Do I believe I should have had the opportunity to be offered a contract to write?

 Alan Place - Award Winning Author

Being an Award Winner

The year of the Awards

In 2012, I was in contact with several authors across the world, like me, they had earned an award, and we agreed earning an Award, means nothing, unless it is a major award such as the Booker Prize,the Pulitzer Prize, or the Orange Prize.

I think I should have been given my opportunity to shine, but living in the UK was a drawback, I couldn't travel to conventions in the USA. Another drawback is I can't afford publication costs, my writing has shown it gets noticed as I earned two awards in 2011.

The KFC Incident

 A Fast Food Franchise on Tropico

Asda

Eat or heat

An amusing thing happened at our local Asda last week. They sold Walker's KFC crisps. In itself, that is not unusal, what followed was, in my opinion.

They had two boxes of Walker's original chicken flavour, and two of the Zinger flavour. When I reurned on the Friday, the original flavour boxes were empty, while the Zinger boxes were half-full. I can understand why, while the original is delicious, the Zinger tastes as if it could take the enamel off your teeth

Objective 2

 My next objective

Meeting Svitlana

Svitlana's wish

My first objective was to get so many blog posts ahead of the ones about Pamela Olsted, and her sister, that they are not seen on the immediate opening of the weekly statitics. This has been achieved. The second objective will be much harder, I wish to eliminate them from the immediate monthly views.

My main objective is to be free of the financial stress they caused, so I can visit my friend, Svitlana, in Didcot.

Another goal is to be free of the stress, so i can order some shirts from Hollywood Mysteries for my birthday next month.

A Senior Citizen's day out

 Latino Street Bites

Alan Place - Senior Citizen

Whitchurch Inn

In a few minutes, I shall be heading out to Asda, Whitchurch in Bristol, to do my shopping. Before I get back, I will have a pub lunch at the Whitchurch Inn, I am considered a regular there now. The Whitchurch Inn is one of the two treats I have in the week, the other is on a Friday, I visit my friend's cafe, Latino Street Bites, in Redcliffe, for lunch, again while doing my shopping, this time in Bedminster.

Once my finances are settled, I hope to get a railcard, so I can visit my friend in Didcot, Oxfordshire

Bovril or Marmite?

 Coffee

I am teetotal

Energy Drink

My usual hot drink on a cold morning is Coffee, today I am having a cup of Bovril as I am out of milk, and have no money until tonight, owing to a cash shortage caused by recovering from a scam.

This brings me to the old question, which do you prefer Bovril or Marmite?

I can drinkMarmite, butI find it too salty for my taste, I prefer Bovril

Destry rides again

 Marlene Dietrich Selection

Movie Nights

                                              James Stewart

One of my tasks today is locating the box containing the Marlene Dietrich and James Stewart film, Destry rides again. I know it is in the room with me, I had it not long ago

The Thin Man goes home

 About Me

Alan Place

                                                 Yorkshire 

The title of this Thin Man movie, reminds me of the time I returned to Yorkshire, in 1974, the year after my grandfather died.

There is a big difference in our reception though, Nick was able to please his father. The only thing I got praise for was joining the Royal Air Force, the following year. That I think was more so my parents could have their lives back for six years, as I learned later, I wasn't wanted

The Myrna Loy Phallacy

 John Dillinger

The Thin Man 

For decades, there has been a story spread by Hollywood, that John Dillinger was lured to his death, by a lady in a red dress as he entered the Biograph Cinema to see a Myrna Loy film.

It is part fact, but a lot of Hollywood hype.

Facts

He was lured to the cinema to see a film.

The lady was wearing a red dress.

Fiction

The film did NOT feature Myrna Loy, at the time of the shooting she was appearing in The Thin Man series with William Powell

The Desperation of the Labour Party

 Labour brings the UK to its knees

The Labour Party

Christmas under Labour

As a person with a pension, I can't help thinking will Labour repeat what Starmer did, and cut the Winter Heating Payment again?

The term "party" is now a misnomer when you talk about Labour. They are not a group with a similiar opinion, their leader, Andy Burnham, is un-elected, he got his position by the party forcing the sitting MP to stand down, so they could appoint a leader.

In this case, it definitely "The blind leading the blind," I wouldn't be in his place for all the gold in the world. Angela Rayner, the person who lead the revolt against Starmer, thought she'd step in, so she's not happy, and with so many members crossing to Reform UK, they could drop to the third party, not the opposition.

