I was sitting across from the famous British actor, Jason Hughes of ‘Midsomer Murders‘ 
fame. Here I confess my secret passion for – murder mysteries! I love them and am a big fan of such series! I had all sorts of naughty thoughts on how to get his attention or engage him in a conversation. To be soooo close and to say nothing – agony!
He had his eyes closed, so no possible accidental glance was there. Could have bumped against him, ‘accidentally’. ‘Ooops! Sorry’, then have asked him, if he really is who he is – not so classy that.
Then my fear of actually accidentally hitting him, made me sit like a starfish stuck to a rock, for fear of waking the poor man, who was obviously very tired, as he fell fast asleep. ‘Do I take a picture?… don’t I?’ Ran through my head, but I did think, ‘bad Karma, what if I was in his shoes?, would I want someone I didn’t know taking photos of me while I’m asleep on a train and then putting them on Facebook – no!’
So, instead I posted my dilemma on Facebook, ‘They’ll know what to do’ and here is what they said:
Caroline: Shout something in Welsh very loudly to him (only Welsh I know are town names, not very sane, yelling Abergavenny! Cardiff! in some weird and random way)
Jon: Sit on his lap and snog him (I’m afraid my John, may have words to say to me, if I did that)
Jenny: Be cool. Or maybe arrange yourself as a murder victim and wait (liked this idea, especially, as I have a big gash over my left eye, due to recent surgery, but man would it hurt to get those stitches put back in)
Julie: Poke him to see if he’s alive! (hmm, this was possible, but still may produce – weirdo person sitting across from me vibes, rather than sane, beautiful, talented person!)
Caroline (again): sing an aria (this was a good 1, but I didn’t do it, lots of people on train and all that, I’m quite a shy person really!)
Fiona: Lean across and blow up his nostrils. (Back in weirdo category, not the effect I was going for)
Stephen: Ask him how Tash and the kids are? (Didn’t get this private information in time to do it)
Peter: Draw a white line around him for when he wakes (now what did I do with that spare white chalk I always carry….hm?)
My personal favourite though:
Peter: ‘Jason Hughes is sitting in a cafe and thinking, is that Debbie Bridge? Wonder if I should go and say hello.’ (Looking forward to this event)
and to leave me with a bit of hope:
Alan: He’s a Kemptown chap isn’t he? (raising my hopes, I may get this chance again on a future train ride, when he isn’t so tired)
So, in the end, he slept well and I had a lovely distraction and a few laughs during my train ride up to London, where I did my 1st Voice Over job….that leads nicely into my next blog, so catch up with you then.
P.S: Jason Hughes, if you are reading this: I just wanted to say, I really like your work!
I personally liked Caroline’s suggestion. You’d have made a lot of bored or stressed (or sleepy!) commuters very happy. It must be an absolute joy to be able to suddenly belt out an aria. I remember sitting alone at the ‘that’ wine bar in Covent Gdn when a lady on the table next to me stood up, and did just that. Wondeful! It wasn’t you was it?! ;o) Hearty greetings to you m’lady.
Hi Suzy, will definitely have to try doing that the next time such an opportunity arises. I know I was in Poland recently at the salt mines outside of Krakow and burst into song there, which was well received. I am afraid I no longer sing at Covent Garden and when I was there, I was not allowed to go among the tables, so I am afraid it wasn’t me who sang to you, but it is something I would do, just for the fun of it!