This is how the story goes :
Me to my kids: “I once met Clint Eastwood while horse-riding in the Hollywood hills with your father. He was coming towards me on his horse and as he passed by he tipped his hat and said “Howdy, Miss”.
My kids to me: “Yeah, right Mum! Sure that was Clint Eastwood!!” to peals of laughter.
I blame their father for telling them that it wasn’t him. So I gawped, open-mouthed like an idiot for nothing as my hero, he of one of my all-time favourite films, The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, sauntered on by. An English girl horse-riding in the Hollywood Hills – it had to be Clint, right? It’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
As you might have gathered by now I’m a bit of a film buff and I do enjoy the Oscars but that isn’t my only reason for thinking about my tenuous claims to fame. Something in my lighthouse keeper post jolted a memory which further reminded me of this fascinating thing we call ‘six degrees of separation’, defined by Wikipedia as:
Six degrees of separation is the theory that everyone and everything is six or fewer steps away, by way of introduction, from any other person in the world, so that a chain of “a friend of a friend” statements can be made to connect any two people in a maximum of six steps. It was originally set out by Frigyes Karinthy and popularized by a play written by John Guare.
One Saturday afternoon back in the 70’s when I was all of sweet-sixteen, I was sitting in a pub somewhere in Hampshire with my dad. Life revolved around the pub (for those who have recently started reading my blog, my dad, now 81, is an alcoholic who has spent most of his adult life in prison for numerous drunken and failed attempts to rob banks).
While Dad held court with his fellow revellers, I found myself listening to a one-sided conversation with a rather eccentric man wearing yellow, ‘Rupert Bear‘ trousers and a very ‘loud’ cravat. Typical wear for the 70’s come to think of it.
I couldn’t possibly tell you what he was talking about, although I do vaguely remember something about Shakespeare. Later on when I asked my dad about him he blithely replied, “Oh, that’s Freddie Jones, a famous actor!” Well, you could have fooled me! I had never heard of him.
I’m sure he was/is a very nice man but why oh why couldn’t it have been Steve McQueen, the King of Cool, the u l t i m a t e?
I would have to settle for Clint. It’s a tough world.
Rumour had it that this same pub was frequented by a handful of famous musicians, Mick Fleetwood being one of them (no pun intended, ha!). Although it must be true because for some reason my dad acquired Mick’s jacket and I really don’t want to know how, although I can hazard a million guesses. A plaid, lined thing it was. Somehow my brother ended up with it and I can remember wearing it while out walking through Suffolk fields. Sorry Mick, hope you didn’t miss it too much!
I don’t know what it is about my Dad, skirting on the edge of some kind of shadowy celebrity life-style. I remember him telling me that he once met Elizabeth Taylor in a pub in London (always the pub). He said she was incredibly beautiful – from the waist up. He also once snogged Joan Collins at a party, or so he says. I wonder if Joaney remembers that?
Back to Freddie Jones. Dad of course knew him from playing the part of Alex DeLarge’s probation officer in A Clockwork Orange. The film meant nothing to me then and it would be many years before I watched it. When my own grown children did so decades later I at last gained some celebrity kudos with them when they believed my story about my chance encounter with an actor.
(Incidentally, today Freddie Jones plays Sandy Thomas in Emmerdale, I had no idea as I don’t watch soaps.)
Then one-day my middle boy, Nicky, told me something very interesting about a work colleague and friend of his who casually mentioned of a lunch time that his brother happens to be Toby Jones, a well-known actor who has starred in many films including playing Alfred Hitchcock in The Girl and Waddington in The Painted Veil, a most exquisite and moving film based on the book by W. Somerset Maugham. I highly recommend it.
Nicky made the connection first and this is what I love most about this entire Freddie Jones story: He was proud to tell his friend that, “My mum met your dad in a pub when she was 16!” Now that’s some pretty cool street cred for an old mum don’t you think?
Nicky had his own encounter with a famous actor, when, during a visit with his dad in California a few years ago, ‘Liquid Metal Guy‘, (correctly known as T-1000 in Terminator 2: Judgement Day played by Robert Patrick) casually walked into the same shop as them. Nicky is a huge fan of the Terminator films so he was thrilled to have a chat with him and get his autograph.
When celebrities take the time to talk to ordinary folk like us sometimes they can make a real difference to our lives without realising it. This is what happened to Aspie D (my daughter’s nickname).
She had a very rough time of it last year. By April she was cheered up enough for our trip out to California and so there she was with her father ambling along Hollywood Boulevard towards the Chinese Theatre when next thing she knew she was standing on the red carpet at the première of Oblivion with Tom Cruise stepping out of a limousine and walking towards her. He chatted with her for a few minutes, shook her hand and gave her his autograph. No photo though! 
