Shadow of the Thin Man

 I am a shadow of my former self

The Thin man

Myrna Loy

I am a shadow of my former self, partially from a different style of cooking, and partially from a limpoma on my neck.

I am not bothered, I was overweight before, and being lighter means I am not such an issue for my friend, Svitlana, in Didcot, Oxfordshire to cope with.

Interest from Sloane Crosley

 More books raising interest

Interest in my Writing

The Chronicles of Mark Johnson

Among the stories which are gathering interest is my Award Winning eBook short story selection, The Chronicles of Mark Johnson.

This week Sloane Crosley asked a question I had been asked many times, how much of your character is based on yourself?

The truth is quite a lot, that is probably why Mark feels so real, I put a lot of my personality into him, most notably our distain for the cult of the celebrity.

At the moment, the story is not for sale, as I closed my Draft2Digital page, it never made money. The selection earned an an award in 2012, but never sold. My friend who died last year, asked if she could refine the few errors in editing the story, that began a 13-year friendship.

I planned to re-edit the story, but thought better

Are you a fan of zombies?

 Indian Mythology

Betaal

The Appeal of my eBook - The Awakening

My Amazon page

Both of these eBooks about Indian Mythology are available on my Amazon page. Betaal is about a cave which hid a zombie horde, and was opened by ambitious politicians who ignored an ancient curse. 

The Awakening is a modern romance about religion, science, and politics

F.B.I. v Alan Place

 I got accused of being a scammer

Alan Place - Noir Writer

                                                                        It is a joke

Twice I was accused of being a scammer by young ladies online, both times I made the person look like a fool.

The first person was a young lady from San Diego, who said she was studying to be a nurse, in a university in Canada. I thought this odd, but not unusual, as many foreign students study where there are courses.

We'd been chatting for about two months, when she asked for $100 to pay for a flight home to see her mother, during half-term. When I refused, she said she'd report me to the F.B.I. as a scamer.

This was beyond ridiculous, I had to point out as I am in the UK, the F.B.I. has no authority to investigate me, unless I enter the USA. I then pointed out, they would have to get authority from the Police in the UK to proceed. This was assuming she could get the F.B.I. to take the case, as the ammount was so small, finally, I pointed out they would check our chat, to find she's been asking me for the money. After that, she backed down, and our chats dried up.

The second time was when a person said she'd report me as a scammer for not answering her video call, I pointed out I don't reply to people I don't know, and said, "If you do report me, they'll see, you asked me for the money as 10 minutes ago, I didn't know of you." Again, that was the end of the matter.

What could I have been?

 Alan Place - Noir Writer

I am an Award Winning Writer

                                                 Alan Place - Multi-Genre Writer

The two questions I get asked the most are what do I write, and what do I prefer to write?

The first question is best answered, what won't I write, as my writing covered most genre categories.

The two I areas I enjoy writing the most are Noir Crime, and Gothic. I enjoy the dark areas on Noir, where a person can do the wrong thing for the right reason.

I like Gothic, as I prefer old-style horror stories from the Victorian era.

Advent Calenders

 Happy Birthday

October 18th

My birthday present

I get amused by people selling Advent Calenders around my birthday, in mid-October, but to start selling them in September is ridiculous, I appreciate cat calenders are a huge selling point, but really, Advent Calenders in September?

Lost

 British Gas Dilemma

Svitlana's worries

The Monkey on my back

Because British Gas have turned a 10-day wait for my refund, into a month-long wait, I have no money for food, or to stay in contact with my friend, Svitlana in Oxfordshire.

I am also waiting for a debt to be repaid, however, I am not holding my breath for that payment.

I have told Svitlana, she has nothing to worry over, I am not ignoring her, and chatting to other ladies

My lump is a Limpoma

 A lump on my neck

I have a Limpoma

Appointment for my neck lump

 The outcome of my recent hospital visit is the lump on my neck is a Limpoma, that is a fatty mass which can be removed as an out-patient operation taking a few minutes

The Monkey on my back

 Will we meet?

2026

                                          Have I missed chatting to Pamela aka Clara?

If you haven't heard the quote "I have a monkey on my back," it means having something niggling at you all the time, in my case the SCAMMER, Pamela Olsted, who owes me £3,000. I thought I was helping a lady who wished to have a relationship with me, "no fool like an old fool."

