George and Amal having dinner at Da Ivo in Venice

Way2Old4Dis wrote:(1) It looks like a new hoodie, at least.

(2) This is starting to feel more and more like the 'drop anything you're doing and come with me' aspect of George's old relationships.

Re number 2)-- I hope not. I think she will resent it if that's the path she takes. She is too accomplished not to keep forging her own career --even if it evolves to fit their schedule as a couple.

A lot of posters seem to be worried George is dancing to her tune. I don't see if myself and don't believe the stories about selling houses and dieting. She is a woman in love with an older , richer and famous man. Most likely he calls most of the shots.

fava you just agreed with Way2 point #2. :-)

if George is calling the shots, then it's the same as all his other relationships.

In the photos with others, he looks tired or strained.  Or was it the vino?

It's George after all. He needs to lead. But whether or not she'll listen to him it's a different story. haha

Way2Old4Dis wrote:(1) It looks like a new hoodie, at least.

(2) This is starting to feel more and more like the 'drop anything you're doing and come with me' aspect of George's old relationships.

I could have said that! Et alors? Never mind we all know LOL

Carla97 wrote:

Way2Old4Dis wrote:(1) It looks like a new hoodie, at least.

(2) This is starting to feel more and more like the 'drop anything you're doing and come with me' aspect of George's old relationships.

I could have said that! Et alors? Never mind we all know LOL

Of course you could have. Anybody could say anything.

But I did say it. I don't get your comment, though. Please enlighten me. (I know what "Et alors" means, so I don't need a translation; just an explanation.)

I think that was just her roundabout way of agreeing with you, W2O4D.

Yep, this is starting to look like all his other relationships.

Still, I can't help but be happy to see some pictures of George after a George-free week.

Always happy to see pics of George -

From appearances it does look like Amal is dropping everything to fly around the globe with him, but I think its more like I have a few days off why not go join my fiancée!.

Oh baby. Ya hooooo

{George is the fiancé. Amal is the fiancée.}

Look, if she still has the time off, fine. But we know she has the panel to prepare for, at the least. I'm assuming there are some wheels turning somewhere in other cases, even if she doesn't have to be in court. Sure, she can work out of the office, while traveling. But this is clearly not the woman who was too busy to give George Clooney the time of day. They can't sell that bill of goods anymore.

When I see George get comfortable in his lady's home (vs them staying at his homes when with him, while he stays in a hotel when on her turf), and not need the other couples or crowds or fancy getaways, it will look more like real love to me.

This looks like the Clooney Treatment, with a ring.

Way2 agree. He rarely if ever seems to stay with them, they stay with him at one of his homes or in hotels.

Yep, so agree. This looks so much like all of his previous relationships, doesn't it?

Which brings up a question that's been bugging me for a long time. I think most of us are familiar with my (oft-repeated) opinion that George hasn't looked particularly happy out in public with any of his girlfriends for the past 12+ years (since Celine, basically). Yes, of course there are happy snaps with George and every ex, but these are the minority of pictures and outnumbered by the pictures where they look like they're strangers to each other or just had a screaming row.

So, are we right to assume - as we mostly have - that those relationships have not been happy for him and that once again he's in a relationship that's making him unhappy, or should we accept that this is simply how he looks and behaves with a woman he cares about? That, no matter what we think, this is how a functional, happy relationship looks to George Clooney?

I think the photos from the beginning of his relationship with Amal showed a genuine attraction, the infatuation with her 'different' qualities and elements of unique 'beauty.' But now that she has (seemingly) become very much like the previous conquests, we get the characteristic Clooney interaction -- she has a role to play in his life, and as long as she does it, he's content.

But to answer your question more specifically, I don't think George really knows what a functional, happy relationship means, for him. He's seen them with his friends and parents, but hasn't learned it for himself. There is no way to be happy in a relationship without being happy outside of one. And I think George knows how to bring the happy to everything in his life except his romantic relationships. So I don't think the relationships make him unhappy; they just highlight how difficult it is for him to be happy.

i just dont get all this talk about unhappy relationships, how can a handfull of pictures suddenly mean im not happy, im bored or whatever, the man is getting married, if he doesnt do pda in public - who cares, seriously there are times i get so frustrated when i see the analysis of each relationship and think what a load of nonsense, no one here knows these two people and you have no idea whatsoever what goes on behind closed doors. they could as soon as the door is shut be ripping each others clothes off and spending the next 5 hours in bed, you just dont know.

Yep! Overanalysis of some two-minute pap shots now making somebody a bunch of money......

Where is this money being made? I want my cut.

