So, I got called to a business lunch at fifteen minutes’ notice. The Deputy Prime Minister of country X had been told to look me up while he was in Brussels so he invited me to lunch, somewhat to the annoyance of his hosts. He and I then huddled at one end of the table, muttering conspiratorially to each other in German (our best mutual language as it turned out) while his aides and bodyguards trapped our hosts (who actually were German) at the other end. But it was a very useful conversation.
Then a reception in the evening. the deputy head of one of the other embassies told me she’d been busy because of the arrical of her ambassador. “Oh!” I exclaimed in delight, “You have a new ambassador then?” No, she explained, it was just that the old one had been on holiday and had just come back. But, she whispered, he actually is going to be replaced – but he doesn’t know that yet! (The deputy head of mission and her foreign minister are from one political faction; the ambassador from another, thanks to the delicate power-sharing arrangement in their country. He is also not very good at his job.)
And my boss is back after three weeks travelling. Things will pick up around the office now…
Three years below us – 1989-92. I don'[t know which college though.