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Is This The End?

It's been three years since I started this quest. That's a quite a while. Recently I have been looking for a way to bring it to a close. I think it's about time. I have a life to get on with and stuff.

The thing is I don't want to end it just like that. I want there to be proper closure on it or at least a point at which we can let this go in the knowledge that it has been a beautiful ride. If I'm going out I want to go out on a bang. This is where you come in. Many of you have been with me for months and in some cases years. In many respects you have kept me going. I want to say thanks and the only way I can think of doing it is by inviting you to suggest ways in which I can end it. So what do you want me to do?
Do you want me to go to Chile?
Do you want me to have a massive look-a-like party?
Do you want me to have some plastic surgery?

The choice is yours. Send your suggestions to anyoneknowwhothisis@gmail.com and I will then put it to the vote. Let's make it a god one.

TTFN

An Englishman, an Irishman and an American

So, I said I had some exciting news didn't I? Or at least some news that could change all of our lives. Brace yourselves because we'll find out whether it does tonight.

I'm in Dublin and in a few agonising hours I will be meeting David. Remember David? Boston based David. The David who decided to leave me hanging around next to a pond all afternoon. He got in touch about two weeks ago to say sorry for standing me up and would I now like to meet? My first reaction was obviously no. If he stood me up in Boston why wouldn't he do it again in Dublin? But then I thought about it and then I thought about it a bit more. And in the end I decided that I had come so far that to turn him down would not be doing this quest or myself any justice whatsoever. And that's why I am here.

Deep breaths. Here we go.

Questing & Blogging

I can't believe it's been a month and a half since I last updated this blog. Time has really flown. So you'll want to be brought up to speed then? Yes. I thought so. Well, the bad news (or the good news depending on how you look at it) is that I haven't found The Man yet. The good news (or the bad news, again depending on how you look at it) is that I will be continuing to update the blog as my quest reaches new levels of excitement. I can't really go into it but it'll be fun. I'm off somewhere in a few days and it might just prove to be the greatest day of our lives. I'll say no more.

In other news the young lady I mentioned in my previous post has been back in touch. She's tracked down her sister. And they've met! I think that's incredible.

One piece of housekeeping:

If you want to read my other blog then please visit here. There is not one mention of this quest. That is the way I intend to keep it.

Until next time. Bonjour.

Round-up

So we come to the end of another week in the world of 'The Man' hunting. Out of the 150-odd weeks I have been doing this, I have to say that this week is up there. Right up there in fact. Top ten. Possibly top five. It has been that good. 

Emails have flocked in from Brazil and the US and Canada and Oman (Okay there was just one from Oman). I have many new leads. Some maybe genuine, most I fear are not. Best email of the week was from a young lady in Scotland who told me she had been inspired to try and track down her father and sister. Most random email of the week was from some guy who wanted me to help him track down a dragonfly that appeared in his garden last summer. I don't have the time unfortunately.

I have just got back from meeting someone who spotted a mention of my quest in the UK paper The Metro. He has a lead regarding the guy in the passport photo down below. 

Talking about The Metro, I wasn't very happy about the way they portrayed my quest. They belittled it's importance beyond belief. Shameful.

Thanks to Izzy for explaining what Tumblr is. You can visit her blog here. It's worth the click of the mouse just to see a photo featuring the end of a rainbow. Or is it the start?

Tumblr

Apparently news of my quest has reached Tumblr. Yay! Unfortunately, I have no idea what Tumblr is and I have no idea how to use it. Would one of you nice people who have visited me from Tumblr send me a link to the link you used to visit here. Does that make sense? I am somewhat intrigued. To show my thanks I'll even credit you in my next post. Sounds fair doesn't it? Yes.

Her Name Is Rio

The Brazilian city may have inspired Duran Duran to write a song, but for me it will always be known as the place where a group of Brazilian's huddled around their computer one night and decided to flood my inbox.