All going to the sentinel project.

To play devil's advocate, he DID fly to her in London and take her somewhere I assume she wanted to go (I don't really picture George snuggling up with a cup of tea and chuckling at the Dowager Countess' antics on a Sunday night), which is unusual for him. And I believe it was said over at Celebitchy that Amal's mother lives with her, so maybe the two of them moved to a hotel suite to avoid the "three's a crowd" situation, especially when making up for a week apart, ahem. AND the article with the pictures says they were eating at 11:45 p.m., which boggles my mind but may explain the overall look of tiredness from both of them.

That said, maybe he is starting to fall back into old patterns. It was different when they were both working in London, and she had lots of time off, but now that she's getting back into the swing of work and he's setting up shop in Como...it's getting harder. He may have to decide if he wants free and easy or meaningful and challenging. Frankly, she doesn't look entirely thrilled in those pictures, and there might be a "This isn't what I signed up for," feeling for her as well.

Thank you ladies for expressing what I've felt ( and been a little reluctant to express) since the engagement. It doesn't feel right. She is the busy barrister, yet was with him in Washington, Cabo, NY, safari, etc, and now Italy. Yes, some was vacation, everyone is entitled to time off. But, IMO, it's always felt as if she dropped everything early on to be a Clooney Gal, and in this particular case.. it worked. But with the new rumor that he is interested in politics, are we now seeing the "arrangement"? My brain is beginning to fry. But, whatever his plan, reasons, good luck to them. If it's an arrangement, I'm sure it has been thought out well.

I'm not really sure anything has been thought out well. Seems all a bit rushed to me. I keep coming back to the comment made (think it was Lainey's site where I first saw it, but it has been mentioned elsewhere) where Nick supposedly cautioned George that he shouldn't 'trifle' with this one (meaning Amal), that doing so would damage her both personally and professionally. I wonder if George has looked around at his married friends and his parents, taken his father's words of wisdom to heart, and figured the best thing to do was to ask her to marry him. Not sure they've had enough time to really get to know one another yet or think beyond the next few months.

On the plus side, over the next few months, she'll be subjected to movie-star-level scrutiny (like the pics in the restaurant window) at every turn. If she can handle that with grace, anything else should be a cakewalk.

He does seem to be falling into his old patterns--what 53 year old man doesn't? I think it is very hard to change entirely, even when he has stronger feelings for this woman. He has aspects of his life he likes and does not want to change.

If I was engaged to him not sure I would be so happy to visit the haunts he visited with other women, but I guess with George you would have to get over that because there are so many previous women you would have to accept his past and move on.

To that regard fava, there are plenty of ghosts at all of his homes, bedroom must be really crowded. Hey movie buffs, help me on this one...there is an old movie (possibly Julia Roberts), takes place at a gathering of women when the lead actress shouts to those in the room "has anyone NOT slept with my boyfriend?" Anyone else remember the film?

Steel Magnolias? Or more Sex in the City?


Duffy, I remember the Lainey article, and the way it was phrased it was as tho his folks and Amal had met up on numerous occasions and talked human rights. Made me wonder if they had met her before him at another event, and they'd told him about her...........

Something to Talk About. Julia Roberts, with Dennis Quaid as the extremely sociable lady husband.

Thanks. It would have kept me up tonight.

Not sure PAN, guess you could take it any which way. To me, it seemed like after Cabo, his parents might have left with the impression that she was quite different from his other girlfriends and that he should think about treating her very differently so as not to have her name dragged through the mud like all the others. I think the deliberate 'unveiling' of the relationship/engagement has been very calculated and done with the intent to protect Amal as much as possible from the internet/media vitriol. Can't blame him at all for that. I'm just hoping that all intentions are true, and that this engagement/wedding is what they want, not just something that everyone else wants/expects for them.

Ah yes, with Kyra Sedgwick who played the sister who knees Dennis Quaid.

But we've digressed. Any more thoughts on how much the pap made for these pictures of George and Amal having dinner in Venice?

What could they have eaten? What was the wine I wonder? (Notice I didn't say WHINE). And what does Gio really think of having dinner with the boss man and his fiance? Hmm?

See how I dragged this puppy right back on target? Katie would be sooooo pleased!

Done my mod duties for the day off to the flicks!
Tata folks!

extremely sociable lady

... That would be "S--L--U--T"

Another point of view regarding photos... did the paps have to pay George a stippen to take them (if he did call them to leak his location). After all, getting good shots of them together have been rare, and would bring $$$ in the selling. As pointed out, no exiting restaurant photos. They got the window seats opportunity then split.

