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Flic Bowden-Smith (Everett)'s avatar

Once at an authors’ party, I met a lovely, shy man called David. He seemed a bit lost, so I took charge (‘and are you an author? I’m sure we can find you some people to chat to!’) Turned out it was David Nicholls, author of One Day. I still can’t think about it without curling into a ball and rocking.

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Fiona Gibson's avatar

That's so brilliant - I'm actually picturing it! I know David (so I would recognise him!) and he's so lovely and unassuming!

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Flic Bowden-Smith (Everett)'s avatar

I feel ill every time I think about it 😂

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Wendy Varley's avatar

Very funny, Fi! Really enjoying your column/blog/stack! Your curiosity makes you a very good writer and journalist.

I’m quite quiet, but ask questions if I’m stuck for something to say. I remember on a two-person ski lift (awkward at the best of times!) asking the silent stranger next to me about his trip, to break the ice, and him saying something about attending a conference and finding out by the time we skied off at the top that he was a leading heart surgeon.

People like talking about themselves. That’s what I tell myself, anyway! Doubt anyone really minds that you can’t instantly intuit that they’re a pioneer in their field!

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Fiona Gibson's avatar

Thanks so much Wendy - so glad you're enjoying! I wanted to get back into the sort of magazine column writing (Red, more! etc) from days of yore. And you're right - people generally do enjoy telling you about their lives. And I love to know about people. I might put the apple tree man in a book :D xx

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Fiona Gibson's avatar

Thanks so much Suzy! It took me a little way to navigate it too. But pretty easy now and loving being able to write whatever I like just for fun. It’s quite freeing and I’m enjoying the comments too. Is there anything you’d like me to write about? X

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Suzy Wilson Writes's avatar

Thanks for reply. No suggestions - keep going as you are! I have trouble enough coming up with ideas for myself.

Latest one 'Can you Hear Me?' about the joys of my entire family wearing headphones over on my Substack.

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Fiona Gibson's avatar

I like your style! I'm going to store this up and use it as my default for all future social occasions :) x

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Lisa Houston's avatar

I do it so much I now begin any conversation with the fact I’m horrific at recognising faces so if you’re a global megastar please excuse me, that my small talk skills are pretty dire as I’d so much rather cut to the chase and find out what made them roar with laughter this week and hope they’re not Ghandi or a funeral director. I don’t get out much.

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Suzy Wilson Writes's avatar

Another good one! I've always enjoyed reading your articles - also back from the days of yore you refer to on another comment here.

Thank you so much for the recommendation on your page / stack, whatever it's called! - I couldn't work out how I could directly email or message to say thanks - there are a lot of buttons and areas to navigate which I don't seem to have mastered...

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