Why? Well, judging by the nature of these emails it would appear that there is a man - who may well be 'The Man' - walking the streets of Rio de Janeiro. Unfortunately none of these people have managed to get a photo of him. So what am I to believe? That this is a genuine offer of help from the Brazilian public or one of the greatest wind-ups in the history of this quest?

Only one way to find out I suppose. Where's my passport?

A Quick Update

Nothing much has happened recently. Well, except the fact that I now have posters up in JFK Airport, Sydney and Fulham. 

My facebook friends requests have gone up by at least 3.7% in the last few weeks. I suspect as I happened to mention in a post below that I was on it. Maybe you thought it was a subtle cry for more friends. Alas, you were wrong. I already have more than I strictly require. Never fear though, I have come up with a compromise which one hopes will be to your satisfaction. I have been bullied into joining Twitter. I am sceptical of it but will give it a try. I'm not going to be posting about what I had for breakfast or which Starbucks I plan to be in later on, so if you want that sort of insight into my life you will be disappointed. I will, however, post updates about my quest. Does that sound fair? You can find me here http://twitter.com/mrjonathanlee 

Thank you for all the messages. If you haven't had a reply you will this weekend. That's a promise. I really want to start finishing my posts with a cool catchphrase. But I can't think of one. Bye is the best I have so far. Bye.

My next 'adventure'...

I use the word 'adventure' loosely because quite frankly it could turn, like this has, into a mission. Anyway, I was sat in the Apple Store in Bluewater yesterday waiting for my Mac to be fixed when I saw a fact on rather funky hi-tech plasma screen. Here is what is said...

"With an 80GB iPod, you could travel between San Francisco and New York 25 times without ever hearing the same song twice."

Well, it didn't take long for the light-bulb to flick-on in my head. 'Why not?', I thought, 'It could be fun.' It won't happen anytime soon what with me not having enough money to afford the fuel or indeed an 80 GB iPod, but someday. Someday. Oh and I will probably be after a Road Trip companion so if you are interested check-back in about 2011. I'll hold auditions in Burger King I think. Monday's. 2pm. See you there, yes? Good.

Last Night

It's becoming a familiar tale. On Wednesday I say I think The Man could be in London. On Thursday I get an email from a guy in London who says he took a photo of someone who looks like The Man. He leaves his number so I phone him up. We arrange to meet on Friday night next to Nelson's Column. I'm there at 7pm. It's -2 already and not even my new hat is preventing my ears from turning blue. Damn you Ted Baker. At 7.30pm he still hasn't turned up. (The guy with his photo I mean, not Ted Baker). I get my phone out of my pocket. I call him. No answer. I leave a message. Ten minutes later I call him again. No answer. I'm not happy. In fact, I'm annoyed. I get my bus and go home.

Now I know it sounds like a bit of fun - making me hang around in sub zero temperatures while you are at home in the warm watching the Darts - but it's not very nice is it? I'm never going to turn down an opportunity to meet someone who might have vital information. The time I do will be the time the information is genuine. That's the way life works. It means I am open up to abuse. And abuse is bad.

It's not just the fact that I was bloody freezing though. What also annoys me is that, as strange as it sounds, I also have a life. Last night I had an offer to have a drink in the warm with a friend. But I had to say 'No' because some guy thought he'd be really funny. So now of course my friend thinks that I would much rather be sat at home starring at the wall rather than having a drink with her. Terrific. And I can't tell her why I couldn't have a drink because she wouldn't understand. I'll have to buy her a present now to show her that she is much higher up on my priority list than walls.

I have no option, therefore, but to make a plea. Please stop. Please stop the pranks. It's beginning to ruin my life and have dramatic consequences on the size of my wallet. Thank you kindly.

NB: If you want something else to read while you are sat at your desk supposedly working, may I recommend Mike Gayle's To Do List. 

Just When I Thought I'd Finished...

...I realise I am not.