IF, BIG if, all goes well, I should get my money this week as her sister has said she'll pay me.

I can't say I missed the chats we had, I was doing the chatting, and PO was only agreeing with me.

Hopefully, once this mess is cleared, I can progress with meeting my friend in Didcot.

2026 was a bust

 The Year of Hell

Cash Shortage

Pamela Olsted

As the final quarter of 2026 approaches, I can say this year has been another year of hell for me. I suffered a cash shortage caused by knowing a scammer called Pamela Olsted, who "claimed" to live not far from me in Bristol. We began an online chat in November 2025, and I ended it in June 2026, I think she hoped for it to end in August, as her birthday is in July.

The only good thing that came out of knowing her is I found ladies do find me attractive, as I added my profile to two dating apps.

NO General Election soon

 Labour Lies

Illegal Immigration

What Labour don't tell you

 The Labour Party will NOT call an election, until they are forced to do so. Andy Burnham will NOT stop illegal immigration, the illegals are now the backbone of the voters for Labour. Starmer and Rayner "took the knee," and bowed to the Muslims, then like Labour does, they deserted them, even the Muslim population despise Labour

My Birthday Treat

 My treat

Depression

Meeting Svitlana

It is probably my depression tainting my thoughts, but I am getting the idea, despite her constant sexual undertones, my friend, Svitlana, in Oxfordshire has cooled about meeting me.

Though we get on well online, our chats are short as we share a chat room, and I have a cash shortage for the next month. She understands my situation, but seems reluctant to want to leave Charming Talks so we are not limited by money.

If thinngs do cool off, I hope they don't, I will take my profile off the dating scene. I would like to visit Didcot next year, if we don't meet by my birthday in October, there are places in the area of interest to me, not least Wallingford Castle

Svitlana is the only lady for me

 One-lady man

You're the one I want

Svitlana

Since we began our online chat,Svitlana, my friend in Didcot, Oxfordshire, is the only lady I have been interested in meeting. I have many offers from ladies to meet, and almost as many to have sex.

It isn't only because she is in the UK which makes her my choice, we hit it off from the start, we are ideal for each other.

Klondike Annie

 Getting over Pamela Olsted

What do I seek?

Mae West

This weekend will hopefully end my connection with scammer Pamela Olsted. Her sister "claims" to be willing to clear the debt I am owed.

While the ammount is no gold rush, it will relieve my mental health strain after 8 months of worry.

I can't say I will miss Pamela, we never met, and I'd had the feeling she was lying for months, I gave her many opportunities to prove me wrong.

The debt clearance will make it a lot easier for me to chat to, and meet my lady friend, in Didcot, Oxfordshire.

I was a palooka

 I have moved on

Svitlana's Dedication

Lupe Velez

In the Lupe Velez film, the Palooka (fall guy) is a man who thinks he is a champion boxer, without realising his manager, Jimmy Durante, fixed the fights to promote his find.

I turned out to be a palooka for a lady who "claimed" she lived in Bristol, and wanted a relationship with me. All she wanted was someone to pay her bills for several months.

I have finally put those days behind me, and I look forward to a steady relationship with my friend, Svitlana, who lives in Didcot, Oxfordshire

Glad all over

 A steady relationship

The True Path of Romance

Granny Friend

I am pleased to say that soon I can put the 8 months I chatted to the SCAMMER Pamela Olsted behind me. In the next week, her sister is planning to clear the debt of £3,000 I am owed.

This money will only ease my standard of living, but it will ease the strain on my mental health.

I didn't take long to get over her because we never had a serious connection, I knew she was lying back in February, when she gave me two addresses in Bristol, within one chat. They are close, by car, but two addresses was suspicious. I kept chatting to see if she would prove me wrong, but she never did.

I am pleased to say, I formed a true friendship with the lady on this post, Svitlana lives in Didcot, Oxfordshire, and we get on well during our online chat sessions.

Unlike Pamela, Svitlana chats, I always had the feeling Pamela was going along with what I said, rather than putting ideas forward to move the chat,

I am desired

 Romance in Didcot

Meeting Svitlana

She's in love with you

I have ladies online who class as their favourite, the only lady I am interested in is my friend,Svitlana, who lives in Didcot in Oxfordshire.