Gio ..cool dude, goes with the flow. Has hung out with Sarah and Elisabetta and many others. He's good with it.

Sorry for going off topic again:

Missa wrote: To play devil's advocate, he DID fly to her in London and take her somewhere I assume she wanted to go (I don't really picture George snuggling up with a cup of tea and chuckling at the Dowager Countess' antics on a Sunday night)

It was denied that they went to Highclere castle, which, fair enough, may or may not be true (by which I mean maybe they did go but didn't like the publicity so denied it, or perhaps the denial was true and they didn't go). While George was filming MM it was mentioned that he liked Downton Abbey and said so to Hugh Bonneville. Of course, that could have been so much guff to make a co star feel comfortable.

Missa wrote:And I believe it was said over at Celebitchy that Amal's mother lives with her

Incorrectly, I think. Amal's mother's friend says she always stays over at what used to be Amal's room so I'm pretty sure she lives in her own place.

Does any of this make sense to anyone? Denials, counter denials, leaks from a source for the Daily Mail. Ouch. Just get married already and be done with it. Sorry, don't mean to sound like a bitch, but this story is getting more bizarre as the days go by. So unlike George, whether he has suddenly grown up or not. And yet, I'm following it as much as the next person. Go figure.

Duffy wrote:I'm not really sure anything has been thought out well. Seems all a bit rushed to me. I keep coming back to the comment made (think it was Lainey's site where I first saw it, but it has been mentioned elsewhere) where Nick supposedly cautioned George that he shouldn't 'trifle' with this one (meaning Amal), that doing so would damage her both personally and professionally. I wonder if George has looked around at his married friends and his parents, taken his father's words of wisdom to heart, and figured the best thing to do was to ask her to marry him. Not sure they've had enough time to really get to know one another yet or think beyond the next few months.

On the plus side, over the next few months, she'll be subjected to movie-star-level scrutiny (like the pics in the restaurant window) at every turn. If she can handle that with grace, anything else should be a cakewalk.

Maybe he meant it in a different way, as in get out.
His poor Mother may have been "dazed and confused" by the news, she thought she had met her a year ago, nice lady was in shock! and said some inappropriate stuff about former GF, possibly again not meant the way it came out, maybe the reverse of how it all sounded. Shock does that to you.  

Nina  does not do shocked.  She is well versed in speaking to the press, posing for photos with any of his girlfriends and giving a well rehearsed "look of approval" .
I am quite confident  she and Nick always know what to say, who to say it to ( in this case, anyone in the press) and how to say it.  Even the alleged digs to former GFs.

fava wrote:He does seem to be falling into his old patterns--what 53 year old man doesn't?  I think it is very hard to change entirely, even when he has stronger feelings for this woman.  He has aspects of his life he likes and does not want to change.

If I was engaged to him not sure I would be so happy to visit the haunts he visited with other women, but I guess with George you would have to get over that because there are so many previous women you would have to accept his past and move on.

Regardless of the fact that it is "George Clooney", I think it would be very tough to handle the fact that he has had such a public parade of women, along with the private ones, to not have trouble with it, even if you keep that locked up deep inside. Some of your self-respect must be compromised.

fava wrote:He does seem to be falling into his old patterns--what 53 year old man doesn't?  I think it is very hard to change entirely, even when he has stronger feelings for this woman.  He has aspects of his life he likes and does not want to change.

If I was engaged to him not sure I would be so happy to visit the haunts he visited with other women, but I guess with George you would have to get over that because there are so many previous women you would have to accept his past and move on.

They'd have to move to the North Pole to avoid that, and even then, I bet Mrs. Claus would be like, "Yeah, I hit that."   

HaHaHaHaHaHa!!!

..........a young or very well preserved Mrs Claus of course........


there has to have been a degree of acceptance tho.

Because after all she was the one he proposed to!

This topic has gone to hell and the north pole and back. I give up!

Nice pictures.

Hell, hhhmmm, if Satan has a woman perhaps George has been there as well.

Sorry, the devil made me do it!   

LornaDoone wrote:This topic has gone to hell and the north pole and back.  I give up!

Nice pictures.

They ALL do any more...

Well they had a lovely dinner .   

Ive read many articles stating that Amal looks like an older version of Anne Hathaway. Anne must be thrilled!

playfuldeb wrote:Ive read many articles stating that Amal looks like an older version of Anne Hathaway. Anne must be thrilled!

Ouch! for Amal at the "older Anne Hathaway." I think she is not that many years older (4?)

I've moved the posts about Amal's parents possibly being her role model for an open marriage to this new thread: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]