Just before Christmas my good friend Sharn handed me this passport photo. He had found it in a derelict building site somewhere in London. Now, I know what you are thinking. I am thinking it too. It couldn't be, could it? It couldn't be The Man?

There have been sightings of The Man in London. From all the emails I have been sent, London is the most popular place for sightings. Indeed, I myself chased someone who I thought could be The Man through the London Underground system before I lost him at Bank. And now this passport photo. Gradually I am becoming convinced that The Man I took a photo of in Sydney actually lives on my very door-step. How weird would that be? And what happens if the guy in the passport photo is actually The Man? That would be even weirder. To think that a friend, who I didn't know when I took the Sydney photo, just stumbled across a passport photo of The Man. That's just too spooky. 

So here is my 2009 request for you. If you live in London please keep your eyes open. And if you spot someone who you think could be The Man, stop him. Get his phone number, his email, anything. Sightings are great but I can't do anything with them. I need to be able to contact them. Actually, do this wherever you are. At the very least you'll get a mention on here and that, I think you will agree, is CV material.

Right, I need a lie down. This is too much.

The Bizarre Emails

It would be fair to say that while the vast majority of emails I receive are pleasant and helpful there are also some bloody weird messages that find their way to my inbox. I thought I'd share some with you. My replies are below. They are kind of fun to do and keep you occupied when you're ill.

"dear jonathan lee i hate u u know why beause my wish is about u coming to my city to see my dad who is man and my wish do not come so i like u before but now i hate u. Morgan."
Dear Morgan.
Damn.
PS: I am glad your Dad is a man. This is not always the case.

"can you help me find address for maria sharipova? i like her tennis and want her tell me if i have good backhand. i think i do."

No, I can't help you find an address for Maria Sharapova and if I could do you really think I would give it to you? Your backhand is fine although I prefer your front one.

"Did you once go to Carlisle Elementary School in Texas? I think I knew you."

Yes. I was looking for the Airport.

"Hello Johnathon. What do you think of the economic climate? lol. Mike."

Hello Myk. It's underated. 

"Haven't we got enough Dave Gorman's in the world without you joining in as well?"

Don't worry, I've decided against changing my name.

"this blog is lik well fun i show me m8s an there laughin at it an say its sik an i sed i know u an they think im sik as well. thanx."

They are right. You are sick. I think it's affecting your spelling and grammar too.

PS: Stop meddling with your ankle tag.

"I really like you on 'Would I Lie To You'? Do you do anything else?"

Thank you. Did you prefer me as Lee Mack, David Mitchell or Angus Deayton? And yes, I do anything else. If the money's right.

"I've found you on a facebook and added you but you have not accepted my friend request. Why not?"

I'm sleeping with your Mum.

On a more serious note there was a very interesting development last week and i'll be updating the blog soon.

Part Bangladeshi, Part Free T-Shirts

Hello to all my new readers. Just checked my emails and I have one from someone in Bangladesh. (Strangely this person has a hotmail.co.uk address. Incredible)

By the way, free 'Do You Know Who This Is?' t-shirts coming soon. If you want one email me at anyoneknowwhothisis@gmail.com. The only stipulation I have is that you don't try and sell it on ebay or give it to a Frenchman.

The Reading II - Update

Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances I am going to have to move the reading numero deux to sometime next week. I've got loads of work to do this weekend and that, coupled with the fact that England are playing cricket, means I don't really have the time to put in an appearance. For those who emailed me saying they may come down I have emailed you back, sorry if I have missed out anyone but hopefully you will check this out before Sunday anyway. Have a good Friday and weekend everyone. Cheers.