Lost in Translation

 Meeting Svitlana

Family Assistance

A decade of love

Occasionally Svitlana slips into her native Ukrainian, and I have to ask for a translation.

I think our relationship is going to be romantic, with plenty of fun to recall.

If I had doubts, over her love, this weekend has cleared them. Svitlana has been most upset to have missed our daily chat, so am I. Our chats keep me going through the hard times I am having.

My children would be happy if I had another lady in my life, they know no lady can replace their mother, but they know she would wish me to be happy,

A German Autumn

 No Royal Air Force bases in Europe

N.A.T.O.

Royal Air Force

The dark afternoon reminds me of my time serving in Germany, during the late 1970's, when N.A.T.O. was on alert after the arrest of the Red Army Faction.

Being in the photographic trade, I went to work in the dark, I worked in a dark room, and went back to the block in the dark, if I was fortunate I saw daylight when I had my dinner. On the weekends, it was so cold and dark, we did nothing.

I can understand why Scandanavia has such a high suicide rate, it was bad enough for a few months, but to live all year in the dark.

The concept of N.A.T.O. was to protect Europe from an attack from Russia, back in the 1960's that was a threat, it hasn't been since the late 80's.

The threat these days is from the Middle East.

The closest base to Europe is in Cyprus. 

N.A,T,O. has always been only the UK and the USA.

Am I your favourite?

 I am popular with Ladies of Charming Talks

I only have eyes for you

You're the one I want

Though my popularity on the Dating App Svitlana and I share is growing, she knows I have no other lady to chat to. From the first online chat we had, we hit it off well. I admit her being in the UK is a big plus, most of the other ladies are either in the USA, or Asia. What drew me to her, is her smile, once we got chatting it was easy to form a relaxing atmosphere, unlike one lady in France, Svitlana is not pushy, or assertive.

I won't deny, there are other ladies in the UK on Charming Talks I find attractive, but Svitlana is the lady I wish to be with

A decade of love

 Granny Sex

Svitlana's wish

Romance in Didcot

As Svitlana and I are in our 70s, it would be expecting too much to envisage our relationship lasting over a decade. That does give us plenty of time to for a strong bond of love. We already have a good beginning, as our online chats are extremely pleasant, and relaxed, if only brief.

We have made a few early plans for how we see our friendship   developing, Svitlana did suggest a sleepover, I would not have made the suggestion, even if I wished to spend the night with her.

The area around Didcot, where she lives, is full of interesting things, not least Wallinford Castle, where Queen Matilda stayed during her fight with King Stephen.

There are several parks, and areas of wildlife, which are nice for a romantic afternoon walk.

A fresh start

 Svitlana's dedication

Romance in Didcot

Glad all over

I am planning to be clear of my overdraft ASAP, I have given up hope that the sister of Pamela Olsted who involved me in one of her scams will refund my loan.

I am forced to make further cutbacks in my household spending, I have few personal needs, other than going to lunch at a friend's cafe in Redcliffe, Bristol.

One week she says she needs £20 to pay bank fees, as the loan is 90% clear, the next week it has dropped to 65%, this has been going on for over a month, and I have ended the payments.

I am hoping to be clear of my overdraft by January. If I can be in the clear, it will make life easier for Svitlana and I.

One of the things I wish to do first is to visit Svitlana in Didcot, we can't plan that until she returns from her trip to see her family in Ukraine. After a couple of day trips, I will consider buying a Senior Railcard, if we get on well in person, I have no doubt we will.

Svitlana did suggest a sleepover at some time, this would make it more pleasant for us, as I won't have to worry about the retrurn trip to Bristol

Suzy

 Cary Grant

Franchot Tone

Franchot Tone Love Triangles

Franchot Tone was involved in two love triangles in real life, this triangle is a Jean Harlow movie featuring Cary Grant. In this film she falls who falls for Franchot, believing he is a Lord, as he's driving a borrowed Rolls Royce, when she finds out he is not a Lord, she decided to stay with him. 

After he is shot, and she goes to jail, she decides to go to France to find the killer, while there she falls for an airman played by Cary Grant

The art of promotion

 A Video Editor

Mature Ladies

An old trick

I have started to add links to images on Twitter, relevant to the threads, to promote my blog. I noticed, other users do this to my blog, so I am doing the same. The practise is working, slowly.

I am also adding relevant links to YouTube videos I watch.