Still, some hours away I was with my lovely friend eating the best guacamole I’ve ever had in my life at a Mexican restaurant (miss those so much!) when the call came.
“Mum, you will never guess in a million years who I just spoke to and shook hands with?”
To hear the joy and sheer thrill in her voice was the best gift I could ever have had and for that I thank you, Tom Cruise.
Finally, there is another celebrity I would like to thank.
Eldest son, while in his senior year of high school back in 2001 (in California) was in the throes of putting together a movie production for its final grading. He stayed late after school many an evening in an attempt to get the editing done but the very archaic and limited equipment at the school made the task frustrating if not impossible.
A friend of his, a girl he had known all through his high school years, offered for him and his friend to come to her home as she was sure that her step-dad could help them out as he knew a little bit about sound production.
So one evening, as arranged, I drove son and friend out to the girl’s house. It was out in the middle of nowhere and I dropped them off at the top of a long drive, the house partially hidden behind a forest of trees. Hours later, upon picking them up, I heard the story.
Turned out that the girl, Vanessa Rivers, was the daughter of a certain Johnny Rivers, the American rock-n-roll singer – think ‘Secret Agent Man’, ‘Poor Side of Town’ and ‘Memphis’ – but since her father and mother had split up, she now lived with her mother and her step-dad who happened to be Todd Fisher, son of Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher (who left her for Elizabeth Taylor), and brother of Carrie Fisher, the one and only Princess Leia.
13th March 1973: American actor Debbie Reynolds sits and smiles with her children, actor Carrie Fisher and Todd Fisher, as they attend the opening night party for the Broadway musical revival ‘Irene,’ in which Reynolds starred, New York City. The music was composed by Hal Tierney, with lyrics by Joseph McCarthy. (Photo by Tim Boxer/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
So much for knowing ‘a bit about sound production’. Todd Fisher had his own recording studio. I wish I could have been there to have witnessed my son’s face when he walked in the room. In all the years that he had known Vanessa he said that she had never given any inkling of her Hollywood connections.
Getting down to business with the very helpful and pleasant Mr Fisher, my son and his friend tried to pretend that everything was normal when the phone rang. It was Princess Leia. Both huge Star Wars fans, the boys couldn’t believe it. There was one more interruption. This time it was his mother, Debbie Reynolds. I’m not sure what was said during their conversation but I think that Todd might have had a ticking off because after he hung up the phone he said something like this:
“Boys, if there is one piece of advice I can give you it is this, and it has nothing to do with sound production. When you leave home and wherever you go in life, always, always, make sure to remember to call your mother!”
My eighteen year old boy-man was about to launch out into the world and I would miss him terribly but he took these words to heart. My son’s movie gained him a grade A but more importantly, in all the years since he has always kept in regular touch with me. I wonder if Todd Fisher realises the power of his words that day?
As for Clint Eastwood, well, I know it was him and for this impressionable young English girl who had already known pain and loss by the time I watched him go by on his horse as he smiled and tipped his hat to me all those years ago, I want him to know this:
“Clint baby, you made my day!”
A View From My Summerhouse 
Best claim to fame I can come up with, Sherri, is Buzz Lightyear kissing my hand at the LA Disneyworld. Pretty darn feeble, huh? 🙂
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Well that’s pretty cool Jo! At least you didn’t get kicked by Micky Mouse which is what happened to Eldest Son when he was a little boy! He has never forgotten it 😉
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So glad I found your blog – super piece of writing – I often wonder about the six degrees of separation – how many times have I said – ‘well isn’t it a small world?’ I think its much of the same thing.
One night in the sixties I found out I had been on the same train as Ken Dodd – when he got off! And my mum worked in a grocers shop in Liverpool and used to serve Paul McCartney when he was a boy! I haven’t thought about either of those incidents for a hundred years – so thank you for jogging my memory!
Good luck with the writing – keep on keeping on.
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Hello there, thanks so much and for coming by for a visit, so glad you enjoyed reading this and that it jogged some celebrity memories for you! Ken Dodd, wow, what is he up to these days? (I’m assuming he’s still alive, is he…??) My eldest son lives in Brighton and he often sees Heather Mills around the place, she has a place in Hove, or used to. This six degrees of separation thing has always fascinated me and yes, it is indeed a small world. Do drop by for a visit to my summerhouse again, would love to see you… 🙂
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I wouldn’t recognise a celebrity if one leaped out and bit me on the bum! But I did think Clint was pretty hot back in the Spaghetti Western days 🙂
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Ha ha! Oh Jude, well I certainly hope you don’t get bitten on the bum by one – I’m laughing out loud now at the thought of it…. 🙂
So you like this pic of Clint then? He was great in those Spaghetti Westerns, the best… 😉
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Was Clint wearing that famous poncho? 🙂 I would love to meet him he defines the term Screen Legend. Great blog.
