Unforgettables 2009
– Attending my first meeting of the Advisory Board for the Arctic Centre in Rovaniemi and hearing the Russian representative say “We must conserve this place; one day it may be our last refuge”
It was that experience that put climate change at the top of my list of professional priorities
– Working in Saudi Arabia; they had a water list instead of a wine list; I never saw anything but the eyes of a key colleague and could never be in a room alone with her, but it was still possible to become good friends.
I never been to a stranger country, and I found many aspects of its treatment of women abhorrent, but I still came away feeling that King Faisal had quite unintentionally re-enforced my conviction that individuals are invariably stronger than systems, however oppressive
– Holding my new granddaughter Emily
It was partly because she fell asleep. It’s more usual for babies I hold to behave like they have been handed to a bear
– Learning to enjoy haggling with Turkish carpet sellers, although the lessons were expensive
I think the Actor got the better of the Scotsman. I was transformed from a wallet hugger to an
apple tea fuelled spendthrift
– Discovering that even though he is 89, I still can’t beat my father at golf
His idea of a good shot is one that flies as straight as an arrow, mine is one that stays within the confines of the driving range
– Loving the freedom of not working for an Institution. It seems that I had served my time…
It’s been a great year, although it took me a while to stop thinking that every day was a Sunday and being surprised when all the shops were open
