patience. He is continually breaking off buttons on my tops.


He likes an easy life and is easily pleased. He is happy to spend all evening on the sofa, watching television or listening to music. He can be lazy and has to be reminded about things that he should be doing.


Life is difficult on your own, especially for a woman. It is useful to have a man around, even if it is only to stop other men from pestering you. Paul is good to me and it is hard to disappoint him. He has all the right equipment and does not need batteries, as he puts it.


Sometimes it is nice to be the centre of attention and to know that everyone is watching you. It gives you a feeling of power, but this power has its limits. Men can be so boring, especially when they only have one thing on their mind. They leave women to deal with the practical side of things.


My relationship with Paul is reaching the stage where something is going to happen soon. He has his own flat and he has suggested that I move in with him. He wants me to give it a try and says that I can move out any time if things do not work out.


He has left home but he still wants to have someone to look after him. I already do some cooking and cleaning when I go there. He would be happy for me to stay and do al the housework. He can be very old-fashioned when it suits him. He will want to keep his independence, but I will lose mine.


Paul has a good steady job as a car mechanic. He loves messing around with cars, even when he is not being paid for it. He hopes one day to have his own business. He wants to be rich but he has not got very far. He is young and hopeful. He enjoys life, too much at times. He frequently drinks too much and then expects me to take care of him.


My parents have been very good to me. They have let me do what I want, even when they think I am doing the wrong thing. Sometimes I think they are too easy on me, but I have to live my own life and learn from my mistakes. There is the pressure to conform and the desire to rebel.


It is difficult to explain things to them. They try to understand but things have changed since their day. I will probably look at things differently when I am their age. They are settled in their lives and it would be difficult for them now to change.


It is difficult for a single woman. You are considered a concern, either as a liability or as an opportunity. You are thought to be both fragile and tempting. There is pressure to pair up. Everyone feels more comfortable with couples.


On my own, I feel vulnerable. Men seem so aggressive and so threatening. It is frightening the stories you hear. You feel it could easily happen to you. On my own, I am careful what I do. When I am with Paul, I feel safer and am more open. I can look at men and know that nothing will come of it, since Paul is there. It is easier for men, there is less for them to worry about.


I am not ambitious. I just want to enjoy life. Paul is very independent. He likes to do his own thing and hates being told what to do. It is difficult to reason with him. He always knows best.. It can be very annoying, especially when he is right.


Men exploit any weakness and women should do the same if they are to make any progress. It can be fun to flirt and tease. You can exploit the situation and use things to your advantage. They can be so busy looking at you that they do not notice you looking at them. If women behaved as badly as them, they would soon start complaining. It is still a male-dominated society and we women have to use all our assets to get anywhere in life.


It is so annoying when you get pestered by men. It is so predictable with all the usual comments. Most of it is harmless but you have to be careful. Men have limited interests when it comes to women. Do not be afraid to embarrass them if necessary. Underneath they are very insecure.


It is often easiest to go along with things and not create a scene. It can be used to your advantage later. Requests to men for help are rarely refused. It is not difficult to get their attention. The hardest part is getting rid of them when you have finished with them.


I like my body. There are improvements that could be made, but it functions well enough. However it takes time to look good and it is easy to let yourself down in your appearance. If everyone is looking at you, you want to look good. I want them to like the whole package, not just the more obvious features.


But there is no point in always covering your biggest assets. There are times when you want to show what you have got. You may not get a second chance to make a good impression. You do not want to miss out on opportunities.


People respond to what they see. A little flirting can make things easier. It gives you a feeling of power over them.


Men can be so easily manipulated. It is just a matter of using the right approach. A little charm goes a long way. It is amazing what you can get away with. It makes you lazy. Things happen too easily.


I would like to think that people like me for what I do, but I have to admit that my appearance does make a difference. I do get noticed in a crowd. The novelty does wear off quickly, but it can still be nice when strangers respond immediately to you.


It is good to feel wanted, even if it is for the wrong reasons. It cheers you up to think that you are worth looking at. You must be doing something right if everyone wants to look at you. It is tempting to play to the crowd, but it can easily get out of hand.


I have a job as a shop assisstant in a jewellery shop. It is fun just looking through the displays. The customers are interesting, acting like kids in a sweet shop. It is easy to tease them with the more expensive items. They are often men buying presents for their wives or girlfriends. They seem to spend more on their girlfriends than their wives.


Some customers can be difficult. You can not trust people. They are too easily tempted by expensive, shiny objects. The manager is very friendly to me and is always willing to help me if I have a problem. He is very understanding if I make a mistake.


Men seem mesmerised by my breasts. To me they are just large and awkward. I have to say that my life would be different if they were smaller. I am not a show-off, but you can not ignore the reaction of others. You are what you are, so you might as well use what you have got. People do not do you favours for nothing. They expect something in return, even if it is just a token gesture.


Paul may have his faults but he has his uses. I would feel bad about deserting him after so long and I would miss him if he was not there. However I do not feel ready to settle down yet. A relationship can be so limiting. It is full of compromises and it is usually the women who makes the most compromises.


I would prefer not to have to rely on Paul, but it is convenient to have him around. I sometimes wonder what life would be like without him. I am not particularly clever. I am never going to be a big success at anything. I want to settle down and have a family at some point, but it seems too soon to be making big decisions.


It is easy to sit back and let Paul make all the decisions. It is what he wants. He would willingly provide for me. I would just need to go along with his ideas and keep him entertained when necessary.


He expects to make the decisions when we are together. He does not like me taking the lead. He does listen to me, but he always does as he pleases. He does not like long discussions and he thinks he knows best.


Paul makes moving in with him sound like a small step, but I know that it will be significant. It is leaving home. Although there will be the chance to move back, it will be difficult to admit to having made a mistake. If only life could be simple. I would not like to live on my own but I do not want to lose my independence.


Until now it has been a very easy relationship with no sense of long-term commitment to each other. It may sound odd but we just seemed to have drifted along together. Sometimes I wonder what he really things of me. Perhaps he thinks I am just a soft touch. Perhaps he just wants some body to play with. I wonder if he will still want me when I am old and sagging.

The End

©Conor Cotter

Friday, 28 October 2011

Movie and Sitcom Ideas

Movie Ideas


1.  Cinderella and Her Sisters
A modern variation of the folk tale where it is Cinderella who is lazy and her sisters who work hard. The three sisters share a house but lead very different lives. They each find love on their own terms.
Outline story.


2.  Raging Balls
A player competing in the snooker world championship and trying to resurrect both his career and his marriage.
Outline story.


3.  Coffee Shop Blues
A relationship is more complicated than just 2 people. A man has to choose between his oldest friend and his girlfriend. Despite an intense relationship with his girlfriend, he values his friendship more highly.
Outline story.




Sitcom Ideas


1. For Her Magazine
Female journalists working for a magazine which is the female equivalent of FHM and other lads mags. The women are the female equivalent of Top Gear presenters.


2. The Traders
Stock market traders coping with work and life. They compete with the market and each other.
Sample scene.


3. The Jewellery Shop
Life working in a jewellers for a young female assistant with a boyfriend who is mad about cars.  Sometimes you can attract too much attention.
Outline story.

©Conor Cotter