1 November 2000

Have I been having close encounters of the four legged kind or what!! In the case of the first encounter, formerly fourlegged. Innocently I went into the local boulangerie and the baker's wife called me back stage. Once there they proudly showed me a black plastic bag with something poking out of the top. Horrors, it was the hind leg of a wild boar. They were most excited and insisted it should be awakening primeval instincts in me. No chance I rushed out at top speed. Scary.

Happily sweeter moments were round the corner with the arrival in my cyber post bag of mail from Zoomkitty from LA, who has design connections and will be creating a cape or collar. Once the designs are through and the fittings finished, I will model them in the first Mutt cyber catwalk show.

By the way I have now taken to calling my new feline fan, Zoom. This brings back fab memories of the song Zoom by the great Fat Larry's Band. "And my heart went boom. Suddenly we were on the moon" Oh the lyrics!

26 October 2000

The go ahead dog that I am it does not surprise me totally but I was one of the first to discover singing Billy the Bass in France. At the Deauville Festival I crooned along with the fab fish to Don't Worry Be Happy. And I can carry a tune. This may seem old news but it happens that no lesser a personage that HM Queen Elizabeth has taken to doing the same thing!
Setting the trend for her Majesty. Is a knighthood around the corner?

14 th May

"My first Cannes and I am hitting the ground running as hound on la Croisette for Channel 4's Big Breakfast. I have pop into parties and met a pretty happening crowd including Calista Lockheart, thats Ally McBeal to you and I. Sat on the beach with a couple of friends I suddenly had this urge to start burrowing under her chair. She gave me a pretty funny look.
Next I crossed the path of Greg Kinnear and Renee Zellweger in the lobby of
the Majestic hotel. They were speeding off to a live TV show but still had time to stop for a cuddle. "Oh you're so cute" cooed Renee. I think Jim Carrey (her other half) should be told!
Having got the handle on festival mechanics and recorded my first Big Breakfast piece I am now readying myself for a whirl of a week which will be brought to you in my Cannes scrapebook...coming to a website near you very soonest.
lots of riviera love, Mutley XXXXX."

1st April

As the furry face of film, the Paris Film Festival was a draw for me and I, a draw for some of the stars, notably Christian Slater who invited me a personal audience in his suite at the Hotel Plaza Athenee.
Two sets of knees knocking I greeted Christian as he entered the lobby, a little late for our appointment as he had been rehearsing the awards ceremony. As a fellow pro I told him from experience, these things happen.
And it was straight into the lift and up to the beautifully appointed suite.
Chatting about his time in Paris, I told him I had seen him unveiling plaque on the Champs Elysees Walk Of Fame the day before. He could tell I was a fan. After expressing my admiration for his past triumphs, notably Name of the Rose (was he going scottish under the cassock?????), Broken Arrow with the blessed John T and, more recently, blackest of comedies Very Bad Things, we got down to the snap.

I hopped up and made myself comfortable, but not the case for Christian who shrilled "Aagh! My nuts". My plonging efforts to move over only made matters worse. Well, at least he has just celebrated his first born......the family line is assured.
While Christian and I were chatting his agent David Unger flipped through the book of my press cuttings and there was a definite smile and, as we left presented his card. Hollywood, here we come!

Mark Ravenhill
My meeting the famous and talented is normally one big love-in. Not so with playwright Mark Ravenhill. With rather sadistic joy he informed me that he cut against stereotype and was a gay man who didn't love dogs. Tolerated I was, OK, but there was not the usual electricity.
This was despite the fact that I praised to the skies his play Shopping and Fucking, (reservations about the name of course in consideration of my older and more respectable fan base) though I had never seen it, and went over board about his show staged for the first time in Paris, Some Explicit Polaroids - I attended, Opening Night no less.
Fair enough Mr Ravenhill did agree to be photographed with me, but on the express condition he was in a distainful pose. Being the trooper I am, and in the interests of the site, I lay down and took the insult. Admitedly it was a shameful play for the sympathy vote...

25th March
Joyous tidings for your furry face of fashion, I have been featured in the personality page of tres tendance Paris glossy Numero. Not only does the photo caption describe this very site as chien chic I am sandwiched between Sigourney Weaver and Tom Ford. It feels like I am sizzling in the limelight. Steady

24th March
For the first time in a while I went back to Champagne which you’ll know if from where I hail.Talking hail and weather of the inclement nature this area of Champagne was blasted by the scary Christmas storm. Soizy aux Bois was hard hit as was Oyes where I stayed. You’ll note that the weather cock on the church was askew but I nonetheless relaxed in the midst of the fallen trees and slates to go for a swim in the village pond. Finally I had a moment to ponder the chances of pt anderson for the Oscars as I stood in the front of the Magnolia in the garden. Good luck Paul and remember me to Janet ...... sniff sniff.

March 9th 1999
Out for a dinner at the Belle Epoque Train Bleu at the Gare de Lyon, a train station brasserie, when I bump into Mick Jagger on the very next banquette! Fame seems to follow me. Even stranger an old friend on the Jagger table,Hardy, came over to say ‘Hi’ leading to the inevitable introduction. ‘How you doing Mutley?’ said the legend.
Furry face of film, fashion and fame I may be, but I slightly fluffed my intro to Jagger. `Hello Mike’ I said only to be kindly corrected ‘It’s Mick actually’.
Come to my Emotional Rescue! I think I blew my chances of him recording Jumpin’ Mutt Flash