when i want your opinion, i'll tell it to you

i was told that people wouldn't want to talk to me in london. that strangers on the tube would lift their paper, rather than make eye-contact with me. sadly, it's not true. they all want to talk to me.

a man in camden tries very hard to get me to come into his shop:
him: try on a hat! i have many nice hats!
*i try on some hats, seeing that he will not be discouraged*
him: oh, you are so beautiful!
me: *more than a hint of sarcasm* wow, you know all the right things to say, don't you?
him: oh, you really are beautiful. you have such a great smile.
me: umm... thanks
him: you look so great in that hat
me: ermm... yeah, i'm not so sure
him: we should have a drink sometime
me: *trying to leave the store and becoming increasingly scared* umm... i'll think about it
him: where are you going?
me: i have to meet my friend
him: oh they can wait.
me: *seeing that i am not going to escape* umm... i have to go now, but i'll come back if i decide to go out with you
him: oh, but i'm not here all the time. just give me your number
me: umm... no, i don't think so. i really have to go *runs out of the stall as fast as i can*

at a coat stall, i go to try on a coat:
me: umm... how about this coat? can i try it on?
him: yes, of course. you are very beautiful, this coat will look great.
*i am wary after the last experience, so i say nothing. i take my jacket off so that i can try on the coat*
him: whoa! you have a nice.... size.
me: *gives him a look* i'm sorry?
him: you have a nice size.
in hindsight, it seems obvious that he was referring to my rack, but at the time i was just in shock. hey, i'm naive. needless to say, i didn't buy the coat

yesterday i was wandering around the streets of angel and happened to be wearing my beret:
him: hey, her beret is better than mine!
me: *looks around to see the other beret. it is pink. it is crap.*
him: hey, can i get a photo
me: umm... okay, sure.
him: *puts his arm around me whilst his friend takes a photo*
me: *laughs at strangeness of this situation*
him: *lifts his leg up across me for a better photo*
me: uhh... is that enough
him: no, one more. lift your leg up
me: *lifts leg*
him: picks me up off the ground for the picture
me: *wearing a short skirt and is quite sure that the whole of angel just got a very good look at my knickers*