In amongst the many ‘unexpected’ things that happened to me during my time in Malta, there are two that scream out.
The first occurred when my cousin arranged for me to visit the Mayor of Dingli, to gift him 2 copies of Like Bees to Honey for the local library. It was ridiculously hot, I had sweat dripping down my back, I was wearing heels and I was slightly nervous about the prospect of having to be grown up and serious.
We arrived, I managed not to slip on the pavement or inside the government buildings and soon I was in the ultra cool Mayor’s office. We sat around a table, the Mayor, officials and I. We talked books, my connection to Malta and the plot of Like Bees to Honey. Then the official photographer arrived.
I stood (still not falling over) and made my way to the designated photo shoot spot, to be snapped handing over a copy of my novel to the Mayor. It was then that he foiled me. Seriously, it took everything in me not to squeal in a ridiculous way. The Mayor handed me a coin medal, in a fancy box!
I didn’t hug the Mayor, I didn’t squeal, I didn’t drop my shiny silver medal. I did, however, go on to show it to every single person that I met. In fact, with a bit of sellotape and a piece of string, I am planning to wear it wherever I go. It is so pretty.
The second ‘unexpected’ thing occurred last Saturday, when I had a day off to travel to Gozo and spend time with my family. We were sightseeing in the capital of Rabat, when a tour guide arrived with a crowd of Russian tourists.
Now, this tour guide had happened to be at a party held in my honour the night before, but clearly none of the Russian tourists knew that when she suddenly shouted across the crowded main square, “Look, there is the famous British author Caroline Smailes.”
You can imagine my expression and possibly the words that ‘slipped’ from my mouth!
“Quick,” she said to the Russian tourists. “Get your photo taken with her!”
And so I spent the next ten minutes having my photograph taken with Russian tourists, whilst hearing my family giggling ridiculously in the background.
Seriously, I couldn’t make this stuff up.
(To see my coin medal and other photos from my stay in Malta - nip on over to my Facebook page)
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey,
You are “the famous British author Caroline Smailes” and I’m very proud of my signed Caroline Smailes books and that I met you at the London Launch of Like Bees to Honey.
Ex
So fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That was a great post - I can feel your tit-being-ness oozing through
xx
lol I LOVE both those stories! Well done you and of course you are famous!
These are just the best stories - treasured memories in years to come, not least due to the sheer randomness of the latter occurrence. I can only imagine the scene with the Russian tourists
This is sooo lovely to hear - and sooo deserved! I’m utterly thrilled for you! Can’t wait to get a gander at the coin/medal. I want a medal now! I think I’ve a fair way to go yet though!
Nik x
Yay - I know (well at least I’m aquainted with) a real “Celeb.”
Well done - I am so pleased for you!
I’m so thrilled you’re getting the recognition you deserve. How exciting to be presented with a medal and think of all those Russian tourists who’ll now return home and show everyone their pictures with you. x
And you didn’t even fall over. You’ve cracked it Mrs xxx
Wooot!! a medal AND the hassle of being recognised in public!! how cool!! are you going to start wearing scarves and reeeeeeeeeally big sunglasses every time you leave the house now? especially as if you managed to not fall over in front of the mayor… you might just make it to your car before you splat in sunglasses while its raining.. english summer don’t you know? LOL seriously am totally chuffed and happy and wooting for you… and love the pics… well done lovely…
x
Thanks so much for your very lovely comments. Made me smile, like this
x
Always a good thing.. that smiling doobery…
x
{ 1 trackback }