GEORGIO & THE SANDWICH MAN

"There's a lot of content, I'm telling ya!"

Okay. I'll confess. I couldn't help myself. Last night I watched another one of Georgio's 'lives' when I had every intention of having another crack at Tarkovsky's 1979 masterpiece Stalker. I doubt the Soviet Russian film director would be too impressed with my viewing habits of late but heigh ho, you can't please the cinematic Gods all the time.

Besides, who knew Thursday nights could be so much fun in central London as you watch vicariously through the phone camera of a TikTok host. I always thought the weekend started from midday on a Friday in the city but clearly Thursday nights are the new starting gun for end of week chaos.

Initially finding McDonalds too packed to carry out a con with a discarded order ticket, I had the distinct sense that Georgio was learning how to pace himself with last night's stream. That's the kind of wisdom one only learns from experience.

Georgio had been providing decent content most of the night, politely harassing innocent members of the public (is that an oxymoron?) whilst trying to steer clear of  fellow streamer, Alan, who threatened to stymie his solo vibe with his own stream. I remember in Ghostbusters they warned about crossing the streams. Well I guess the same rules apply in the fast moving world of social media content providers.

"Guys. Alan wants in on tonight's stream but I prefer doing these lives alone. It's annoying when you can hear the other guy talking on his stream. "

Interrupting some kind of old school reunion in a pub and being literally fanned away by some drunken middle aged woman who seemed to think that Georgio was the internet equivalent of a parasite, it wasn't until a heavy set looking guy who apparently had cameoed on Horrible Histories stepped in that Georgio dispersed in pursuit of less aggressive engagement with his subjects.

A strange man outside a bar suggested that Georgio couldn't afford the striped sailor-style t shirt he was wearing even though it looked distinctly like something heavily discounted at Primark. Not long after that a group of policemen interrogated Georgio about his motives regarding his live stream which resulted in a friendly warning, the equivalent of a wagging finger telling off.

"Guys. Someone called the Fed on us."

Probably the fan lady.

The more I watch of Georgio, the more I think he might be a good representative to rebrand London which is currently regarded as being in a terminal state of decline  by the rest of the country.

If ever they were to give an honoury key to the city, or at the very least central London, then surely they should give it to Georgio who does more to promote the nightlife of London than any online/offline publication or magazine could ever do.

"Guys. The best free water in town is at Five Guys. It's so refreshing."

In the current age of a 'cost of living crisis', Georgio provides welcome tips on how to stay hydrated in the city without incurring any expense. In this sense there appears some genuine virtue to his live streams, as if he's genuinely looking out for the well being of his viewership.

How kind.

And one more thing. If I were to create a new, actually effective, police force out on the London streets I might just employ a tonne of a live streamers like Georgio to keep an eye on stuff going down with the "yoots".

Perhaps these live streamers could be like the valiant knights of old.

But then again, not even King Arthur had to contend with a nemesis as threatening as the Sandwich Man.

"This is a violent bus."

Upon boarding his night bus back home, Georgio headed upstairs only to find confronted by a wide eyed Grecian looking man with glasses who immediately starting filming him with his iPhone.

"It's you!"

As end of level baddies go, Sandwich Man is pretty peak. He sure seems hell bent on bringing Georgio down at any cost.

"Oh man. This is stress."

Initially running downstairs from the immediate threat of his middle aged nemesis, Georgio scoped the bus from below to see what the big man upstairs was up to. It turned out Sandwich Man had his phone teetering and covertly filming from up above on the edge of the barrier surround of the tight winding steps as if he was entrapping a major international criminal for the FBI.

"I don't need this guys. I don't need Sandwich Man on my night bus from now on."

But if there's one thing I have to give Georgio credit for it's facing adverse situations head on.

Scurrying back upstairs on the bus, the streamer suddenly asserted his claim on his territory like a entitled landowner.

"Don't be so aggressive, mate! You're being nasty."

Having the moral tables turned on him Sandwich Man surprised all of us viewers by suddenly disappearing downstairs, seemingly happier to maintain his presence on the lower deck. Perhaps he thought it was easier to keep his enemy up top like a rat in the roof.

"That's so weird. Did you see that, guys? That's a massive W!"

Chilling with the remaining night travellers, Georgio interviewed some fairly relaxed Latvian guy who seemed curious about the streamer's motives and social media accounts.

Georgio however was more interested in what the guy felt about his avowed enemy downstairs.

"What do you think about that guy? Sandwich Man? He's done this before you know? He threw a sandwich and poured some Pepsi on me. I reckon he's lost his mind."

It's quite posssible that Sandwich Man has lost his mind. Georgio appears to have the ability to test most people's sanity, especially at the end of a long day in the city. I'd be fascinated to see what a middle aged Georgio on a night bus would look like. Would he still be live streaming? How would he handle a young provocateur such as himself? One hopes he would still have his cheery optimism of youth and not be tarnished with the weariness of age. Only time will tell, I guess.

But if there's one thing that defies all laws of reality, it is that Georgio hasn't yet been taken out by one of the many people he's provoked the ire of.

Perhaps in his video game version of reality, he sees it all as being like that of Grand Theft Auto where you have to make your way through life without getting taken out.

"Guys. We got serious beef on this bus. Everyone hates me."

But do they really?

I think in the battle of wills, Georgio might just bring everyone round to his way of thinking in the end.

Even the Sandwich Man!