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The hollywood hunk

1/12/2021

8.05 am. After being jabbed three times and catching Covid once, I'm feeling pretty smug. Still in bed but sitting up and sipping coffee. Notebook, diary, iPad, mobile and pen all scattered on the blanket around me. Planning my day ahead. Got into this self-indulgent habit during the pandemic. Is that very bad?

9.10 am. At last sitting at my desk and getting ready for a podcast interview. Am interviewed for an international magazine based in Monaco but conducted all the way from Australia as publisher stuck there during lockdown. After having arranged interviews with a number of clients, they now want to interview me! Possibly as a little gesture of thanks. Am grateful but a bit nervous.

10.02 am. Message alerting me to log in. Familiar friendly voice reassures me but my voice sounds croaky and am having trouble with my earphones. But after some lighthearted banter am having fun and conversation flows freely. The interview once published will be alongside those of such illustrious names as Prince Lorenzo de Medici, a descendant of the famous Renaissance banking family and who's a businessman in California. I couldn't have refused, could I?

11.09 am Podcast over, now have to turn my attention to photoshoot taking place in a couple of days. It will involve four beauty queens, including current Miss England and former Miss GB who's over here from LA. It's been a nightmare with booking, then some cancelling, negotiating fees with photographers, videographers, MUAs. I feel stressed out.

11.30 am. But my day is starting to improve!
Checking the post, I pick up a book* sent by the publishers. It's written by a journalist and author I looked after at the Russian Debutante Ball a few years ago.
Am surprised to see my name popping up on a number of pages.
She's writing about me in a most complimentary way!
My spirits are immediately lifted.

12.13 pm. An email pops into my inbox. It's an invitation to a film festival. How nice! Would that be Venice? maybe Cannes? Nope. It's taking place in Crouch End. So? X Files star Gillian Anderson lived in Crouch End, don't you know?

2.20 pm Get message on Facebook from an old contact. Actor based in Hollywood, from a well known Netflix series, is looking for a PR, and contact is recommending me! Oooh, why thank you!!
Check him out immediately. He's devilishly handsome, with bursting pectoral muscles.
Phoaw! And happens to be from Paris. I feel an instant bond. He's over in London
and would like to meet to discuss business! It must be my lucky day.
Speed dial my hairdresser and book an appointment. Also a manicure.
Further research reveals the American series where he made his name is #4 worldwide
on Netflix! and streaming now.
Why have I not heard of it before? Will watch a few episodes tonight. Wonder what Mr Grumpy will make of him? He's working in the office today and will be back later.

3.05 pm One of the beauty queens booked for photoshoot cancels. Aargh!  Spend rest of the afternoon trying to find suitable replacement. And finish a press release. And do some social media. And look through all the journo requests in case any fit my clients. But my mind wanders.

6 pm Watch the news flipping between BBC and Sky News while sipping a glass of wine. Then prepare a light supper while answering messages from my mobile. A PR's job is never done.

8.10 pm. Mr Grumpy walks through the door carrying a bunch of pink roses. That's nice! I guess he feels guilty for being late. Over supper I hear some gossip from Whitehall while I tell him about the Hollywood Hunk. He seems unimpressed.

9 pm Can't wait to watch Netflix. Uplifting to see bright blue Californian skies and brilliant sunshine. The women look all super glamorous, wearing well-tailored knee-length skirts or dresses, showing off impossibly long, slender, sun-tanned legs and teetering on vertiginous heels. Even Mr Grumpy cheers up. Must say nice change from the frumpy fashion of shapeless tent-like dresses worn with trainers that have been the trend during these long months of the pandemic.
Hollywood Hunk has a cameo role but it's only the first episode. Am sure his presence will grow as the story unfolds,
I explain to Mr Grumpy, but he's rather dismissive. Resist the urge to binge watch the remaining 33 episodes.

11.55 pm Ready for bed. Drifting off to sleep. Dream of getting out of pink Cadillac on a LA boulevard only to realise I'm in Crouch End... And no sign of the Hollywood Hunk.... Zzzzz

Well, tomorrow is another day...

* London, Immigrant City by Nazreen Khan-Ostrem
Available on Amazon

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the Explosive meghan and harry interview - an attempt at a balanced analysis

12/3/2021

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With all the turmoil caused and diverse opinions whirling around in the wake of the controversial Oprah Winfrey interview, it might be time to cool down a little and attempt to take a more balanced perspective.