TMM
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Well I have to say, it did look like he was, and he had the hat and everything. Even the cigar…although that could just be me putting my imagination into overload! But I just know it was him. I was utterly speechless and just couldn’t believe it. I can see him now….
Thanks so much for the visit TMM, glad you enjoyed it and I hope you get to meet Clint one of these days… 😉
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This is one of the most delightful stories I have read here. All those stars and involving all members of your family. Fairy dust must have landed on each of you.
I agree about the six degrees, or at least I do since meeting my son-in-law. Everyone who meets my daughter and her husband have a link back to them through a friend, family member or some convoluted way.
My son-in-law recently advertised a fish tank free to a worthy person. He turned some comers down because he didn’t feel their reasons were laudable. Who showed up but two guys he knew from high school. One of them wanted the tank for his sick daughter.
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Wow, what an amazing story Tess, you could write some marvellous flash fiction about that! How lovely that your son-in-law wanted to make sure the fist tank went to the right person and look what happened! It really is incredible, I’m fascinated with this six degrees thing. I wonder if it’s always been that way with him?
It’s funny though, I never thought that my family had ever really met anyone famous but over the years when I look back I think we have met a few here and there. I remember meeting Tom Selleck at LAX once and also when I was 9 years old I got to shake Sean Connery’s hand at a celebrity golf tournament which was weird as neither of my parents every played golf, so go figure!!! I never met my hero though, Steve McQueen…now that would have been quite something… 😉
So glad you enjoyed, thank you Tess 🙂
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I a.l.w.a.y.s. do. 😀
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🙂 🙂 🙂
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😀 😀 😀 and I raise you three more.
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Ha Ha!!! 😉
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Double ha ha.
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😉
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😛 😛
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I’m very envious of your Clint anecdote Sherri. I wrote to him once when I was a teenager and I did get a signed photo back – it’s a bit yellow now, but I still have it. I have a few claims to fame of people I’ve met – Charlton Heston is probably the most famous – he came to do some theatre at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle so I had to accompany my mother, who was a huge fan, and we met him at the stage door. More recently Ant and Dec came to open our new library so I have the claim to fame of leading them around 🙂 But nothing so cool as your Clint story, nor your son’s experience!
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Oh wow, Charlton Heston, that’s amazing! Lovely that your mother got to meet him with you, that must have been such a thrill. I loved him in Ben Hur and also Planet of the Apes! My daughter would love to meet Ant and Dec, but she did get to meet Jimmy Carr at one of his shows afterwards. He was actually very nice and polite 😉 I love that you wrote to Clint Eastwood and have a signed photo of him, something to treasure! Nicky inherited my love of Spaghetti Westerns so we love to watch them together when we get the chance, not very often these days 😉
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Ha – this was such fun to read! And I just love the sound of Vanessa – the coolest girl on the planet to not let on about her celebrity connections.
I’m really bad at spotting celebs. When I worked near the BBC colleagues would often say that they’d see TV people coming and going. One of them even said hello to the current Dr Who while walking up Regent Street because she thought she knew him.
I have seen Julie Walters in our local Waitrose and Eric Clapton lives a few miles down the road but I’ve never seen him.
Clint Eastwood, eh? Hmm, Steve McQueen for me, especially dressed as Virgil Hiltz in the Great Escape. King of Cool. 😉
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Yes, son was amazed about Vanessa’s true identity! He had no clue and as I said, I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall in that house! I’ve never forgotten that story! I can really relate to you not recognising celebs though. Quite often my ex would say ‘oh look, there’s so and so’ and I would look and had no idea who he was talking about and then he would say ‘ didn’t you see such and such over there?’ but I never did!!! It’s funny what you say about Eric Clapton as Francis Rossi and Robert Plant lived nearby that pub where I met Freddie Jones but I never saw them either even though they also used to go to the pub so I was told.
I’m with you, Steve McQueen all the way. If I couldn’t have him then Clint would have to do and he is super cool but I had a huge black and white poster of Steve on my wall when I was a teenager, never mind the Bay City Rollers, who I couldn’t stand, or worse, Donny Osmond. No, always the King of Cool and I was totally obsessed with The Great Escape. You have great taste Jenny 😉
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Sherri, baby, you just made my day. I loved this and you made me laugh. Not many movie stars come to Iowa USA but I have met a couple and quite a few singers. Love Clint Eastwood and really, all the others you mentioned.
