I guess it had to happen…

22Oct07

Well, things have been moving along. Firstly, just as I was finishing the post this morning I got another call. Again, I had to do best in my rudimentary deutsch. I was flailing away, had just got to the bit where I say “I’m from Oxford, etc” when she interrupted me and said “Ja, und ich komme aus Birmingham, bitch” and hung up! What does that mean? What to do?

Well, I proceeded to the Stadthaus (like the council) where I had to meet the Oxford contact lady who was pretty helpful. The lift situation in the building is quite novel, you have to key in where you are going before you get in the lift. Once in the lift you have no control! I tried to make small talk about this to the Oxford contact lady, unsuccesfully. Anyway, it was quite fun sitting there listening to her call around (radio stations etc, an attempt to disseminate the message further) and listen to her say, very seriously. “Hi, yes, I’m (her name) calling from the Stadthaus.. I have a gentleman here from Oxford, a Mr. Sam Hopkins…yes, and, um he’s looking for his doppelganger…(long pause), do you think you might be able to help us?”

Its funny when you hear someone else express your idea. I was sitting there thinking “Am I really doing this..” And wondering why she was not laughing although she did in the end. Then on the way out from the building I got another call from a girl, this time more friendly, who said she had a friend who looked exactly like me. But that she was in Cologne and she didn’t know where he was. Apparently she had been in Bonn this morning. She promised to call back with more info.

The time was now drawing close for the 1630 appointment. I went home, showered, put some newly bought deoderant on and tried not to be nervous. It felt like I was going on a date and I was about 15 (although when I was fifteen I have to say I rarely went on dates).. But anyway, I went to the rendezvous point outside Macdonalds and waited 45 minutes… No show, I was stood up. But I have to admit I was a little relieved. A lot of people meet outside Macdonalds and I eyed them up, imagining they might be my doubleganger. Whenever they got their phones out I felt my leg stiffen in anticipation of the vibration of my phone. It was quite a stressful experience. I calmed myself by listening to a newly bought Reggae Riddims cd (Black Shed Riddim is very good). Then i bought a Caramel Sundae, a copy of The Guardian (I’m not sure which one of those purchases I should apologise more for) and went to do my laundry. Where this happened.

I guess this is the friend of the girl that called. Word has spread to Frankfurt. We texted a bit and he is going to check the blog and get back to me. He naturally seemed a bit wary as, like most people, he wanted to know why on earth I am doing this. My German (and occasionally English) always fails at this point.. I did ask him if I could upload these images of the texts but he has not replied. If you object, Doppel One, then let me know and I’ll withdraw them sofort)

I have also asked the lady who works in the hotel, who knows someone called Richard who looks like me. She said the photo of me was a bit dodgy and when I agreed and said that a friend of mine said I looked mad, she replied “I cannot say, you are my guest…” Cheers. then the guy in the launderette said that I had a doppelganger 30 years ago in the states, apparently one of The BeeGees. This tops the suggestions from ‘friends’ so far, which also includes:

Mathew McConaughy
Hugh Grant
Prince William
Hector Snuggs (a friend of mine who thinks we might actually be doppelgangers)

Ok, off to put more of those frilly adverts of lamp posts (they do seem reminiscent of grass skirts) Until tomorrow.

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