In the Daily Telegraph’s social pages, there’s a section where readers can report in their celebrity spotting, always in unglamorous places, doing even (shock, horror!) normal human being activities.
“Kyle Sandilands chowing down big, greasy bacon and egg roll in Double Bay”
“Nicole Kidman orders Greek Salad while Keith Urban grabs a whole chook at Charlie Chargrilled Chicken”
“Blake Garvey wearing tight speedos at Bondi beach”
Huh. That last one’s a porky pie. Just making most of the remaining ripples that be The Bachelor scandal (Dun, dun, dun DUNNNN!!!)
I always thought, what’s the point of celebrity stalking when there’s not even any photographic evidence?
Not that I want to see some jackass make more of a fool of himself than what he already has on national TV.
(Blake, what you did to Sam and the rest of Australia was unforgivable. How could you NOT marry her after three dates??!!!)
Making a quick dash into the local Coles before pick up, I suddenly found myself standing behind a young man, dressed in black, wandering through the meat section.
His tall, broad shoulders and overall burly stature was the first giveaway. Then, trying to take a peek at his face without being caught, I recognized the famous profile.
Ian Thorpe!
No, can’t be!
I looked down because when you’re not sure whether Thorpedo – Australia’s greatest Olympic hero – is standing right in front of you, his size 17 thongs (that just barely fit) his flipper feet will eliminate all doubt!
There he was, in all his 6 foot 4 inches Greek God glory, contemplating on whether to buy the $39 per kilo eye fillet steak or splurge some extra bucks and go for the $41 option.
Now we know what champions eat.
I was so starstruck and flustered, I forgot what I came into the supermarket to buy.
(Oh, right! Basa fillets, basa fillets!)
Yet, I didn’t move an inch from the meat section.
A little bummed that I didn’t get a selfie with the champion (of all the times I left the phone in the car!), later that night when I told Mr Surfer, he made a good point:
“Like that’s exactly what Thorpie needs. Someone sticking a phone camera in his face while he’s trying to buy groceries…”
And he’s right. Let’s leave the guy alone, the amazing sportsman that he is.
So, too bad, guys. No selfies with 5 times Olympic gold medalists.
But how about this piece of meat?
Who’s the most famous person you’ve spotted? Did you get to check out what they eat? Did you watch The Bachelor? Or did you find the aftermath scandal more fascinating?
Neither? I don’t blame you...
1. Follow With Some Grace.
2. Sign up to the awesome Digital Parents community ( if you haven’t already done so). DP was created by Brenda Gaddi who happens to be the creator of FYBF. She’s also created 4 gorgeous kidlets. In case you’d like to know. Or maybe not. But we’ll share that info just the same.
3. Add your post URL to the FYBF linky. Please only link up one post.
4. Grab the funky FYBF button and post it on your sidebar. Help spread the blogfloggin love.
5. Visit the blogs of your fellow FYBF’ers and share the comment love
I had all my famous run ins before smart phones but you know what I don’t think I would have been game to pull out a camera or phone and grab a photo with them. My mother has an entire wall with all her celebrity run ins, including Whitney Housten and Bobby Brown.
Ok so going back a long time (now I am showing my age), I met Whitney Houston! When I was a kid we were on holiday at Surfers Paradise, playing in the pool at our hotel and her and her entire entourage came out to the pool. I think I was maybe 10 or so and my sister and I went up to her and said hi. She was lovely. It was at the height of her career. Sorry no mobile devices back then so no selfie 🙂
Bahaha!
That would have been a great picture though!
Did you buy anything he touched instead?
Ive walked (literally) into Michael Klim, seen George Bush Snr drive past when I was a kid, been in a large spa at a local pool/gym with the st George dragons after a match back when Mundine still played, met several well known personalities when I went on Sunrise a couple of years back including Emily Symons from Home and Away-she was lovely!
I love a good celebrity spotting. I never read the trash mags and I have no interest in stalking people, but I just like to know they’re around! But I wouldn’t photograph them either, so I love your ‘near miss’ shot! Mind you I met Duran Duran at a CD signing once and took the WORST photo EVER of JT. I’ll never show that one to anybody!
I missed all the The Bachelor because I find it excruciating to watch (!) but given the aftermath I kind of wish I’d got to see some of the dynamic before it all fell apart, I’m not above a bit of trainwreck reality television once in a while!
Ans PS I would have gotten totally star-struck by Thorpie. I think he is an amazing athlete and seems like a big sweetie too. LOL.
