COFI # 5

The OECD Committee for Fisheries meeting is the only time I:

- drink coffee
- drink coffee followed by coke
- don't feel like falling asleep after lunch

My 5th and penultimate COFI meeting is over and I still have not really found my place there. I am too low in the hierarchy to be useful to most people and too high to be asked where the photocopier is. Nevertheless, I learn much from the big boys - both in stature and status, and anyway, my diplomatic vocabulary continues to expand:

"X (insert country name) would like to suggest that it is in the best interest of the Committee to undertake a project on aquaculture"
translation: there is absolutely no way we are backing down on this.

"X (insert same country name) would like to support the project on aquaculture"
translation: We are going to plan, organise, host AND pay for everyone to make sure we get our way.

"X (insert country name) may have to insist on this point"
translation: I have backing from my capital and you know it, so back off.

"Thank you very much for that highly interesting and useful presentation. However..."
translation: we hate your paper but we like to be polite.

"This requires further thought"
translation: you are a total fool and living in a fantasy world.

tessa-belle's auntie and grandaddy

me and my daddy at Tessa-belle's dedication.

Blondie

The world almost lost a blonde today. I had safely transferred Sabrina from our house to the front steps of her work via my scooter, from one side of Paris to the other, through the middle of cars, in rush-hour, with her almost-broken ankle sticking out to the side, and feeling rather pleased with myself I stopped concentrating for just a second and almost got taken out.

The truck had pulled to the right but only as he swung without looking to the left did it click why the gap had suddenly opened in front of me. Unlike many other drivers, I think he did actually indicate but his 'body language' was in such opposition to his 'words' that I scootled up his inside without thinking. It all happened so fast but I definitely remember adjusting my upper body on the scooter in a reaction aimed to help me avoid him. In the end, I think it was more the rapid flicking of my wrist to accelerate that saved the day.