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?

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?

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.

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.

A Book?

Hello. It's been a while. If you have been waiting impatiently for me to return then I apologise. As it has been a while I thought that the next time I post I will have to tell my faithful readers something exciting. I bought some milk and got two for one on tea-bags this morning but that isn't really going to suffice is it?

Instead I am going to tell you something else. Something many of you may be pleased to hear. The idea for a book about my quest/adventure/obsession has been muted a few times, mostly from you guys. It was never something I really thought warranted a book to be honest. However, something happened the other week. Something that told me this whole thing had been worth it. Even more important that though, I learnt something very, very important. I realised something that I never ever thought I would. It was a genuinely amazing moment. Moments I only thought happened in films. As a result I have decided to write that book.

That, I think you will agree, was worth waiting for.

One Last Chance

I am off somewhere. I can't say where yet but one day all will be revealed. Stick with me. This could be flippin' amazing!

10,000 Hits

We have passed the 10,000 hit mark. Thanks to everyone who has visited. I know it's not 10,000 readers, I am not sure how to work that out yet but I will do when I have a spare five hours. Big thanks for those of you who have sent emails of support. I'm humbled that there are people out there who I don't know and they are showing an interest and wishing me luck. 

No thanks to those who have sent abusive emails. Although they do keep me amused. You call me sad for doing this, what does that make you then? You have set up a fake email address to contact me. Oh, I see, that's just you having a laugh. I understand now. You're not sad at all.

Not A Beret-Wearing Onion-Selling Cyclist To Been Seen

I got back from Paris a few hours ago now. I met a broken man. I'm not sure what to do now. Really not sure.

It Was Not A Boston Tea Party

I don't really know what to say. Boston was a disaster. I can't even bring myself to talk about it. I can't believe how much money I have wasted on this stupid quest. It's pointless.

Bean Town

For those of you who don't recognise it, this is Boston, Mass. One of the greatest cities in the World in my opinion. And I'm going. I'm going because I got an email. Through this blog. From one of you.

The photo above wasn't taken by me. It is very much the copyright of www.markdilley.co.uk.

I Had This Perfect Dream, Barcelona

If you didn't get it from the title, those famous lyrics are from the mighty Queen Anthem 'Barcelona'. I have been playing that a lot in the last day. Not because I am the biggest Queen fan around but because I am going there. Did you know Barcelona was on the coast? For some reason I didn't realise that. I am shocked with myself.

Fame in Farringdon

Have you ever hidden your wallet, phone and keys in your landlord's kettle before? No, I didn't think so. I hadn't either up until last night.

That, though, is not even the bad news. The bad news is that I can't remember what happened last night but I know it may have been something good. If anyone knows of a way to help you remember stuff please let me know.

No More Spam

I am absolutely sick to death of people spamming this blog. It is becoming the one-stop shop for virus protection, Viagra and body enlargement operations. I am not interested in any of them and I am sure neither are you. I have therefore taken the executive decision to remove the ability to post comments. If you would like to get in touch with me please email anyoneknowwhothisis@gmail.com. Cheers.

Which Way To Holland?

It's the afternoon after the day before. The day before in which something truly horrific happened. I can't quite believe it. I narrowly avoided one of the most unpleasant nights of my entire life. And that came on the back of the worst news...ever. Amsterdam is one scary place.

Holland Calling!

Okay, now I can hardly control myself. The adrenaline is pumping. I have a lead!!!!!!! At long, long last I actually have a lead. Some guy has been in touch to say that he might know who The Man is. They live in Amsterdam so I am going. Next week. This is just incredible. I might have done this. I might have found my friend's look-a-like!!!!!

A New Chapter

I'm not really sure what is going to happen to my quest now. I haven't totally given up on it but I have just moved. I've moved from Gloucestershire to London to pursue a career in advertising. You can't really pursue a career in quest completing while pursuing a career in advertising. It just doesn't work. It could change but for the next few weeks I am concentrating fully on my career. I have a competition to enter.