People say the funniest things (From This Is Local London)

People say the funniest things

1:31pm Sunday 14th December 2008

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It is something we all find it hard to resist, whether we like to admit it or not.

Eavesdropping - be it in pubs, at work, on public transport, is something everyone dabbles in - but for a former Streatham couple, it could be their path to fame and fortune.

Mark Love,44, and Jacqui Saunders, 40, have spent their lives listening in on other people’s conversations, and have now launched a hilarious book of their favourites.

Overheard is the married couple’s personal collection of overheard, recorded, and remembered snippets of off-the record conversation from places as varied as the 137 bus to the local barber’s shop.

Mr Love said: “It is a window on other people’s lives.

“That’s what I like about it.

“Everyone has had to sit there at times in their lives and listen to other people’s conversations thinking ‘what the hell are you like?’ or ‘can I really be hearing this?’.

“Well this is a collection of just those conversations.”

He says the 200 conversations in the book, including several from his time in S Streatham, form an interesting cross-section of life in Britain.

He said: “We see it as social observation - like society caught off guard.”

Mr Love, a freelance writer, first lived in Streatham in Fernwood Avenue in the early 90s, and then again between 1998 and 2000 in Norfolk House Road after meeting Jacqui, an art teacher.

Both had written down conversations before, but after meeting they resolved to turn it into a proper project, that 15 years later culminated in the book being published in November.

The couple now live in Bedford, near Milton Keynes.

Overheard is available from all good bookshops and online. For more information visit www.overheard.weblobe.net/

Overheard

Casanova on the 137
A young Casanova is chattin’ on his mobile, while sitting on a bus.

“I am so glad you called sweet. Yeaaaahh. Girl I ain’t sitting on no bus. I’m here, driving, yeah? Yeah, well you see it soon girl. You gonna come out with me tonight? Cooool.

I’m sooo glad you called yeah? I was thinking ‘bout you... Let’s meet up.

Where? Okay I’ll take you there. Yeah I’ll take you there girl. I won’t bring my wheels if we’ze going there. Thas alright. Thas alright... I’ll be there.

What’s your name girl...? I know what your name is girl, I want you to spell it. Donna. Dana! D-a-n-a yeah? I knew that. I am sooo glad you called yeah? I was thinking ‘bout you.”

The Crunch
A station announcer at West Croydon station, 1991.

“Passengers awaiting the next Victoria train... Ladies and gentlemen, you’re going to love this one. Well, you’re not, but anyway...The reason your next Victoria bound train is running late ladies and gentlemen is apparently due to there being a crisp packet on the line at Carshalton Beeches. Imagine that eh? Gord knows how many tons of brand new passenger train brought to a standstill by a crisp packet.

Just think, ladies and gentlemen, if the Kuwaitis had scattered a couple of dozen Golden Wonder packets in front of Saddam’s tanks, the war might never have ‘appened.”

• What do you think? Tell us funniest or most interesting conversation you've overheard in the comments section below.

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