My plan for next week

 Asda

Latino Street Bites

Flavours of Chile

After, hopefully getting a loan refund on Tuesday, which will be the end of a scam I felll for, last November. I can rebuild my life with less stress, however the physical toll of walking to Whitchurch, rather than getting a bus to Bedminster will linger. I had to walk to Whitchurch as the Asda in Bedminster doesn't always have the Apple gift cards.

One thing I am looking forward to is having lunch twice a week in my friend's cafe, in the undercroft of St. Mary's Church in Redcliffe. I was such a regular, when I didn't turn up for weeks, I was missed.

The great relief, other than not having to keep walking to Whitchurch for an Apple card, is if I get the money back, I can chat to my friend, Svitlana for longer periods

TGIF

 Svitlana's wish

Depression

Svitlana's dedication

As the weekend nears, and I will be out of touch with my friend Svitlana, until Monday evening. The reason for this is a result of a scam i got trapped into by a lady known as Pamela Olsted who lives in Pennsylvania, USA.

Without Svitlana's dedication to our friendship online turning into a relationship, I don't think I could have stood the stress. It will be months, before I consider myself less of a poor relative in our friendship, Svitlana doesn't view me this way

After October I may leave the Dating App

 Meeting Svitlana

Charming Talks

Meeting in Didcot

As I hope to meet my friend,Svitlana, hopefully by my birthday in October. If I can get her to add WhatsApp to her phone, I would leave the app we are using now, Charming Talks. 

My departure will upset some of the ladies as they see me as attractive, and try to tempt me for a chat, but I only stay on the site because Svitlana is there.

We had a laugh last night, I told Svitlana "some of the ladies call me a heartbreaker for not replying," her reply was they must think you have a girlfriend by now."

The Joker

 The Fool

I was one of the best writers

Alan Place - Award Winning Author

Years ago, when I was an award- winning writer, I was told by many people, I was one of the best writers on a site based in Germany, and my opinions were valued.

The "elite" considered my a fool, and often poked fun, and tried to ridicule my writing, I played the part for several months, then I dropped the mask. I reminded them that in Shakespeare, the fool is the person telling the truth, as few people believe him.

That year, 2011, I went on to prove my value as a writer, I beat the leader of the pack in three writing contests, including one which a friend of hers hacked into for her.

I did think of going to the site, and gloating, but changed my mind, that isn't my way, besides she'd done the job for me, she invited her friends to see her beat me in public, only to lose the respect of her friends

The Way Ahead

 Would I re-marry?

Moving on

Family Assistance

Months before Pamela Olsted contacted me, and drove me into debt. I had a family discussion over how they thought of me having a new lady in my life. If they had been against the idea, that would have been the final decision, however, the children are in favour of me having another lady in my life. They said "mam would wish you to be happy, so do we."

At the time, I had no plan to meet another lady, it was a question of "if," not "I will." I made it clear, nobody could replace thier mother, my new lady, Svitlana, is her own person, we are forming our relationship based on how we fell about each other. I had no plan to re-marry, but Svitlana did mention the idea

Lost in Space

 Sex with a Granny

Alan Place - Lover

Grandfather I'd like to F##K

Over the last two months, since I added my profile to two mature dating apps, I have had many ladies, both young, and mature, asking to meet me. Some ladies have offered to have sex with me.

I have formed a relationship with a lady who lives in Didcot, Oxfordshire, and though I will be out of touch over the weekend, she knows I am not ignoring her, other ladies.

I am a one-lady man, and Svitlana is that lady to me.

The Night of the Hunter

 Why do I enjoy Film Noir?

Robert Mitchum

The Docklands Murders

The eBook above is available from my Amazon Author  page.

Usually, I avoid films with Shelley Winters in, but The Night of the Hunter also has Robert Mitchum, one of my favourite actors in, so I shall see what it is like. I am pleased it is on Amazon Prime, the dvd I bought from eBay didn't load.

I was asked, who would I choose to play me in a movie, without thinking I said, Robert Mitchum, and the person who asked agreed with me

The Mystery of Marlene Dietrich

 The Marlene Dietrich Selection 

Was she bi-sexual?

Is there an age for beauty?

 The myster I have with Marlene Dietrich this time is what did I do with a film from a 6-dvd collection featuring her?

The movie is Destry Rides Again, with James Stewart.

