Morning everyone. Had such a long day yesterday in London with my daughter, I was so tired when I got in. We had a lovely time, travelled on buses as much as we could, which is much nicer than the tube as you get such wonderful views from the top floor. We spent a fair bit of time in Islington, looking at shops near the Angel, and a little walk down by the canal. Lovely.
I see the mags have caused a bit of a stir, and not a happy one. Josie is a friendly soul who opens up and chats to everyone she meets like a good mate. Most people who meet her (take any random tweet 'bumped into Josie G today, lovely happy friendly girl') reinforce this impression, even those with no agenda and no predisposition to like her. Now, some people who acquire a bit of 'fame' also cultivate distance, I imagine they are advised to, or quickly realise for themselves that things they say are going to be quoted and piicked over, and in the end they become some kind of 'other creature', a 'famous person not like one of us'', and withdraw all true interaction with the public. Most 'stars' become distant figures who merely snap bland, meaningless or chilly soundbites out to the public or the press.
Josie's never done that and I can imagine when she is in a room with a reporter she treats them like an old mate and chats away exactly as if she were with one of her girlfriends, forgetting that this person is
not her friend and wants to trip her into saying far too much - the more outrageous the better. I'd say she certainly often forgets that all this isn't a private conversation and is going to be read by lots of people, and many of them hostile who will use it against her.
That Josie hasn't become some bland, distant cypher of a 'famous person' is IMO to her credit, but not always to her own advantage.
I know most of this has been said before and nothing new - just thinking aloud really - but I like Josie, I can't help but like her, even when I'm thinking 'I really do wish you hadn't said that, Josie.'
As for John, alas I didn't spot him in London (I suppose I was never going to... but it was more likely than spotting him in the Cotswolds

He's much more of an enigma than Josie is, to me, but a fascinating character despite or because of that.
Have a nice day everyone. This too shall pass!