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Ha Ha, oh I love that Donna!!! I’m so glad I made your day and that you enjoyed it! I’m still laughing at that…and yes, Clint is so cool… 🙂
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I’ve been near celebs, at a craft fair Priscilla Presley was strolling around and browsing the booths, flanked by bodyguards; once at dinner at a restaurant 3 tables away from Martha Stewart. But the only one I’ve ever had any kind of conversation with was Steven Tyler of Aerosmith (he has a summer home in the town I lived nearest to in NH). We were both looking at cards and books while waiting to talk to the pharmacist at the drug store. Our amazing conversation went something like:
TLK: I think you’re next in line.
ST: Thanks.
TLK: No problem.
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Wow, how cool is THAT? Steven Tyler…Ha ha, LOVE that, and you know what Tracy, you will never forget that conversation, not ever! When my daughter met Tom Cruise she was shaking so much and trying to film on her phone and her father was unable to get a photo for some reason. She said she was so nervous that she can’t remember a word of what he said!! As for Priscilla Presley I can just imagine her being surrounded by bodyguards. I remember Martha Stewart well. Sounds like you’ve had your fair share of celeb moments Tracy, thanks for sharing them 🙂 Who knows who we might bump into next??? 😉
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The only famous person I’ve seen is Fonzie (Henry Winkler) wandering about Antibes in the South of France and I thought that was exciting!
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That IS exciting Rachel, I love Fonzie!!! It is amazing to see famous people and what I really wanted to convey here is that they can be really decent people and really can positively impact us ordinary folk in ways that they might not always realise. That’s why it’s so sad when they go off the rails and make such prats of themselves for all the world to see. But then, they are human just like the rest of us… 😉
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I love the description of Elizabeth Taylor as “incredibly beautiful – from the waist up” That really made me laugh!
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Ha Ha!!! That is so typical of my dad to say that. He said she had really short, fat legs! Glad you enjoyed , thanks Letizia 🙂
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These are some lovely stories Sherri. You and your family seem to be celeb magnets! My only claim is that Jason Donavon once told me to F off!
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Charming….not!!! That’s so rude! Guess you won’t be wanting his autograph then! As I commented to Jo, my son was kicked by Mickey Mouse once at Disneyland! So not all our celeb moments have been so good!
Glad you enjoyed this Mikey, thanks so much 🙂
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Love this post Sherri, great stories! 😀
BTW, you should ask Steven about a certain Prince Charles. They go way back you know. 😉
I once met the Lovely Lady Penelope (Sylvia Anderson). I’ve always been crazy about Thunderbird’s as a kid, so I was thrilled to be able to meet her in person one day when she was in the Netherlands. I was 11 at the time, but I’ll never forget it! 🙂
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Thanks so much Darren, I’m glad you enjoyed it! Oh, and I will certainly ask Steven about Prince Charles, I’m intrigued…very… 😉
Ahh, the Lovely Lady Penelope, how wonderful. I adored Thunderbirds! That must have been such a thrill for you! That’s the thing isn’t it, we never forget these moments and they make for such great stories 🙂
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Haha! I’m amazed Darren remembers me going on about this. Sometime when I was about 3, Prince Charles was in Great Yarmouth, of all places. I was there in the obvious crowd, with my mother, and clearly, I took a liking to ol’ Charlie. I got away from mumsey, cleared the security flanking him, and just chased after him, not really sure why. He picked me up and walked me back to a frantic mother. “What a delightful child,” he said, trying his hardest not to look completely and utterly irritated by my behaviour.
Celebrity brushes elsewhere include a lot of marketing work for 2Unlimited in the 90’s and again a few years back, and also going for drinks at NUA with John Hurt, who essentially said I should be Doctor Who. Well Beeb, you know where I am… Would you like to be the Doctor’s assistant, Sherri P?
Lovely post Ms Poppins, very vivid memories and reassuring that so many of the celebrity encounters mentioned were nice ones! The best kind of name-dropping. As for the Clint incident – well, no-one can prove otherwise! 😉
That advice from Todd Fisher is sound; I say pretty much the same thing to my lot! Never go too far from mumsey!
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Oh wow, that is such a cool story JG, thanks for telling me about it. Ever since Darren mentioned it I’ve been waiting excitedly for you to spill the beans! I can just imagine Prince Charles saying that too…’what a delightful child’ yet probably between gritted teeth at having to be interrupted, lol 🙂
That is soooo cool about John Hurt too, I love him and you know, I bet you’d be a wonderful Dr Who. I would love to be your assistant, lol, oh the shenanigans and escapades and high jinks (another one for the mix) we would get up to, don’t even go there…. 😉
I’m glad you enjoyed it, thank you and believe me, it was Clint and I will never change my story, lol! And yes, I’m very thankful to Todd Fisher and you are a great dad for telling ‘your lot’ to always call mumsey….very important 🙂
Oh and I will just say not all were good..I didn’t mention that when my eldest son first went to Disneyland as a little boy Mickey Mouse kicked him when he went up to get his autograph. Don’t think it was on purpose but he has never forgotten it, lol 😉
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Haha! High jinks! I love that one too! 😉
I mean seriously though. Imagine the viewing figures for Doctor Who if we were its leads. They’d be off the scale.
