FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES

We hada VERY important visitor to our offices today - the Minister of Defence from Japan. He's a friend of the chairman of our parent company, and because of this he agreed to pay us a visit.
We were sworn to secrecy beforehand, especially because of the events of recent days, and he was accompanied by around half a dozen members of the Thai Police and Military.
Whilst the Minister was chatting with my boss and some of the invited Thai journalists I went to have a chat with the Military people - all of whom spoke very good English. Two were Colonels and there was a female Major. I spent half an hour chatting to them, and one especially was very keen to know what I, as a foreigner, felt about what has been happening in recent days, week and months. He seemed genuinely interested by what I was saying, so much so that he offered his business card (yes, the army carry business cards) and invited me to dinner sometime soon.
I am going to take him up on this invitation - you never know when having a friend in the army might come in useful.