Seven Squared

[nanila]

The bloke & I went to the Lickey Hills (oh, English place names. I never grow tired of you.) just south of Birmingham this weekend. Naturally, I managed to find a cemetery during the course of our walk.














I've become accustomed to being mistaken for famous people occasionally. When I was a postgraduate, the chaps in the machine shop called me Dark Angel, after Jessica Alba in said television show. Since I moved to England, however, it's been all about a certain singer and pianist with approximately the same ethnic background. A few weeks ago, I was on a train home from Wolverhampton when the following exchange occurred.

Me: *snuggles down in seat, is almost asleep*
Chap: *shakes my shoulder*
Me: Whahuh?!
Chap: Do you sing?
Me: *blinks owlishly in total lack of comprehension*
Chap: Are you a singer?
Me: No, no I'm not.
Chap: You are. You're a singer.
Me: What?
Chap: Your dad was Filipino.
Me: How...how could you possibly know that?
Chap: Because you're Myleene Klass.
Me: *groans* No, I was trying to sleep.
Chap: I'm sorry. Would you like some crisps? Or a banana?
Me: No, thank you.
Chap: *gets up, starts to walk away* I'll be back for an autograph later.

Last week, I was walking down the street in Chelsea and I passed a pub full of very posh, very pissed young people. I was about twenty feet beyond the entrance when I heard a man roar, "Did you see who just went by?"

I picked up the pace. "Myleene!" he called. "MYLEENE!" (Side note: Does screaming at celebrities ever cause them to turn round and have a conversation with you?)

Last night, the bloke & I spent some time exploring Birmingham. Naturally, this included "exploring" the inside of a few pubs. In the first one, we were conversing quietly in a corner when I felt the effect of several pairs of eyes burning into the side of my face. I turned and saw a group of men in their thirties, and suddenly I knew. I didn't need to lip-read to be certain that they were having the Myleene Klass conversation, but I did anyway. They were.

In the last pub, another chap leaned over and said, "You're a dead ringer for that woman off the telly in those adverts. You know who I mean?"

I did, but I pretended I didn't. He struggled for a moment and then shouted, "Myleene Klass!"

The bloke returned with a couple of pints. The chap said, "Your lady here looks just like Myleene Klass."

The bloke replied, "She doesn't look like her."

I gave him a warning glare. He sat down. The chap smiled and went back to his conversation. Several minutes passed.

"That man keeps looking over here," said the bloke, highly amused. "He's still not sure you aren't actually Myleene Klass."

"We are so leaving after this drink," I replied.

Comments

[alwayswondered]

I love cemeteries. I live right next to one of the Magnificent Seven. I keep meaning to take a camera in there and take some terrible attempts at moody, atmospheric photos, but I always forget.

Who the FUCK wakes up unaccompanied sleeping women on trains by SHAKING them? Whether or not said women are famous that is not polite or acceptable. Grr!

That said, I never noticed the vague physical resemblance between Myleene Klass and Jessica Alba before. Huh.

[nanila]

Do you know, I'd never heard of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries until right now. How is that possible? :O I've only been to three of them - Highgate (both east and west several times), Kensal Green and Brompton - I must go to the rest before I leave London. Thank you for telling me about them.

I notice that many seem to think it's OK to be quite rude to people they believe are famous. It certainly makes the idea of trying to become famous much less appealing.

[alwayswondered]

I've only been to one, and that's only because I live right on top of it. I do really want to see the others, though. I might make that a project for the New Year.

Ugh, it certainly does. I'm glad I don't look like anyone famous. Public transport makes me feel misanthropic enough as it is.

[floating_coffin]

I'm constantly being told that I look like Justin Timberlake. I don't really see it but apparently Chinese people do. I used to think it was weird but I've since embraced it as JT is quite a looker. Someone also did once tell me that I look like Woody Allen which I absolutely do not see at all.

[nanila]

Isn't there a 6-7 inch height difference between Justin Timberlake and Woody Allen? Not to mention the numerous other differences between them. But yes, the JT comparison is much more flattering, at least physically!

[floating_coffin]

I do somewhat resemble Justin Timberlake in the face, especially when I cut my hair short and don't shave for a week or two (I've also heard that I look like Ryan Phillippe), but I think the Woody Allen thing is more an issue of character. Imagine the 5'6 bastard son of Justin Timberlake and Ryan Phillippe, but with Woody Allen's annoyingly nervous, neurotic nature, and I guess that's me. Minus, y'know, the abs and biceps and filmmaking talent and everything.

[lark_ascends]

Wow. Those photos are stunning.

*facepalms at the mistaken identity*

[nanila]

Really? Thank you! It's been quite a while since I had time to work up a set of photos properly so I was feeling pretty rusty.

[lark_ascends]

Definitely really.

[katzimir]

Couldn't you play along for one or two trips? You could really mess up the tabloids.

HEAR'AFTER'SAY: Graveyard Shocker!
Has Myleene Klass become a necromancer? Phwoaaar!

[nanila]

The bloke has pointed this out as well. He thinks I should have gone back to that pub in Chelsea and demanded that people buy me drinks. The trouble with that idea is that then I would have been forced to converse with the people who bought them.

[mme_hardy]

Oh, the poor Danks. I love the bunny shot; is that in the cemetery as well?

Ugh re Myleene Klass. Apart from the constant invasions of your space, to my eye, you're much prettier.

[nanila]

Yes. Not a lucky family.

The bunny lives at Baddesley Clinton, which is a National Trust property near Birmingham. It's a funny place - not so big, but very fanciful and quirky. The house is surrounded by a moat and the exterior is rather forbidding, while the interior is warm and dainty.

[tuzemi]

Second the comment that those photos are amazing. I'm trying to imagine a story for each one now. The stone with 'Alan' and 'Karen' looks so heart-wrenching.

[nanila]

Thank you. The bloke found that gravestone & pointed it out to me. I suppose it's a peculiar thing to be grateful for, but I was.

[capri]

Wow I really like these photos! I can't even pick a favourite. They're all amazing.

When I first reached London I came across a guidebook to local cemeteries, which fascinated me because I didn't know cemeteries could be a Thing. I think I've told you before about how hyper-organised ours are back home.

[nanila]

You did. I very much want to see the Singaporean cemeteries.

I'm going to make seeing the Magnificent Seven a "project" before I leave London. I'm hoping to start today, assuming the weather holds til past lunchtime!