Aww. I’d have probably kicked Mickey Mouse back, knowing how I was as a youngster!! I know a few people who’ve had some underwhelming exchanges with celebs… most notably, if you ever see Ed Tudor Pole, refrain from asking about The Crystal Maze, for your own sake 😉
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We’d be up for the BAFTA’s for sure – if only for the High Jinks, lol 😉
Ha Ha! Yes, that would have been good, kicking him back!! Another time I tried to get Nicky to force his way through all these screaming younger kids just to get Winnie the Pooh’s autograph for his sister and he just got up to the front when Tigger came along, grabbed him (Winnie, not Nicky) and took him away leaving a crowd of broken-hearted kids behind. Nicky was more annoyed at me for making him go up there in the first place 😉
I will be sure never to as Ed Tudor Pole that question then! (Who is he BTW?????)
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Move along Peter Capaldi 😉 Maybe we can replace the TARDIS with a Summerhouse?
Ha! Well, being the eldest of five children, I had to do similar things many a time, so I know how he feels! Poor kids though! I mean, that close to the REAL Winnie!
Ha! Ed was Tenpole Tudor in the early 80s (does this bring back any memories? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV3GVsECenw – it does for me!) He doesn’t appear to like the fact that more people recognise him from 2 years hosting Maze than do for his 40-or-so years as a musician. 😛
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The new Doctor Who – with a Summerhouse, ha ha, LOVE it 😉
Wow, eldest of 5, although I’m sure you’ve mentioned that before. And yes, it was pretty awful for those kids. We don’t have much luck with Disney characters in my family…bit strange that…or not, ha 😉
Well now I’ve looked at the link JG and I don’t know him! BUT, here’s the thing, I was in the States from 1980 – Sept 1981 so it could be that this passed me by. What does he do now, if anything?
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It can’t be that far removed from the TARDIS anyway, managing to store all those awards in there somehow 😉
Yep, me in ’74 through to my brother in ’86, there were three wicked sisters in between. There were a lot of power cuts around that time I remember, so maybe that explains…
Haha! I’ve never met a Disney character 😦 Although I met Father Christmas several times. That’s some name dropping for you 😉
Ah, maybe. I mainly remember it from birthday parties as a kid in the mid-80s. He mostly tours in small venues, to people who basically just want to hear him play that song… It was at one of these where my friend felt his wrath – he went for an autograph and remarked about how he’d loved Crystal Maze, and was told to leave (to put it politely). Grumpy sod!
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Ha Ha! I always loved how the TARDIS had so much room inside… 😉
Wow, you had your hands full there JG with all your siblings. Funny that, your younger brother is only two years older than my son Nicky 🙂
Oh, and shhhhh…..don’t tell anyone, but I have a half-brother who was born in 1972…but that’s another story that I will have to tell one day (but you heard it here first!)
What is the connection with him and Crystal Maze? Again, the 90’s, lost on me…do tell all 🙂
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Just like your summerhouse apparently does! All we have to do is figure out how to get it into that time vortex… how hard can it be??
I certainly did. I was essentially a free babysitter for much of the late 80s and most of the 90s. It was a madhouse!
Ed replaced Richard O’Brien as host of Crystal Maze for the last two years of the show’s run. There’s a cute little vignette at the start of the ’93 Christmas Special, where Richard and his mother leave the Maze, and Ed takes over: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIulkqeTmGk
Now, I may have been 19 at the time but rest assured part of my childhood broke away there!
You can probably see where I got ‘mumsey’ from, too… 😉
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Ha ha! Not hard at all with the help of my magical brolly… 😉
Yes, eldest son had his fair share of being the babysitter too, I’m sure you and he could share many a colourful story…
Ahh, is that when Richard O’Brien died? I tried to watch the link but it said that it was no longer available so don’t know what’s going on with that… ;-( Maybe you can find another one for me as I really want to watch it now 🙂
Thanks JG 🙂
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Oh yes! We won’t need the Doctor’s sonic screwdriver anymore, or whatever it is. The brolly trumps all!
Oh indeed… like the time my brother dialled for a free test session with one of them adjustable beds for old people. That was entertaining.
Richard O’Brien is still alive! He turns 72 this month, I think. Funny you say that, though, as around the mid-90s there were quite a few rumours circulating that he had died.
Does this one work, I wonder? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HQZtSSPahA
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Back again after a quick disappearing act…well you know how it is being Mrs P and all that…and yes, the brolly trumps all, ha ha 😉
That sounds like a fun afternoon (or evening) of entertainment…very inventive though, I’ll give your brother that, ha!
