Watching the World Cup Final two weeks ago with my son, I was a little surprised to find my son-in-law, not usually noted for his devotion to sport, take at least an intermittent interest in the proceedings. Insofar as I thought about the matter, I put it down to an innate sense of occasion on Guillaume's part.
You poor, innocent fool! I later learnt that he had a business meeting in the Netherlands the following day and that his chances of success would depend to some extent on the result of the match. I now understand why he was so eager to condone the often vicious play of the Dutch!
Barnaby, a riveting, at least for me, BBC interview; thought you might be interested.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p008p34g
"President Sarkozy's official interpreter Amanda Galsworthy has sat at the top table of international politics for nearly three decades, but her name has hardly ever appeared in print. It is part of her job to know everything, but to tell no one. Amanda Galsworthy has been the official interpreter for three French Presidents, Francois Mitterand, Jacques Chirac and now Nicolas Sarkozy. She talks to Owen Bennett-Jones about some of the extraordinary situations she's found herself in as the President's mouthpiece."
Including the diplomat who, innocently, called the Netherlands Ambassador the Neanderthal Ambassador.
She's recently written a book about her experiences.
Cheers, lesle
Many, many thanks lesle. I shall make a point of listening to it. It's just the sort of programme I'm interested and I shall make sure my friends know about it.
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