From the get-go we got on well, even if she was a little enthsiastic about her sex chat, but that is nothing I worry about. I find a lady who knows what she likes, and isn't afraid to ask, arousing.

There was one lady in France I found off-putting, she was too descriptive for my liking, and I wasn't really interested in her besides that,

Public Enemy

 Labour Lies

My Blonde Bombshell

                                           Is this the end for Labour?

Any person with sense would know the current Labour Party is a public enemy. There has never been a bigger gang of crooks since the days of Tony Blair.

No matter who you are, the Labour Party are the Enemy of the People. They even betrayed the Muslim Brotherhood who Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner "took the knee" for.

I have no doubts now

 Sister Act 2

British Gas

British Gas Dilemma

If I had any doubts that Pamela Olsted isn't in the UK, I don't now. A few minutes ago her "sister" texted to say she had never heard of British Gas, and didn't trust them, that is ironic from someone whose sister has a criminal record for identity theft, and scammed me.

Reckless

 Romance in Didcot

The Oxfordshire Romance

I have moved on

I could be classed as reckless, I started a friendship with a lady online, within days of ending another friendship. 

My problem is being an introvert, making contact in person is impossile, mainly because until July, I thought i was unattractive. The two ladies are very different were Svitlana is kind, generous, and caring about us, all Pamela Olsted aka Clara Kent wanted was to scam me.

The truth is I was over Pamela months before I ended the friendship, she had been telling lies for months, once or twice, I can forgive, but for months is beyond forgiveness.

This film with Wiliam Powell, and his wife, Jean Harlow will be only the second film I have seen with Rosalind Russell in.

I'm no Angel

 BBW ladies

Mae West

Hollywood Glamour

I am known for my respect for ladies, but I do have a wicked side too. It isn't too kinky, well I don't think so, but it is up to each of us to define what we class as off-limits.

Another Thin Man

Hollywood Mysteries

William Powell 

Myrna Loy 

The romances of William Powell read like a Thin Man mystery. His first wife was Carole Lombard, but though they loved each other, they were different personalities. He loved her until she died. She went on to marry Clark Gable, and died in a plane crash that haunted both men.

His second wife was Jean Harlow, she died of blood poisoning, probably from the bleach used to keep her blonde hair shining for the camera. Her first husband was Paul Bern, a director who could make a star with one phone call, he died in a way that has never been certified. The official verdict is suicide, in those days, you phoned the studio before the police. Mr. Bern left a cryptic note for his wife of three months, and he also had a wife he'd put in an asylum. Some people think she killed him as a lady like got on a ferry, but didn't get off. Jean died only 5 months after her first husband.

This is another shirt from the Hollywood Mysteries Store.

British Gas Dilemma

 No money for food

Svitlana's worries

I could lose money

I have a dilemma, I owe British Gas money, the reason for this is the rebate they said would take 10 days to go into my bank, has NOT arrived, and it is nearly 21 days now.

The money they owe me would cover their bill, give me money to get another debt owed to me paid off, get some food, and keep me in tough with Svitlana in Didcot.

My friend, Svitlana, will be concerned if I can't drop her a quick note tonight, but the matter is out of my hands

All I Desire

 A new direction

Barbara Stanwych

Romance found me

My friend,Svitlana, and I have agreed we have the perfect partner for a romance in later years. When I added my profile to two dating apps, I wasn't looking for anything. It was done to clarify a question in my mind.

From the off, Svitlana made her intentions clear to me, and they include wishing to have sex with me. Some men find a lady asking for what she likes is a threat, I don't, I am pleased a lady feels she is free to ask

She done him wrong

 Mae West

The lady's choice

                                                            Cary Grant

This comedy with Mae West, is the debut for Cary Grant. She asked for min to apear. At the time he was a bit-player, struggling to get a break, after this role, as they say "the rest is history."

The title also refers to how I was treated by a scammer, who "claimed" to live in walking distance from me, in Bristol. Once her sister pays me back, the connection with Pamela Olsted will be over, I have moved on, and found a lady in Oxfordshire who DOES wish to meet me.

