A couple of years ago I snapped this photograph of my parents and their friends in the central square of
Monpazier. Half an hour beforehand a most wonderful
faux pas occurred.
A week earlier an ex-pat Englishman, the photojournalist
Michael Delahunty snapped a
photograph of me and my nephews. Michael and his wife Anni became dear friends, but they hadn't known us for very long when Alex and Lockie came to stay.
When they arrived Lockie wanted to stretch his legs, so he and I went for a walk around the square where we encountered Michael.
"Gidday!" exclaimed Michael, affecting a Kiwi accent and vernacular. "How'ya doin', cobbers!"
"Your Excellency, allow me to introduce Michael Delahunty the photojournalist" I intoned formally. "Michael, this is
Sir Alexander Smith, our ambassador to the
Court of St. James."
It would be fair to say this wasn't the greeting Michael expected from two Kiwi jokers wearing t-shirts and jandals.
"G'day Michael, nice to meet you" said Lockie, ever the diplomat.
Addendum: (no less formidable in 1972.)
