Quote Originally Posted by Burney View Post
A rude diplomat is surely an oxymoron? You should have asked for your grandad's bike back while you were at it.

Yes, I was worried it might be rather dry, but I rattled through it in no time and was rather sorry when it ended.
Funnily enough, I recently asked a newly-retired extremely high-ranking diplomat whether, at the end of such a long and distinguished career of diplomacy, he had got a little end-of-termish and was tempted to be gratuitously rude to Angela Merkel. He looked puzzled for a moment, for the thought had never occurred to him. Then he absolutely pissed himself Charming fellow.

His others may be worth a look as well, I'd say. https://www.penguin.co.uk/authors/10...and-white.html