Biarritz cafe drawings

I started the drawings for my new
Victoria's International Art book
here at a small cafe in Biarritz

Embassy Indonesia

I love this wall of photographs of all the previous Ambassadors..............
The history of Indonesia in one small space
quite enlightening.......and for a student of history like me
really fascinating.....Ambassador Yuri has his photograph on it too..
this was his last meeting with me before he returns to Jakarta...
it was so nice of him to invite me again..........

Indonesian Embassy London

I am unable to resist an invitation from
Yuri Thamrin Indonesian Ambassador

in London...and as he was leaving days later for his
return to Jakarta it was an essential visit
We talked about my visit to Indonesia, and discussed
when I might return..I have some thoughts on the
request which I had some years ago from the
Head of the Indonesian Mission to New Zealand,
who asked me if I would produce the Official
book of his country, following my Malaysia one,
launched on television in Kuala Lumpur on Asian networks, then
shown internationally at The Pacific Asia Travel Association Conference

ASEAN SUMMIT

The last ASEAN Summit was held in Vietnam and this year, most unusually,

two ASEAN Summits were held in Indonesia
one in Jakarta and one in Bali, the last one was attended by the Presidents USA
China, Russia Indonesia the host, and the ASEAN Countries Presidents and Prime Ministers
............and then also The Secretary General of the United Nations........
..................................................................................................................................................................................................
It was truly a world orbiting set of meetings
and a sign of the importance of this area of the world
where I have spent much time as a Governments Advisor
...........

Malaysia Dinner

Ng Yen Yen the Minister of Tourism Malaysia
held a London Dinner

I was pleased to meet there a friend Jimmy Choo
...who, like myself encourages people to visit his home country..
...................................................... I now have 3 home countries as New Zealand also gave me a passport
Malaysia invited me and gave me a special invitation card to that country..
and for a long time I commuted 3 ways
Kuala Lumpur ..London...Auckland...
now that I am almost recovered from the accident in New York I am not sure where is next..
I will have to wait to see which invitation arrives..as I always have..
I have missed 3 Conferences including 2 Summits in Indonesia
very sadly, as I was not allowed to fly..
.first I must launch my International Art book..at Le Cafe Grande..
then see what I might do afterwards

Indonesia Embassy

My first meeting this year with the
Indonesia Embassy..Ambassador Yuri Thamrin has now returned to
Indonesia and I went to say au revoir to him..

......and hopefully we will meet again soon..............

The Charge D'Affairs Herri is with me on this photograph..

he will stay in The United Kingdom longer

Dudley market place

An old map near to market stalls shows us where the Castle is......
as if we cannot see it..from every vantage point around Dudley..
the Castle dominates the view..I often wonder if my ancestors
were there on the battlements hurling things at the marauding hoards..
as Dudley saw many battles..and even though I only know that my ancestors
were here since 1726..I am sure that even long before then we were
part of the landscape, as grandfather and father soldiered in the wars,
it seems likely that their predecessors also did..
maybe one day I should search this
in the Archives..
I had the first knowledge of the history of my family... from the
Chairman of Bowaters ..He had a manuscript shown to me
in Bowater House Knightsbridge on one of my visits to him

.............................................Now as I open my front door I can look up and see the Castle..

I used to visit every week as a child
so know it well.......................................................................