Meeting Giles Coren for the second time!

Yesterday all happened because of a dream and a toss of a coin.

I dreamt that Giles was in a restaurant, and I was standing up looking around it. I then woke up, knowing the book signing would be happening later that day. I then thought I'd better check Twitter, just to see if Giles knew whether the Waterstones signing would be happening, but he didn't.

I then spoke to a few people on Twitter and they all were encouraging me to go to it. I even got a tweet from an Australian women (you know who you are) and she said that I should give Giles a hug from her. That was something that made me more determined to go.

Then I thought why not toss a coin and see what it tells me to do. I thought heads for going, and tails for not going. I tossed it three times (not counting the toss that made the coin drop on my hand, and so it didn't count, as it was still spinning and didn't land properly), and it landed on tails, then heads, and then, luckily, heads again!

That was it. The moment I decided to go. It was like a lightbulb had gone off in my head. I felt switched on, alert, and ready to get ready.

It took me the best part of two hours to get myself together, and by the time I'd left the house, it was really cutting it fine, and I felt uncertain as to whether I'd make it there on time.

Luckily, the transport that day was very good, and the tube, etc. was very fast, and I got to Selfridges by about 5:50pm. The building was huge, and the outside is like a gallery, the way the window displays are arranged. I saw the sign saying 'Meet the Times restaurant critic &TV presenter Giles Coren', which was lit-up a bit like a Christmas tree.

Here's a cropped pic I took. Which I have added a grungy border to. The lights around the sign are just visible, underneath it.

I got inside the store, and it is very upmarket, just like Peter Jones in Sloane Square. There is a floor, or large area, just dedicated to selling perfumes. Oh my god, it's classy! I could have walked around the store for hours, just browsing. It was literally so mesmorising. It is better than my local department store. It is like 100 times better. Plus, the staff are all so well dressed and smart. That's my kind of store!

Then I got the lift down to the LG (lower ground) floor. The lift was very swanky. It went up and down, and stopped several times until it reached LG. I stepped out, and the first thing I saw was a black curtain with a rail type thing behind it. I thought surely this must be where Giles is doing his signing. Nope. It was basically just a wall. A wall with a curtain. I would say that's just a little bit strange.

Then I walked past some toilets with blue signs for boys, girls and disabled people. Then I went straight ahead, and turned left and saw a table with a sign behind it. I then knew this was where Giles was. His voice was faint in the background, and as I got closer I saw him, with a blue shirt on, and chatting to a fan of his. The fan in question I did not know, or even look at. I just knew there was a fan there.

This was the sign near the table. It was just by the load of books for people to pick up and buy, to get Giles to sign them.

I picked up a book on the right hand side of the table, and took it to the till to buy it. I got a little yellow Selfridges bag and a receipt, and took my newly bought book with me over to the signing area. There were only a few people there at that stage and I joined the back of the queue. I then got given a little bit of paper, which I had to write my name on. The women who handed it to me was Chinese-looking, and asked me (and my companion who came with me) if we were big fans. I said "Yeah. But he also knows us.". She was a bit shocked to hear that, I think.

I then waited for several minutes, and Giles glanced over at me several times, in between signing another person's book, and chatting to them and their friend. This was a little nerve-wracking, as I don't like waiting for things, but also because I was a bit nervous, and wanted to start talking to him.

Finally, the two women ahead of me left, and I (and my companion) moved forward. Giles smiled and said "Hi." and got up out of his seat and gave me a kiss on both cheeks. That, I was not expecting. (Also earlier when I walked past the table he waved and said "Hi!" to me.)

He and I chatted for maybe 5 minutes or so. And he smiled like a cheshire cat most of the time he spoke to me. He was pleased to see me, and that I came. And he mentioned that I threatened not to come, on Twitter. That made me giggle. He also signed my copy of How To Eat Out, and wrote 'To Supersizer1...'. He wrote it so quickly... and I tried to not look at what he wrote straight away, as I feel it should always be a surprise for later.

Another thing he said to me was that he knew I'd come to the event. He also said "Sorry Sue isn't here too." and made puppy dog eyes at me. I thought that was so sweet. Of course I'd loved to have met Sue again at the same time. Why wouldn't I?

He also mentioned how my hair looks like Lucy Worsley's. Omg, I felt so in awe of him saying that. I did kind of agree with him, and I thought it was sort of a compliment too.