I had a similar experience at the airport recently. Stopped. Did the double take. Stopped again. Reached for the phone. Thought better of it. Moved on. The poor woman (an MP I’d seen on telly – I know NOTHING about politics) was rushing around grabbing her bags and trying to make a hasty exit – as was I, come to think of it.
HA!!! ” So how about this piece of meat.” Hilarious. Great way to wake up this morning Grace. I’m glad you respected his space, even in all your excitement. I once stood in line behind Heather Graham, in Vancouver, in a roller blade rental shop. Ya know, the terrible actress from one of the Austin Powers movies. No? Take to google. HA!
Love this!
I remember when I was 18 I saw the “Uncanny X Men” at the Goulburn McDonalds. I had my camera with me but made a decision not to approach them. I said it was out of respect for them. I didn’t want to go all groupy on them while they ate their breakfast. Reality was I was just shit scared and incredibly shy.
Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit
Oh my, I would have been so star struck too!! I met Steph Rice a couple of years ago and became all shy just looking at her medals 🙂
I’ve seen lots of famous people but the ones that are a big deal to me are not so interesting to others, and vice versa. I’ve seen Kevin Sheedy a lot of times, but the time that I like the most, was when he was scouting for the Giants and he came and sat in front of me at the footy. I spent the whole afternoon blushing! I have seen Niki Lauda twice in the street, and both times, reduced to a standstill and blushing, mute, watching everyone else stop him for photographs. Jean Reno sat at the next table and kindly ignored my drunk gushing (I left him alone but unsubtly walked past his table and no doubt ‘quietly’ discussed how much I love him to my husband, with a French accent, at times pretending to be him). Just saw Daniel Bruhl filming – that gave me a flutter of excitement.
Of the ones that might interest others – caught an elevator with Hugh Jackman – did nothing for me. I ignored him but his lovely wife started talking to my children. She’s a doll!
I’m a firm believer of leaving famous people alone, unless they’re at a book launch or comic con (where they’re part of the entertainment, and signing autographs is part of their deal. In a restaurant, ignore, at the footy family day (if footy player), get a photo and so on.)
If I’d seen Thorpie, I’d have given him a high five for scoring Ricky Martin. Man I hope it’s true!
Ha ha. I saw Toadie from Neighbours at a local pool hall about 15 years ago:)
Ooh, Thorpey! Love him. I’m also glad you left him to his shopping, even if it was accidentally! Alan Brough lives near me so I see him at the supermarket a bit. He usually has two or three people around him trying to stump him on what they think is some obscure piece of music trivia (which he ALWAYS knows). I’ve also quite literally bumped into Eddie Perfect, mumbled my way through a red-faced apology and then had to stand next to him as our daughters started playing together!
I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone famous! Which now makes my life seem dull and unexciting.
Love the meat selfie by the way. So much cooler than harnessing a celeb. 🙂
Oh thats pretty cool! I saw one of the Neighbours actresses at the Louvre and wanted to take a photo but my hubby told me to leave her to enjoy her holiday!
I have been awaiting this one SO eagerly!!! Well done my friend! On your restraint and your awesome story-telling! Ha! I bet he ends up being a regular fixture. Maybe he can come to coffee with you and Angelina?
I must admit I don’t get the whole celebrity thing, I’m completely unphased by it and am really bad at recognising people too. I’d often be told after the fact, did you know you just served …, you just pushed past …, didn’t you see x sitting at the table next to us. Whatever!
I would have reacted exactly the same way. I don’t run into too many celebs but I’d be way to mortified to ask for a selfie with them. My husband once ran into Billy Bob Thornton in San Sebastian – of course I was back at the hotel so I missed the whole thing!
Ooo I met some local celebs that i like and made sure I had a pic with them! 😛 It’s usually during events though so I’m sure they are ok with that.. if I just bumped into them on the street I don’t think I’d dare to go up and disturb their private time unless I really, really like them!!
Ai @ Sakura Haruka
I met Rebecca Judd at the Baby, Pregnancy Expo back in June. And when Jacob and I were in Paris we swear we walked past Claudia Schiffer in the street with all the designer clothes. How cool to see Thorpie in real life. Of course he’d buy the expensive steaks. 🙂
I served one of the veronica’s at work, I think it was Jess but I couldn’t tell – they looked so alike back then. We’ve also had a few neighbours stars and footballers come through work on occasions but we never went up and asked for a photo.