I haven't thrown it out, it is misplaced by a mixed-up pensioner, I kow it will turn up soon. I had the film in my hand last week, so I know it is in the house

Katie Price

 Lee Andrews

The New Age of Alan

The Overdraft Trap

I am in the same situation almost as Katie Price, we are both victims of a scam. Ironically, the began around the same time, nine months ago. I was approached by a lady "claiming" to live in Bristol, UK, who said she wished to have a relationship with me. She only wanted a relationship with my acount, I ended the friendship, if it was one, in June, 2026. Since then, a lady "claiming to be her sisiter, said she would pay the debt. I was wary of the second lady from the off, while it would have been fine to pay the £3,000 I am owed, she offered to pay £15,000 for my kindness, this is why I think it is a scam, as well as the fact, she keeps asking for £20 to pay bank charges, one week the debt is 90% paid, a few days later it drops to 65%, then goes back, only to repeat the run.

Unlike Lee Andrews, these ladies didn't lure me in with the promise of a false crypto account worth millions of pounds, neither did they offer marriage.

My new age will begin once I can clear my overdraft, then I can begin a true relationship, with my friend, Svitlana, who lives in Didcot, Oxfordshire. Svitlana did ask, genuiely, if I was interestd in a second marriage? A situation for me, which is awkward due to family issues. If it wasn't for family matters, I would consider the matter

Sisters of Evil

A lot of Claims

The difference 

Pamela Olsted

The Ongoing Scam 

If you get approached by either of these, do NOT engage them in a chat, report them, and block them, they are SCAMMERS.

Pamela "claimed" to live in Bristol, she claimed to want to meet me, and form a lasting relationship. She claimed her other sister had died from Covid, knowing my wife had. She kept saying she was going to pay me back, all those are lies.

The young "lady" claims to be her sister, and was willing to repay Pamela's debt to me. She said she only needed £20 to send the money, as the guide showed 90% complete, a few days later, it said 65%, and she asked for another £20, the reason I sent the money is I can't afford to let £3,000 slide, but the time has come for me to accept what I had thought this month, it is no moe than another scam

Just my luck

 Meeting in Didcot

My lady friend in Oxfordshire

Svitlana

It wouldn't suprise me if the release of the stress I have been under for the most of the last year causes a mental breakdown. The only good thing about the last 10 months, is being able to chat online with my friend, Svitlana, in Didcot, Oxfordshire. Without the help of Svitlana, I am certain, I would have hit a deep depression, so deep I doubt I would have recovered.

Now things are beginning to look a little brighter 🤞. I am hoping our chats can become more than only a quick hello

All in the Family

 I have moved on

My lady friend in Oxfordshire

Svitlana

To show how evil Pamela Olsted is, she "claimed" her sister died of Covid, knowing my wife died from the illness only a year before. She could be telling the truth, but as she had been telling me lies for months, I take it with a large dose of salt, in hindsight. She also "claimed" her daughter Ellah was ill, to gain sympathy. At the time, I had serious doubts about that, she said Ellah was 8, while it is not impossible for a lady in her late 40's to have a child, it is highly unlikely, as there are a lot of medical risks involved. The latest development is a lady "claiming" to be Pamela's younger sister told me she is in hospital in Bristol, again, I take that with a dose of salt. Knowing I live in Bristol, it is easy to find a hospital here.

I am very pleased I met Svitlana (above), on the site SoulmateMeets, we have moved to Charming Talks for our online chat now. Our chats are very different to those I thought I had with Pamela.

Southern Comfort

 Deliverance

White Line Fever

Louisiana

 Shortly after Deliverance with Burt Reynolds and Jon Voight came out, noticing the sales potential, diector Walter Hill made the film Southern Comfort, the film is about a group of Louisiana state troopers on an exercise in the swamp lands, who get hunted by the locals.

The film fetured Powers Boothe, Fred Ward, and Keith Carradine, but despite its premise, like White Line Fever, it sank into the area where only film buffs know about it. Keith Carradine, later appeared in the film The Long Riders, almong with his brothers Robert, and David, the Keach brothers, and two other sets of btothers, all playing real-life brothers from Mid-west USA. That film was about the James - Younger gang, and the killing of Jesse James, talk about All in the family, you had three sets of brothers playing three sets of brothers. Of the brothers, only David Carradine ( Cole Younger), and Stacy Keach (Frank James) made a name for themselves. I enjoyed Stacy Keach in the the series The new Mike Hammer, years before he notorious for his drug bust

What happened next?