Then me and him had our picture taken together, by my companion, who took a really nice shot. And because I'm not comfortable showing myself, I have cropped it and blurred me out too.

And here it is. Please forgive how I have managed to get him more on the left of the picture.

I'm not really sure how that happened.

By the way, while we had our picture taken, he had his arm around me, unlike the previous time when I met him.

Then later on... I went back to say that the Australian women had sent me a tweet, and I showed it to him. I then asked him, "Can I have a hug then?". And he said "Yes.". So... me and him hugged, because of the Australian women's tweet. It was the best feeling. And showed just how lovely he is, and how affectionate I am towards him, because he is one of my idols.

Extra info. and pics.

Here's a pic of a yellow chocolate bar in Selfridges, which just happened to match my nail polish colour.

Here are some cute benches, which collapse to make a little, round, wooden table. Neat, huh?

Here's a very British tent. Also from Selfridges.

This was in the window outside Selfridges. I loved it. And because it's just so British, just like the tent.

Here's an omelette and salad which I ate at a restaurant, after going to Giles' book signing.

And here's a poster advertising Horrible Histories, which was down on the London Underground.

That's it folks. Hope you enjoyed reading my blog post, and looking at the pics. I'd love to hear what you thought of it. Please leave a comment below, or tweet me: @Supersizer1.

Thanks for reading.

Ss1. xxx

Giles and Sue pics.

Here are a selection of new pics of Giles and Sue that I have found on the internet. Hope you like them.

Giles and Sue Live The Good Life, the episode set at Christmas.

Giles and Sue in The Supersizers Eat... The French Revolution.

Giles and Sue on The Jonathan Ross Show.
Don't they look lovely in this pic?


                      

Giles and Sue in Giles and Sue Live The Good Life, as Margo and
Jerry.

Giles and Sue on The One Show.

That's it for now.

Leave a comment below telling me what you thought of the pics.

Thanks for reading.

Ss1.

xxx

Life before the internet.

If anyone can actually think back to a time before computers, when they were young, innocent and free, you might be interested to know what life was like for me.

Like any child, I would play with toys, for hours and hours. I had very little to worry about. Infact, the internet was a scary concept to me back then. What scared me most was basically stories I had heard on the TV, news stories about people going on the internet, chat rooms, etc. I was one of those people who other people would think I used internet sites, when in actual fact, I didn't.

I'm now in a very different place in my life, and now actually have the time to tweet, blog, share pics, etc. Back then, in my earlier years, I did not have that kind of time. Also, I'd say that sites, such as Twitter, have become more popular, mainly due to celebrities using them. And so, people such as myself, are going on it more, not just to chat to anyone, but to see what their favourite stars are up to, and to find out what TV appearances they'll be making soon.

People like Giles Coren and Sue Perkins are what make the internet enjoyable for me. I only joined Twitter initially because they were using it to chat with each other. I then eventually gained enough followers on there so that my opinion actually meant something, and people actually reply to what I say on there. That has taken me the best part of two years and a bit to reach that stage though.

Anyway, back to the olden days (ha ha ha) I used to enjoy spending time playing outside, doing things like bouncing a ball, or skipping, or hitting a ball with a tennis racket. Oh yeah, great fun that used to be. I would tire myself out. I was a very energetic child. Very, very energetic. Now what do I do? That's right, mostly I just sit around, tweeting, blogging, and being a bit less like the old me.

One thing has never changed though - my love for music and the TV. I'm still listening to modern tracks, and watching the latest comedy shows. I have never grown out of that. I will always be a sucker (not referring to vampires there, at all) for music and comedy shows.

So what has this little blog post session taught me about myself, and life, and the internet? Well, all in all, my view of the internet has changed - I once found it all to be terribly scary and I thought I'd never be a part of it, but now I am, and I enjoy using Twitter and Blogger, and other internet sites. I am still pretty much the same girl I ever was, I'm just less sporty, and more media-focused now. And life will never be the same again for me. I joined Twitter on the 21st of May 2010 (I'm hoping that date is correct) and I have never looked back. Yes, sometimes I have felt like, what's the point?, but I now feel that the internet is a huge part of my life, and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

Leave some feedback below, if you want. Thanks for reading.

Ss1. xxx