Well I’m utterly confused then aren’t I? What a strange coincidence though!! Now, last night, I asked Hubby all about this Tudor Beanpole guy, or whatever his name is and of course, as I suspected, he remembers him very well. So where was I ? I do vaguely remember the song. It was a weird time in my life so maybe I’ve just blanked a lot out…and sadly still cant’ it to work. Keeps saying no longer available…weird…
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It’s not easy being practically perfect in every way… I know how you feel Sherri Poppins 😉
Ha! Yes. I personally found it hilarious, but y’know, being the ‘responsible’ one, had to try and hide that as best I could.
Hahaha at ‘Tudor Beanpole’! Serious chuckles. Tenpole Tudor were quite popular in the early 80s, then largely fizzled out; Ed was pretty off the radar until he turned up on The Crystal Maze. I know what you mean, there are plenty of areas in my life I blank out, trust me…
Great Scotland Yard! I don’t know what’s going on there… well never mind, it’s not worth losing sleep over 😛
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Great Scotland Yard is right! Who knows. Maybe I’m blanking out again, or maybe it’s the strain of being practically perfect in every way. Still, now I know who Tenpole Tudor is (although I think I prefer Tudor Beanpole, ha ha!!) so thank you for that 😉
It’s been a long day so I’m hanging up the brolly…have a great evening JG 🙂
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Haha, whether you’re better off for knowing is up for discussion 😉
Have a good evening yourself! 🙂
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🙂
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Oh Steve McQueen, loved him and Jack Lord! I remember your Clint post, Sherri. I believed you then and I still do. What a fool he was to not pull you up onto his horse and ride away in the sunset. My claim to fame happened at a Jimmy Buffett outdoor concert. He walked past me and I grabbed his hand…but I didn’t let go. 🙂
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Ha Ha!! Yes Jill, I remember you saying that and thank you again for believing me! I know it was definitely Clint and believe me, if he had have pulled me up onto his horse I would have ridden away with him into the sunset in a heartbeat, lol 😉
I love that, nothing like making sure that Jimmy Buffett didn’t get away! I hope you got an autograph out of it at least!! I would have done that if Steve McQueen had walked past me, in fact I probably would have thrown my entire self on to him and made an utter twit of myself but it would have been worth it no matter the cost. I know you understand this 😉
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Oh yes, I certainly understand, Sherri. 🙂 Unfortunately I didn’t get Jimmy’s autograph, he was heading to the stage and his bodyguard pried my hand loose.
Have a great upcoming week!
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Darn that bodyguard!!!
Thanks Jill, and you too 🙂
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I love how you weave the details and mix the images in this blog, Sherri. Pubs are the settings of choice, of course, but then guacamole and jackets with plaid linings, and…it’s just so much fun. Some of your wishful favorites were mine, too, but your dad topped the charts when he supposedly “snogged Joan Collins”–now THAT’s a show stopper!
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Oh thank you Marylin, so glad you enjoyed it! Yes, that really is something isn’t it? Dad is always quite coy about it too, which I find hilarious!!
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Mr. Clint is an awesome, talented actor. A legend indeed. Thanks for a trip down memory lane. An exciting Hollywood glimpse. Have a star sparkling amazing weekend.
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Oh that he is, that amazing Clint Eastwood 🙂 Love him in the Dirty Harry films too! So glad you enjoyed it, thanks IT, and hope your weekend is as star sparkling as the one you wished for me…. 😉
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Hello! Feel free to watch my new photo album. I greet and wish you a beautiful weekend!
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Thank you Marko, and the same to you too 🙂
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Just by your personality that shines through your blogs, I know you met Clint.. and for that I’m jealous… and your son could never have got better advice… ALWAYS CALL MOM!!!!!!! no matter where you are or how old you are, CALL MOM… I still do even at my age… and my Mom turns 90 on Thursday…
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Ahh, what a lovely thing to say Bulldog, thanks so much. Glad you believe me, it is actually a long-standing joke in my family but I know the kids do really believe me and are quite impressed, lol 😉
Oh I love that, see, you know how important it is to call Mom but the kind of man I know you to be from reading your blog I am not in the least bit surprised that you call yours, and you are right, no matter what age! Just wonderful 🙂
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It is a somewhat comforting thought to think that we are all connected, somehow. We are linked to everyone and everything more than we can possible realise. Kind of a humbling thought, too.