The Reading II (A Sequel)

I've had a fair few emails since my attempt at an undercover manuscript reading in Borders the other week. Some of which have been complimentary, some of which not so much. But anyway, I thought I'd do it again. This time though it won't be undercover. It'll be very much out in the open. So next Sunday at 12pm I'll be in Hyde Park with a few sheets of A4 and a few beers. Basically I'm having a picnic. So if you want a few drinks, a sandwich or two, a game of Flicket (cricket with a flipflop) and a story about a bloke tracing his friend's clone, then this is the event for you. There are five of us at the moment (although four of them think it is just a picnic) so if you want to join us email me at anyoneknowwhothisis@gmail.com so I can get an idea of numbers and work out whether I need to bring a microphone. Cheers.

'Excuse Me Sir'

So last night I waited breathlessly in the travel section of Borders, Oxford Street, in anticipation of what was ahead. At 7.00pm I began my first ever reading. Thankfully there were people there to listen. Six of them! And I only knew five! Thanks to Emily for dragging along her work colleague, Louise. Before I reached the end of the first paragraph a guy in a Borders t-shirt walked up to us and began telling me that what I was doing was in fact "not allowed without prior consent from the manager". I apologised, asked to speak to the manager, was told he/she wasn't in and so we left. 

We made our way to a bar on New Oxford Street where I started my reading again. This time I wasn't asked to leave and it went pretty well. I stuttered and stumbled a few times but after a few Peroni's that was to be expected.

So, because a few people probably thought this was a bit of a joke and I was just making a load of random people meet in the travel section of a bookshop, I am going to do it again. I'm not sure where or when yet but initial thoughts point to a park - maybe followed by a game of flicket (cricket with a flip-flop).

Thanks to the six who came last night. I would have felt very embarrassed doing a reading to no one.

A Note About My Blog

As I am now trying to find an agent and also beginning to do little bits and pieces to promote my book by myself, I have decided to take a large amount of material off my blog. Well, nearly all of it actually. Those of you who have been following my quest for a while will know exactly what happened (nearly, there is some exciting stuff I haven't told anyone) but for those of you who have only just heard about my quest, well, I don't want to spoil it for you by telling you everything.

While I try and find an agent and promote my quest I want to keep what happened as secretive as possible. This might change, so keep checking back here for updates.

Undercover Book Readings

I was talking to my good friend Emily the other night. (She has just moved to London and is struggling a bit to acclimatise to the hustle and bustle of the big city so I just want to take this opportunity to say hi to her. 'Hi'. She'll feel much better now). So anyway, we were talking about 'Is This You?' the book, amongst other things. Things that I don't really need to share with you because they would bore you. 

Emily said, 'Why don't you do some readings?'. I said, 'Don't be stupid'. She said, 'Okay. I'm going to find the Ladies room.'

On my way home though I began to think about what she had said. There was nothing illegal about doing readings. There wasn't a rule to say you have to have your book published to do readings. So, I thought, why don't I do one?

And that is exactly what I am going to do. I am going to read from my book. To the masses. Or anyone who happens to turn up really. I'm going to try it out next Tuesday (1st July).

Meet me @ 7.00pm in Borders, Oxford Street. I'll be in the travel section, I think it's the second floor but check the signs. I'll read a bit of the book and then we can go to the pub. I have absolutely no idea what will happen, we might get asked to leave. If we are then please do exactly that. I don't want to start a riot. If it goes well then maybe I'll do some more. I can't promise I am going to visit the USA or Australia though, so for those of you who have been following my quest from far off places I am sorry. I may well look into doing a webcast for you though, so watch this space.

The Finished Book

Good news people. After weeks of slogging away at my computer I have finally finished 'Is This You?' - the book of my quest. I'm delighted with the result although trying to remember what I got up to eighteen months ago was a bit of a challenge! Now for the hard part. Getting it published.

A New Title

Having thought about it for quite a while I have decided to call my book 'Is This You?' It is, after all, what this blog would have been called if someone else hadn't already taken it as a name. 

It's my Mum's Birthday today and while she doesn't read this (partly because she doesn't know I am writing a book and partly because she doesn't know how to use a computer) I still feel it is appropriate to wish her many congratulations.