Birthday 2012 my bouquet

Basically I relaxed ..had a very nice lunch with

others..opened cards ... simple things which are so nice and important

..what a change for me now from the permanent travel around the world

...........and how very much I enjoy it............

Kuala Lumpur visit

When I stayed in Kuala Lumpur last time
there were so many new things which I had
not seen when I lived there..

.....one was to live out of town ..to go to small streetside
restaurants which were not so busy.....
unlike the ones in centre city which I was used to visiting...

I had the long commute out of the city...........
even London traffic did not feel to be so bad
after these journeys.............
however the destination a quiet secluded street..
peaceful evenings when I was at home..
seemed to compensate for the journeys..
this was such an evening
.............. with my hosts...........

Embassy of Indonesia

My last meeting with Yuri, Ambassador to Indonesia before he returned
to Jakarta..we talked about my new book, which I will start working
on again soon..the next time it will be with his replacement...
the new Ambassador, soon to be in residence in London....I enjoyed the Indonesia

Evening at Harrods earlier.... meeting old friends is always pleasant... and the Store

used to sell my Drawings books ..so I have a special interest there too

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
...........