What a list of celebs, eh! I’ve met Anthony Head, which was pretty cool. He was very nice, and got a photo with him and everything. And I sat in his chair. But, I’ve TOTALLY had a conversation with Princess Anne! 😉 Have the photo to prove it and everything 😛
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Wow, that’s amazing Jenny Jen Jen! I would like to see that photo of you and Princess Anne and know the story behind it. I waited for hours with a friend in Ipswich high street in 1977 to see the Queen while visiting for her Silver Jubilee. Just at the precise moment that I tried to get her photo, she was mere feet from me. a lady wearing a very large yellow hat stood up in front of me and so that is all I got, her hat and a tiny glimpse of the Queen and Prince Philip’s nose… 😉
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Aha, I’ll put it on my blog someday! Or email you, either one 🙂 Oh no, that’s such a shame! The Queen came through Salisbury for her Diamond Jubilee, and I only caught a glimpse of her, but even so that was amazing. Such an experience!
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Yes, I was very disappointed but thrilled to have at least seen her so close despite not getting a good photo! And yes, would love to see that photo Jenny Jen Jen…. 🙂
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Fun story Sherri! I have seen my share of famous folk.. But standing in line at the movies once with a friend I heard a voice that I know so well… It was Sally Field taking her grand kids to the movies. Seeing Diane Keaton at the gym watching her grand kids take swim lessons was pretty cool too!
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Thank you Tieshka and glad you enjoyed it! That is very cool, both great actors too!! I’m sure where you live you will see plenty more! The Oscars tonight, enjoy 🙂
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I love the theory of the six degree of separation.
I don’t have much to add to your post, in terms of celebrities, except to say that when I lived in Paris I saw many stars walking by or eating where I was eating too. But they were only French stars so they don’t really count!
In San Francisco, a few years ago, a man opened the door to my little girl. He was Robin Williams. She recognized him and gasped. He smiled. Now she has her celebrity story too.
Thank you, Sherri, for another lovely well-written post.
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Thank you Evelyne, so glad you enjoyed it and also thanks so much for sharing your little girl’s encounter with Robin Williams! I can just imagine her gasping like that, never expecting to see him coming through the door! She will never forget that moment will she? Wonderful 🙂
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You are some kind of celebrity magnet!
That was sweet, the memory with your dad, and the way you talk about him with such warmth.
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Thanks Denise, but I think it’s my dad and kids who are the celebrity magnets but I will never forget meeting Clint Eastwood, and I know it was him!!!
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Of course it was Clint, Sherri!!! Who else could it have been?
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Ha Ha! Thanks Ilka, and yes, absolutely it was Clint! Actually, my kids do believe me but we have this long-standing joke in my family about it, they like to tease me. I think they are jealous, lol 😉
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They should be jealous! I am! I never met Clint 😉
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Ha ha 😉
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Dude I believe you met Clint. I’m going to tell all my friends you did. And Yes! I miss real Mexican food. My better half has a knack for running into famous people. Not me. Then again, I’m horrible at remembering names and such so not sure I would know.
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It was him TB, most definitely!!! Ha Ha! I love that, wow, yes tell your friends, that’s great! I’m bad at remembering names too so don’t feel bad. I was open-mouthed and speechless when I saw Clint coming towards me on his horse…bet I looked just great, yeah right 😉
Oh that Mexican food is so good isn’t it? It’s just not the same here at all. It took me a long time mind you to get used to it, I didn’t touch it for years, but once I did I became a very quick convert! My kids love it and miss it terribly too. Although thinking of it there is a very good Mexican restaurant in Brighton which has so far come the closest. If you’re ever there let me know and I’ll give you the name, I can’t remember it at the moment but son can tell me 🙂
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Fun stuff, Sherry! My favorite ‘small world’ story is when we moved to a new neighborhood in Michigan, 1964, two neighbors from across the street came over to welcome us. My father noted the wife had a German accent and asked where she was from. She said it was such a small city in Germany that he would never have heard of it. She tells him the name and he tells her he was stationed by that city during the war (WWII) and went there often on weekends. She gasped and said “Blackie!” Turns out my dad and his trouble-making friend (dubbed ‘Blondie” by the locals) had made a mark. While they had never had interaction back then, she had photo albums containing pictures of people they had in common from decades back in another part of the world!
With regard to celebs? Chatted with Leslie Neilson at a restaurant in Oklahoma (at that time I thought of him as a serious actor from ‘Bracken’s World’ and was shocked that he actually had a whoopy cushion at the restaurant – so crass!!!) and passed Bette Middler in the airport.
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Wow Shel, that is an amazing ‘small world’ story! What are the chances of that happening, thanks so much for sharing it, wonderful! I hope that your dad’s reputation hadn’t left too much of a mark 😉
As for Leslie Neilson I can actually imagine him with a whoopy cushion as I can only think of him from his comedy roles – Airplane right?