When I was younger we were eating in the foodcourt at Carindale shopping centre one day and we were sitting next to Wallie Lewis and his family. We didnt ask for a photo or anything because all these kids were already coming up to him and hassling him and he was just trying to have lunch with his family. In the end one of his kids nearly knocked over my step sister so we ended up talking to them for a sec anyway but only about kids not football stuff. Now I see Lincoln Lewis on tv and I can’t get my head around him being a “sex symbol” because I just remember him as a five year old boy.
I found myself in the bizarre situation the other day of picking my son up from a party for the twin sons of former Australian cricket captain Mark Waugh AND engaging in conversation with Paul Paddick who is none other than… Captain Feathersword!! It was quite surreal!
I ran into The Scud years ago in a Melbourne nightclub around Australian Open time – surrounded by beauties, of course. I’ve actually touched Pope John Paul II’s hand at a papal audience at the Vatican and lined the streets of Maitland in 1983 to catch a glimpse of Charles and Di on their Australia tour!
Lol, that’s a shame you didn’t get a selfie with Thorpie Grace. You should have asked him to do a guest post on “Whats in your fridge’? on the blog 🙂 I haven’t met any major celebs, but once saw Anastacia waiting in a hotel lobby. My friend and I didn’t recognise her at the first, afterwards we asked the hotel staff who it was.
You are so funny Grace!! When I used to work on the airlines I had a famous passenger on almost every flight. It’s really hard trying not to get flustered when you’re supposed to be acting all professional!!! NO phones were allowed onboard (and I’m pretty sure there was no such thing as a selfie back then either). However I did have a little notebook where I collected loads of autographs – sad but true!! x
That’s hilar! I bet he was SUPER tall and fit. I would have pretended to take a photo of the meat and just happen to get him in there accidentally!! Didn’t watch those shows which is good because otherwise I reckon I’d be feeling PISSED OFF about it all right now xx
Funny story! 🙂 I’ve met Ryan Lochte and his father. I really enjoyed talking with his dad. Parent to parent. My son is a swimmer and because he finished first in the state in a race or two, he was invited to the training camp where Ryan and his dad were the “reward” and teachers. 🙂 Ryan had the medals he had just won in the Bejing games with him. That was pretty cool to get to see them hot off the press!
Thanks for hosting!
Didn’t watch the Bachelor. I’d rather eat peas!
When Dave and I were in New York we were just about to go in to see a Tutenkamen exhibition when a woman bumped in to me and pushed her way through the door in front of us with her kids. I got a little huffy about that as my biggest annoyance is people who push in and barge past people, and so I gave her back a filthy look as we headed to the counter to hand our tickets over to enter. As we were walking up the stairs though I decided I needed to give her one more disapproving look and hope that she saw it, and it was then, when I was higher up and actually able to see her face, that I realised it was Brooke Shields! So then of course I went from being all angry about her pushing past me to being all “Dave, I touched Brooke Shields!”. She ended up walking through the exhibition with us and Dave and I had to keep moving ahead and then going back to see things we missed, because when we were in the same area as her it was just too hard to pay attention to the history because all you wanted to do was stare at her!
I was lucky enough to be in the audience for Q&A on Monday so I got to see Josh Thomas. He’s as hilariously awkward ‘in real life’ as he is when you see him on tv. All phones had to be switched off during the show though so there was no chances for photos 🙁
I LOVE Josh Thomas! I saw an episode of his sitcom on the ABC – As you accurately put it – hilariously awkward!
I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone really famous. I’d totally turn all fangirl and as much as I wanted a selfie, I wouldn’t ask. I have the opinion of your husband, and don’t think that they’d appreciate a phone thrown in their face.
I meet you and your famous {to me}. Ian Thorpe has size 17 shoes???? Oh my gosh they must be custom made?
We once meet a “Famous Band” in Circular Quay but I have no idea who they were…..just knew they were famous cause all these young girls were throwing themselves at them with lots of pictures being taken.
Love the photo of the meat…wished I could eat steak but for some reason I can’t tolerate any red meat. Can eat lots of seafood and chicken.
I’m terrible at celebrity spotting…as I usually don’t know who they are. One time I was queued behind a woman in the supermarket. Thought to myself, geez I know her..is she a school mum? Do I know her from work? Kids’ swimming lessons? The whole time I was trying to place her I kept making eye contact and vaguely smiling at her…then I even said, ‘Hi! How are you?’ trying to buy time while I worked out how I knew her. It was only after she’d put her groceries throughthat the penny dropped. “Oh!” I said…”I’ve just realised why I thought I knew you…you’re a contestant on Project Runway,,,” She was nice about it and said it was happening all the time…but she must have thought I was acting a bit stalkerish.