 Escape from Alcatraz

Butch and Sundance

No Escape

There is no doubt Frank Miller, and the Anglin brothers escaoed from Alcatraz, but like Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid there is no record of them in later life.

My opinion is the got carried away by the tide under the Golden Gate Bridge. One theory I had was they were eaten by the Great White sharks that inhabit the waters near the bridge.

An equally plausible theory is the were so tired after the escape, they had no energy to fight the tide. They had hauked the raft up a ladder, across the roof, down the other side, and onto the beach. Then they had to inflate it, even using a makeshift pump, it takes energy, which they had ran out of.

In 2017, a letter was posted by a person "claiming" to be Frank Miller, you have to take this with a large dose of salt. The question you need to ask is if he had survived, why did he wait so long to send his letter, when an escape from a prison built to be unescapable would have made him a hero in the gangster world?

Ok, he was dying, but what did he have to gain? He was hardly clearing his consience.

Another aspect you need to consider, these men were hardened criminals, I doubt they could have stayed out of the life of crime for long

White Line Fever

 Trucking Movies

Before Smokey & the Bandit

Trucking Movies

Many years before Smokey & the Bandit, and Convoy made trucking movies a trend, I saw a film about truckers, in Southanpton, Hampshire, UK. That film was called White Line Fever, and its star was a young actor called Jon Voight.

For years, I tried to track the film down, but the price it costs is too high for one film.

To hog the trucking trend, Sylvester Stallone made a film called F.I.S.T., with Rod Stieger, both men and all the people who say the film call it trash. The premise is a group called the Federation of InterState Truckers fight off companies so they can control thier routes, and jobs.

Dead men don't wear plaid

 Steve Martin

Film Noir

Steve Martin

To many viewers if you mention Steve Martin, you think of Little shop of Horrors. However, he made an excellent pastiche with the film noir movie, Dead men don't wear plaid.

What is the difference between pastiche and parody?

A pastiche is what you get when you take cuttings from films, and make another film. A parody is when you make a movie to poke fun at something.

I haven't seen the movie Bilko, I don't think I'd enjoy it, to me Bilko is Phil Silvers. Also, the times have changed, a modern audience wouldn't know half of what went on

Though I am not a fan of musicals, I did enjoy Little shop of Horrors, as it wasn't purely musical, also it had Bill Murray and Rick Moranis in before they played in Ghostbusters.

Before Smokey & the Bandit

 Convoy

                                                                      White Line Fever

To many viewers films such as Smokey & the Bandit, and Convoy started the craze for trucking movies. Years before these I saw a film in Southampton, UK called White Line Fever. The star was a young Jon Voight, who would later play in the classic Deliverance with Burt Reynolds.

Talking of Burt Reynolds, and lost films, I have been trying to track the film Hooper, a film about stuntmen. In the cast is his friend, and fellow stuntman, Hal Needham, who directed Smokey.

The Final nail in the coffin

 Getting over Pamela Olsted

The wait is off

There are times when I question my sanity

For weeks, if not months, I had suspected scammer Pamela Olsted of lying about her Apple gift card. For every three I sent, she "claimed" one was faulty, that is well above accepted levels, howver, a week before I ended our business arrangement, she closed the case. Desperate for money, she sent a photo of a "supposed" fault report on a card. However, she made several MAJOR errors.

She over-estimated my patience, which had ran out the week before.

First, it was hand written, not mass printed.

It was written in Spanish

The Overdraft Trap

The wait is off

 I was a Palooka 

I'll wait and see

The problem with an overdaft, is once we use it, it is hell to get clear.

Though I have been told, repeatidly for the last month, that I will be sent a refund for the loan I sent to Pamela Olsted, I won't believe it, until I have the money in my bank account.

Her sister has promised to repay me, but if one sister has lied to you for several months, why should you believe another sister?

At one time, PO "claimed" her other sister died from Covid, at first, I believed her, I thought knowing my wife had passed away not long ago from the illness, she wouldn't use it as trick to get money.

On my way back, in the winds and rain, and walking on a broken toe, the truth hit me, if she is after money, there is nothing to stop her using Covid as a twist

Another Iconic movie from Jean Harlow

 Riff Raff

Jean Harlow

The Jean Harlow Mystery

The Jean Harlow movie Riff Raff is one of hers I am not expecting to enjoy. Not because of Jean, Spencer Tracy, or Una Merkel. I always enjoy watching them, my issuse is with Mickey Rooney, I have seen him in several films, and never enjoyed the film.