Peter Lorre

 Robert Mitchum

Hollywood Mysteries

Noir

For most of my life, I considered myself like the roles Peter Lorre played in Hollywood, the mysterious outsider. Since July that has changed, now I consider myself more like Robert Mitchum, deep and mysterious.

The reason for the change is I added my profile to two mature dating apps, and found ladies find me attractive, I wasn't looking for romance, but it found me

The end of an era

 The "flapper" girl 

Louise Brooks 

Louise Brooks was the epitimony of the "flapper girl," young, attractive, and carefree.

After surviving World War 1, "the war to end all wars," the USA began a new era were life was lived to the full, for a decade this was the age of exuberance. 

This era brought new hope with the conquering of Mount Everest, yes, I believe Mallory and Irvine did reach the top.

Then, everything collapsed with the Great Depression of 1929, and the age of plenty gave way to the endless struggle to survive. At this time, Germany began to develop the Weimar Cinema. Several Hollywood icons began their careers at this time.

This shirt is one of several I have bought from the Hollywood Mysteries Store, the shirs are of excellent quality, and the sale helps the YouTube channel grow.

My treat

 In the clear

Hollywood Mysteries

Buying helps the Channel

My next puchase for the Hollywood Mysteries Store was to be the Barbara Stanwyck shirt. Then I saw this, and had to put this at the top of my shopping list from the site.

I have bought several shirts from the store, they are excellent quality, and the money goes to helping the YouTube channel grow. 

As things stand, the only other shirt I would like other than Ms. Stanwyck, is the one with Peter Lorre

Bombshell

 All in the family

Jean Harlow

What a choice!

This rom-com has Jean Harlow playing a notorious movie star, who falls in love with a rich man, who has no idea of who she is, or what she does.

Jean puts in a dazzling performance as she tries to hide her family's troubles from her lover. In the cast is also Hattie McDaniel, who played the maid in Gone with the Wind. 

Lee Tracey as her wise-cracking agent is a nuisance as the role has him trying to steal each scene

Come up and see me sometime

 My Blonde Bombshell

Mae West

Meeting Svitlana

Svitlana hasn't used the quote from Mae West, but her request is plain to understand. She is very keen for us to begin our relationship, after becoming online friends in July.

What direction we go, within reason, is the lady's choice. We have briefly discussed the possibility of sex, an idea we are in agreement with making.

A girl in every port

 Louise Brooks

Passport Romancer

                                                       I only have eyes for you

This is the last film Louise Brooks was in during her Hollywood days, before she left for Germany, to become a star of the Weimar Cinema.

The story is about two sailors who have a competion who can "chat up" the most girls, until one falls for Ms. Brooks.

I am not saying, I could have had a lady in every port, but I had lots of requests from mature ladies to meet me, some were adamant they wished for sex.

There is only one lady I am interested in, she is Svitlana, my friend in Oxfordshire, and she knows that.

Pandora's box

 Early German Cinema

Louise Brooks

Silent Movies

Louise Brooks's first silent movie for the Weimar Cinema, could have been written about her. The main character is a lady who has several lovers, even if she only plays with their affections. When the film finished, the director warned her, if she didn't embrace "talkies," she would end up like her character, a "kept woman." 

This warning was ignored as Louise turned roles down, one was being the voice of her character being dubbed to the film of "The Canary Murder case," with William Powell. Another role that damaged her career was the role later played by Jean Harlow in "Public Enemy," a role that made Ms. Harlow a star

The Jean Harlow Mystery

 Blonde Bombshell

Jean Harlow DVDs

What a choice

Once I get my finances settled, I am going to treat myself to this Jean Harlow DVD collection.

This selection solves a mystery for me. I was sure I had a copy of her last movie, Saratoga, but couldn't find it. The reason is I had thought of buying this set, which contains Saratago, months ago.

Alan Place - Avid Reader

Books I have read

My first Passion 

Another Life 

My late friend, Julia, who lived in Seattle was suprised by the scope of the books I have read.

My Opinions

Before I go further, I should clarify the distinction of "I have read".

The distinction is there are many books I started but never finished. I had always wanted to read Chekhov, at one time my wish to be regared the same as him, a great short story writer. That changed after I started a book of his stories, the storeis were so innane, to say the were boring is a big compliment.

The odd reason I read some books came from recalling a Monty Python Flying Circus sketch about a football match, involving philosophers. I recalled having a story by Marcel Prost on my shelf.

