Almost, Hans, almost!

Yesterday was the launch of our project in Georgia. The great and good were there, apart from our minister who was busy doing other things. The First Lady herself came, Sandra Roelofs, (second from the right on the rather dark picture). The launch was a success; we got our points across, other people got their points across...

Hans, I was almost at the First Lady's elbow, when I realised that I did not know how to address her! 'Mrs President' or 'Sandra' - I am told she is very informal! I later heard that she had asked who represented the Dutch company (me!) but was not told that until after all had gone home. Things need to be put into place for this. Apparently she is very interested in our project and all that we do, so there will be other opportunities to pass on your regards!

Mr President, Sir!

Coming out of a supermarket I noticed that the street was fairly quiet, and there were lots of policemen about, all shouting rather excitedly. This looked interesting, and I lingered. Suddenly out of a side street came flying a cavalcade of about 9 cars; at the front and rear a police car, then at either end a four wheel drive with four guys carrying machine guns, then another car, then the president, and one or two other cars with heavy guys in them (they might just have been advisers). So much for approachability then and being a man of the people.

My Dutch friend Hans always tells me to give his regards to Sandra. Sandra is Mrs President and Dutch. Funnily enough, last week Mr President was in the Netherlands (visiting the inlaws?), and Hans' niece served him wine (Georgian wine?).