Outside this collection, I have several Jean Harlow films, including her debut in The Public Enemy, a film actress Louise Brooks turned down, but made Jean a star. The Public Enemy is most rememberred for Jimmy Cagney's scene with Mae Clarke, and the grapefruit.

Some people class me as riff raff, as I have no formal qualification, yet I am an award winning writer

Personal Property

 The Jean Harlow Mystery

My Angel

An evening with Svitlana

Several weeksa ago, several mature ladies online tried to claim me, some for friendship, others for sex. The only lady I am interested in is my friend,Svitlana, in Didcot, Oxfordshire. Though some of our chats online can be arousing, this week, I have had serious matters on my mind concerning getting money from the family of a person I knew.

I am concerend about the money, as I feel like a "poor relative" at the moment

A long time ago in another life

 Another Life 

Sex in Canada

I got a shock last night, my daughter, Sarah asked if I wished to chat to Margaret. I hadn't known a lady called Margaret since school, it was only when she said I knew her 15 years ago, the dime fell. I knew her as Marge, but that was decades ago in Bonneyville, Alberta, Canada.

I knew her through her mother, Faye. 

I admit, at the time, I did have a crush on Marge, then things went sour. It wasn't her mother's death in 2009 that caused the rift, it was Marge's actions.

From being a charming lady, she turned into a health freak, and a Jesus freak. She also became a total hypocrit.

She started going on about the evils of the world, and how Jesus would rise to save us, you can understand this from a person living hand-to-mouth on the street, but not from a person with two jobs, a nice family, a two-car family, a home with a three-person jacuzzi who belongs to the golf club, and has radio controlled clubs.

I could understand her sister, Patti, being like that, Patti lost her daughter to suicide, then a year later her husband died falling into a garden fire, which she ended up with burned hands.

I did have a crush on Marge, and she knew I did, but that was 15 years, and as they say " a lot of water has passed under the bridge," since those days.

TBH, I haven't thought of Marge for over a decade

I would like to relax enough to enjoy reading

 The book I am reading

Books I have read

A Sailor's Love

My modern romance - A Sailor's Love is available from my page on Amazon. The story has elements of Mystery, Spirituality, Crime, and a back story about the ecology of the UK.

For all man's advances, we cannot compete against nature, the coast of the UK is shrinking, the reason is the south coast is mainly chalk, which is easily eroded by the tides. Five years ago, a developer started to build a hotel near the coast, he'd spent thousands of pounds developng the site, then his nightmare came true. Suddenly, there was a loud crack, and a wide gap appeared in the ground. He didn't do a survey of the land he was building on, the site was over a known cave system. The crack stopped less than 20 yards from his hotel.

Autumn is here

 The Year of Hell

A Suprise ending to 2026

Meeting Svitlana

September has always been my favourite month, the last of the Summer rays mix the slight chill of the fall, leavs turning golden, and the peace returns after the school holidays. 

I know it is a romantic idea, but I am a romantic at heart.

A year ago, I came out of a self-imposed exile after the loss of my wife, and entered a year of hell, caused by scammer Pamela Olsted. I ended the connection two months ago, but the residual effects are ongoing, as I am trying to get my loan refunded by her sister.

From the ashes of a scam, I emerged into a real relationship with my friend, Svitlana, in Didcot, Oxfordshire

There are times when I question my sanity

 Mental Health Concerns

Pamela Olsted

A strange dynamic

I'd be telling lies if I said the last year has been less than horrorific for me, though the the last two months of knowing Svitlana took some of the nastiness away.

In November of 2026, I was approached by a person calling themselves Clara Kent, who "claimed" to live in Bristol.Her name is Pamela Olsted.From the outset, our online chat appeared strained, she would agree with what i was saying, but never continue the conversation. Not long after we began, I had the impression she wasn't in the UK, but I kept the link, hoping she'd prove me wrong, which she didn't. She lives in Pennsylvania in the USA.

Two months ago, I cut ties with her, a few weeks later her sister contacted me to say Pamela was in hospital, and hadn't eaten for weeks. The sister, then said she would pay off the debt Pamela owed me. From the outset, I considered this another scam. After all, her sister had lied to me for months, why would I believe her?

Two months of stress later, I am still waiting for my refund, and I doubt it will come