This is part of an email Jonathan Green received on Wednesday morning:
…The cartoon was the talk of Ten today and I finally got to see it this evening when i got home after spending 24hrs in Sydney… I loved the cartoon to a huge degree I laughed out loud a number of times reading it …The Mr Toad / Colombian drug lord / super villain thing is strangely familiar and also more worrying feels right…
“Quick Warren, Run Away” is a line I WISH I’d said on the show… Sounds like I need to make a surprise visit to the Crikey offices in the next couple of days just to say thanks…and I think it might be fun to give a certain member of your staff a hug!!!…
And thus the stage was set… My Editor Mr Green in his considerable wisdom decided this visit should be a surprise for his brave cartoonist, but not his deputy editor, a Ms Sophie Black.
Accordingly, as part of his cunning plan, his deputy editor was advised to TELL AN ENORMOUS AND HORRIBLE LIE to the cartoonist. A LIE SO ENORMOUS AND HORRIBLE THAT I CANNOT EVEN TELL YOU WHAT IT WAS. However it was sufficiently fiendish to trick me into going to lunch with her while Matt Preston was smuggled into the building.
While having a delicious lunch at the nearby Satay Hut the LIE was compounded again and again. And then the phone rang and we were summoned back to the office “urgently, we can’t finish lunch, it is an emergency…”. I fell for the whole thing hook, line and sinker. Never again Sophie Black, never again.
On returning to the Crikey Offices I was delighted to find no armaggedonesque scenario playing out, indeed quite the opposite, it was Matt Preston! Ha ha.
Things I can tell you about Matt Preston:
- He is very very tall.
- He is very wide as well, but it is appropriate given his very very tallness.
- He is utterly charming. Just like on the telly but more so.
- He is a fan of Warren the Water Buffalo.
- He wears a cravat at all times. (Not completely sure about that)
- He is my new best friend (not completely sure about that either)
Mr Preston went on to fulfill his promise of hugging Sophie (THIS IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT SHE IS A LYING LIAR WHO LIES!!!). He also didn’t know it was me who made “Matt Preston the movie” and I am not sure that when he found out he thought that was a good thing or not. I do know he enjoyed it though. I was going to tell him about how when I made the video that I not only had to watch him eating over and over but also repeatedly taking everything back out of his mouth because I had to rewind every shot and it didn’t even bother me a little bit. But I didn’t mention it. Not sure where I am on the stalker scale at this point.
Anyway, he took a bunch of photos with us and gave us a lesson in “How to be photographed with a celebrity” which was lovely, and then he had to go and so he did. He did not promise to take us to dinner or tell us who won Masterchef. This is because he is a gentleman and that is what gentlemen do.
Afterward I was mocked unkindly by my colleagues for being “too cool” and reserved during the visit. Apparently I was supposed to run around with my underpants on my head squealing or some such. They are uncouth and do not understand me.
Note to Crikey colleagues: I hate complicated surprises, even good ones.
And thus ended the visit.

Sophie, Matt and "The Note"

Excellent cravat shot.

Matt and Eleri
One other thing though, I found out afterward that before Mr Preston came into the office, Sophie was having an email conversation with her sister Emma and telling HER all about it. Emma is entirely mad about Mr Preston and based on her absolutely deranged response to the impending visit she might be my favourite member of the Black family:
From: Sophie
Sent: Thursday, 16 July 2009 11:18 AM
To: Emma
Subject: Re: masterchef
Do NOT forward this.
Why isn’t he heeeeeeeeeeeeeeere? He should be here by now!
From: Emma
Sent: Thursday, 16 July 2009 11:120 AM
To: Sophie
Subject: Re: masterchef
FAK FAK FAK FAK FAK FAK FAK FAK
GREAT HONG KONG FLAVOURS OF PURPLE CRAVAT WEARING POLLERCOASTING RIOTS IN MY MOUTH
THIS IS BULLSHIT.
I WANT MY HUG.
I DREAMED ABOUT THE STRIPED PYJAMA ONESIE WITH CRAVAT…THAT HUG IS MINE!!!!!
selfish.
From: Sophie
To: Emma
Subject: Re: masterchef
But he’s not here! I am going to have to NOT go on holiday and then he may not even turn up. this is TORTURE.
He might mean he’ll hug dog. That might be better. Hugging might be awkward.
From: Emma
To: Sophie
Subject: Re: masterchef
you IDIOT…don’t let DOG have my MY hug!!! i would run and leap and cling like one of those hideous koala broaches.
From: Sophie
To: Emma
Subject: Re: masterchef
Oh I’m going to go all weird. My heart is beaty
From: Emma
To: Sophie
Subject: Re: masterchef
beaty…my legs wont stop doing a chair dance and i’m not even there…do you smell nice…must be prepared for the hug.
From: Sophie
To: Emma
Subject: Re: masterchef
Oymygodhe’sonthephone he’s coming he’s coming
From: Emma
To: Sophie
Subject: Re: masterchef
Holy shit. FILM IT. GET A CAMERA> FILM IT FILM IT
get someone’s phone…INSTANTLY
From: Sophie
To: Emma
Subject: Re: masterchef
I have written the note for him to sign it. stop IT. you are making me more nervous. JG thinks I’m really weird.
From: Emma
To: Sophie
Subject: Re: masterchef
he’s bloody weird if he doesn’t get it…
WEIRDo
i NEEEEEEEED HIS CRAVAT….DOES HE HAVE IT ON….SNATCH IT AND TELL HIM I HAVE A TERMINAL ILLNESS AND ITS MY MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION REQUEST.
i make myself sick. but do it.
From: Sophie
To: Emma
Subject: Re: masterchef
I feel sick I have sweaty palms
From: Emma
To: Sophie
Subject: Re: masterchef
wipe them on your legs…WIPE THEM ON YOUR LEGS…
GET THE NOTE…GET ITTTTTT
I’M BECOMING HYSTERICAL
_________________
I think that says it all.