Another writer I read, but couldn't get into is Sartre'. The story I read started well, but soon got lost in its complexity of reason. The story began with a man being handed a stamp from the Spanish Civil War. From that good start, the story went awry, and devolved into why people make choices, I suppose I should have expected that from a philosopher.

As well as Chekhov, I wished to read Pushkin, another great writer from Russia, I don't have a "thing" for Russian writers, if the story seems interesting I will try to read it, no matter what the nationality, or gender of the writer.

Another writer I tried to read, and have been compared to, is Wilkie Collins. I pray my stories are not as boring as the one of his I tried to read. The Moonstone started well with the theft of a jewel from a statue in India, the story then came back to England, where the main story happens during a garden party. What stopped me from going on is he then spends over 30 pages telling the reader how to strip paint of a door, and the terrible smell of the stripper.

Who would I like to be compared to?

Now I have dismissed Chekhov, writers I would like to be compared to are the likes of Edgar Alan Poe, James Sheridan Le Fanu, and Cherie Priest, to name a few. If my style of writing had a direction it would be for Gothic.

Writers my friend was startled to know I read include Solzhenitsyn, again NOT a Russian trend, I was intrigued by his stories. One that stuck with me is about an eldery lady who each day takes her barrow across a railway line to do her shopping. Her routine is so defined, she never gets hit, until one day she is a little slow. I have also read the classic story, The Gulag Archipelago. 

Another story on the same theme, Russian Prisons, I started to read is Dolgun. This book is about the imprisonment of journalist Michael Dolgun from the USA. I never finished the story because I misplaced the book, and it costs too much to replace it.

One series I did enjoy are the books written by a group of lawyers who use the penname Michael Slade, the stories delve into the dark areas of pyschology. When I was in Scotland, I began to read a book called The Minatour Factor by Stuart Stern, again I lost my copy when I was osted to Germany during my service in the Royal Air Force. This story is about the effects taking drugs can have on people, it is based in Chelsea, London. I came across a copy on Amazon for £20, but I didn'r wish to pay that, a few months later in St. Nicholas's Market, in Bristol, I got my copy for £1.50.

If you wonder, YES, I do read female writers, as I say it is the story that attracts me. One of my favourite, unkown writers, was Marianne MacDonald.

Svitlana's Dedication

 An evening with Svitlana

Romance in Didcot

Svitlana's worries

One of my friend's concerns is that if we don't have daily contact, I have had something happen to me. I explained sometines I cannot afford to buy credit on the site we use - Charming Talks - she has accepted the situation, and we are looking forward to our restricted chat being extended soon.

Her other concern is I will not think of her, when I am not chatting, I have asured her she is always on my mind, even when I am not chatting to her.

Despite my difficulties, at the moment, our love is growing by the day. Svitlana is willing to wait until things get easier for us.

Love before Breakfast

 The Queen  of Comedy

It is time for some Comedy

My man Godfrey

I am pleased I gave this film a second chance, I would have missed another brilliant example of the screwball comedy, that Carole Lombard made her own.

I was put off at first by the over-zealous performance of Robert Preston, as the man who attempts to buy Ms. Lombard's love.

I have seen 10 comedies featuring Ms. Lombard, and enjoyed them all

!0 Comedies with Carole Lombard

 The Queen  of Comedy

Carole Lombard

What a choice!

I have now seen 10 films with Carole Lombard in, and there isn't one I didn't enjoy, even if one of them had an over the top performance from Preston Foster, as an over-zealous tycoon trying to buy Ms. Lombard's love.

Sister Act 2

 Sister Act

Getting over Pamela

                                          Action Stations!!!!

The young lady who "claims" to be the sister of scammer Pamela Olsted, is asking for £20 bank charges to send my money. 

I don't turst her, her sister lied to my for several months, why should I give her the benefit of the doubt? You may think this hard, on a lady who may be genuine, but I paid out close to £3,000, lost the respect of my children for months, and have no money for food.

Also, the months of worry have played havoc with my mental health

Action Stations!!!!

 Appointment for my neck lump

Can you drain it?

Throat Issues

All my life, I knew I had breathing issues, but nobody took an interst in my health, until this week.