Great stories 🙂
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Wow! Sherri, that’s so cool! I love Clint, he’s just so versatile. I’m kinda jealous now! 🙂
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Ha Ha!! Thanks Seyi! Clint is one cool guy isn’t he? I couldn’t believe that I actually got to see him and then he spoke to me!! I KNOW it was him… 😉
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Clint is super talented! I do believe you my friend!! 🙂
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🙂 🙂 🙂
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Sherri – I loved this post for so many reasons. I will try and share a few. First, I see we have even mor win common my friend – because my dad was also a pub man all of his life, but we call them bars here – and actually at my dad’s funeral – I was floored to see a bartender (who used to serve me soda pop as a child and who I had not seen since childhood) well he showed up (a very old guy who outlived my pops).
anyhow, we also share “doubted” celebrity encounters – ha ha – for example, when we saw stomp in san francisco in 2002- I kept telling my husband that Steven Spielberg was two rows back and to the left – my husband doubted – but I “knew” because in 95 I had a roommate who actually was into films and every time I did laundry – I saw a few pictures of Spielberg’s face! NOw I am not 100%, but other times I have been. Like you mention Tom Cruise…. well he actually has a home in Ormond Beach and we used to see him come and go sometimes…. also saw Kevin Spacey at Ron Jon’s in FL – when the news said he was in Nova Scotia (or something). And get this – I had Lance Armstrong in my car one day back in St Augustine, FL in the summer of 1990. I met him at a 7-11 and he was wearing bike shoes and getting a drink while on a bike training – and he told me all about why cyclists shave their legs. We hung out for an afternoon and he told me his name was Clark. I only realized it was “lance” when years later I saw his photo in his book – he had a much chubbier face than he has now – and light bulbs came on and it was just something I knew and felt in my gut. However, I would still like to confirm it with him someday….and with the infamy he has encountered, well I may just get the chance to ask him!
I could go on – but I won’t! And you know…..the funny thing is – we know these folks are just human – and famous folks are “no better – no less” than anyone else- and actually – MANY may be more miserable in so many ways – but it is still FUN to bump into some of them – and I liked this post and your point about 6 degrees of separation!
Lastly, like your other readers, I also like how Vanessa was relaxed about it all: “In all the years that he had known Vanessa he said that she had never given any inkling of her Hollywood connections…”
and super nice shout out to the ones at the end – very cool. 🙂
~y.
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Oh Yvette, what a fab comment, I loved reading this and all your celeb moments! Incredible, I do enjoy this so much hearing about other’s experiences and you’ve had a few by the sounds of it! I would love to meet Kevin Spacey in particular. As for Lance Armstrong, he might just be glad of some ‘good’ publicity right about now…not that he deserves it, but that’s just my humble opinion…
That’s the thing isn’t it, they are still very human and it is nice to know that some of these celebs don’t actually forget that! We are all part of the same human race after all, I agree!!
Incredible that about Vanessa Rivers – my son was stunned when he found out! I seem to remember trying to suggest that he dated her, lol 🙂
Thanks so much Yvette for your wonderful comments, glad to have you back 🙂
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🙂
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Sherri, our Scottish friend Tom read our banter about writing aubades and sent this link to a poem for us posted by the poetry foundation. http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/178058
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Oh thanks so much Marylin, that’s great as that was going to be my next step, look up some aubades that others have written to get an idea of the format etc. Great, will take a look, and thanks very much to Tom, so thoughtful 🙂
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Now that I a fabulous post And this is the woman who wonders if he can write Her memoire! Sherri, you are a complete and utter fraud. You write with a crispness and precision that is a pleasure to read; every nuance and anecdote pulls you to the next, a bit like a leisurely afternoon in the boozer with friends. He might be an old crook, your dad, but he sure gave birth to a born raconteur.
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Geoff baby, never mind Clint, you’ve just made my day 😀 Reading your wonderfully delicious comment…and in fact, I think I can thank my old crook dad, God bless ‘im, for all the stories he loved to tell and of course, more often than not daahhn the old boozer. In the days when you were lucky to get a stale sausage roll and a packet of crisps with your pint (or, as in the case of us kids, a bottle of Vimto in the back of the car where we waited for hour upon hour). Never read a thing to us, only ever told us these amazing stories. For you to enjoy this post so much really does put a huge smile on this cold, grey November day! Love it, thanks so much Geoff 😀
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And there’s a memory; we of the same vintage. The Archaeologist and I in the car with Mum and Dad in the pub, him reading me chaffing to get out and play. Orange squash and Smith’s crisps with the little twist of blue paper. All my summer holidays spent in Kent outside a Fremlins or Shepherds Neame pub. We should have rebelled!
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Oh those twists of blue paper and shaking out the salt. Smith’s crisps! Haha, we should have rebelled,you are right…wouldn’t be allowed today 😉
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