So what is the truth, what are the distortions and PR twists surrounding the events that led to the couple’s self-imposed exile?

Difficult to believe

Oprah started the interview by reassuring viewers that none of the questions were shared with the Sussexes before sitting down. If that’s the case, why weren’t awkward subjects such as estrangement from Meghan’s father broached? Fallout with her half-sister Samantha Markle? All carefully avoided.
Did Meghan really not know anything about the British Royal Family before dating Prince Harry? Did she never google him? Well if she didn’t, it’s a very poor reflexion on her as a naive and ignorant woman with no knowledge or interest in 1000 years of British history and one who is about to embark on a relationship and possible marriage to a prominent member of the Institution. Especially from a savvy and ambitious woman such as Meghan.
No help with royal etiquette? All the new brides were introduced to the dos and don’ts of the royal protocol including Princess Diana. The Duchess of Cornwall in particular was reported to have taken Meghan under her protective wings, mentoring and supporting her when she first joined the family.
No help with mental health issues? Both Prince Harry and Prince William have been highly vocal about their own struggle with mental health problems. In fact the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry have all been closely involved in the charity Heads Together that tackles stigma attached to mental health. So it’s very hard to believe that Harry felt embarrassed to bring up his wife’s problem in front of the family.

Allegations of Racism

Harry admitted that Meghan was very warmly received by the family at first. What happened then? He suggested things changed after their successful trip to Australia where Meghan was so enthusiastically received. Hinting at Princess Diana’s equally successful trip there nearly forty years ago – which was reported to have caused some jealousy - the implication was that Harry’s and Meghan’s trip resulted in similar negative feelings within the royal family. So racism didn't have anything to do with the start of the problems. Diana wasn’t dark skinned yet Harry implied Meghan fell victim to the same resentment, and things went downhill from there.
It was further implied that the title Prince or Princess would be withheld from the baby because it risked to have a dark skin tone. In fact nothing’s further from the truth. It was George V, Harry’s great-great-grandfather who ruled over 100 years ago that only offsprings in direct line of descent inherit the titles. Therefore while Prince William’s children would be princes, Prince Harry’s wouldn’t be whatever the colour of his wife’s skin might be. Does one sense a whiff of jealousy towards the higher recognition accorded to the Duchess of Cambridge’s children?
Harry alleged that somebody in his family speculated whether the child would have dark skin. Such speculation is not any more racist than wondering if the child would have ginger hair. It’s normal for families to wonder what a baby will look like when born. Will it look more like the mother or the father? Thomas Markle was probably right when he suggested it might have been simply a ‘dumb question’ blown out of proportion. And he didn’t think the royal family was racist. He has a point. Weren't there black gospel singers at the wedding ceremony ? Wasn't the fourteen minute long sermon delivered by black preacher the Reverend Michael Curry? Didn’t Prince Charles graciously give his arm to Meghan’s unaccompanied dark-skinned mother to lead her smiling into church ?

Prince Charles

Harry admitted relations with his father were strained. He complained that he was financially cut off. Has he forgotten that his father gave the couple an allowance and had been paying their bills, including Meghan’s expensive wardrobe, from his own private income before they abandoned their royal duties and left the country?

Security

One of the main gripes was the withdrawal of security for the family. While one sympathises with a mother’s concerns for the security of her child, it’s estimated that protection would have cost anything between £4 m and £17 m per year. These fees are normally paid by the taxpayer for the Metropolitan Police to provide protection service for members of the working royal family based in the UK. Once the couple decided to give up ‘their job at the Firm’ they automatically lost that privilege.

But credit where credit is due

It must be noted however, that Meghan was most gracious towards the Queen and had nothing but praise for her.
Though there’s no denying that Meghan’s relationship with her sister-in-law had been strained, she was generous enough to tell viewers the Duchess of Cambridge had sent her flowers and a warm note after a tiff over the petty story involving bridesmaids' dresses at the wedding. ‘She’s a good person’ Meghan acknowledged
On another positive note, it was heart-warming to see that the couple are so devoted to each other and still seem to be much in love after four tumultuous years of marriage

Let’s leave the story to blow over and let’s move on. Everybody is delighted for Meghan to be expecting a little girl. Just don’t dare to speculate if she’ll have ginger or black curly hair!

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