I knew I couldn't swallow food properly, twice I almost choked on small pieces of celery.

I have always had trouble breathing, when I went to my GP, all he did was book an E.N.I. appointment,, which said I was breathing as well as could be expected. I wanted a thoat check, not a breathing check. This month, I will have my wish, our new doctor, has booked me in for a full check on the lump on my neck,

I don't know why ladies find me attractive

My Personality

Character is more impressive than beauty

                                                    Why do ladies feel safe with me?

Contrary to my view of my sexuality, ladies do find me attractive.

I never considred this possibilty, until July, 2025, when I added my profile to some mature dating apps, and was amazed by the reaction from ladies worldwide.

I have built a personality, that draws ladies to me, not only from a sexual view, but from the respect I show the ladies online. I do not push myself on a lady as some men do, I let the low of the chat draw us close. The subject of the chat is determined by the lady. I happy to chat about sex, if she chooses, but I don't take that direction.

Beauty or Honesty?

 Beauty is skin deep

Romance in Didcot

Honesty is the way forward

Over the years, I was approached by many girls / ladies I classed as beautiful, the problem is many of them were shallow as people, as is often the case when people rely on physical attraction.

Reading the blog, you may think I have a "thing" for blondes, this is not the case, my definition of attractive is based more on character, than beauty. Which is why I class Jane Russell and Ava Gardner as more attractive than Marilyn Munroe, Claudia Carinale, or Brigette Bardot.

I am not saying I don't see blondes as unattractive, far from it, among the blonde actressis i like are Honor Blackman, Catherine Deneuve, Barbara Sukowa, Eva Rose, and Ingrid Bergman.

Character is more impressive than beauty

 Hollywood Glamour

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

My Blonde Bombshell

It may appear I have a "thing" for blonde actresses, that is not true. Two of the ladies I consider most attractive in Hollywood, were not blondes, Jane Russell, and Ava Gardner. Then you have Myrna Loy, who was a bit like Kay Francis, beautiful to look at, and dress, but a lightweight actress, unlike Jean Harlow, Marlene Dietrich , or Mae West. Other non-blondes I enjoy watching include Gina Lollobigida, Paulette Goddard, Carolyn Jones, and Dame Diana Rigg to name a few.

I didn't mention Marilyn Munroe as I have no opinion either way. She was attractive, but I didn't like her films. I didn't mention Brigette Bardot as I didn't enjoy har films, other than Viva Maria with Jeanne Moreau,  I watched the film for Jeanne, more than than Brigette, For me, BB got more attractive as she aged, and the attention was on her, not her breasts. I didn't mention Sophia Loren, there are few men who don't consider her a beauty, even now.

Some people class Audrey Hepburn and Claudia Cardinale as attractive, as they say "beauty is in the eye of the beholder."  I class both as unattractive, and lightweight in acting. Claudia almost caused a film to be shut down - The red tent - there are othes ladies, my list is endless, and the debate over beauty is NEVER ended.

One blonde I can end on is Mamie van Doren, I can only say I heard her name in passing, without using Google, I cannot name a film she was in.

The Diary of a Lost Girl

Early German Cinema

Silent Movies

Louise Brooks

The Diary of a Lost Girl is the second movie Louise Brooks made after leaving Hollywood for the Weimar Cinema of 1920's Germany. It is regarded as a classic of early German cinema. The story is about a young girl who gets pregnant after being raped, but won't name the father. However, a friend finds her diary, in which she names the father, her father, who dismissed a maid for being pregnant by him, tells her to save face she must marry the child's father, but she says she has no feelings for him.

She is thrown out of the house, and ends up in a reform school. After escaping, she is taken in as "a lady of liesure,"  deciding this is not right she decides to teach dance lessons, Louise was a dancer in earlier times. 

The story ends with her marrying the man she loves, inheriting her father's money, and giving it to her sister. She later becomes a govenor on the board of the reform school she was in.

She was told by the film's director, if she returned to Hollywood, she would be like her role, and for many years she was a "kept lady."

Ms. Brooks was her own worst enemy, when she returned to Hollywood, she turned down the opportunity to be the voice of her character in a William Powell movie. Not long after, she turned down the role which made Jean Harlow a star, in the James Cagney film, Public Enemy, after that she vanished.