Having been initiated in the rigors of visa applications at the US Embassy it was a pleasant contrast to trot along Piccadilly to The Japanese Embassy. No appointment is required, taking in Eve and my mobile phone was no problem. There was barely a queue and Pro Yakyu (Japanese Baseball) was showing to pass the time. It was all very civilized.

I then found out I should have taken along a special delivery envelope, then that I hadn’t signed the form and latterly that they’d quoted me half the correct fee – so I ended up passing through security three times over two days with Graeme stumping up the difference in fee after that, so Eve and I got to know the place quite well. During this extended engagement I came to consider the Japanese flag to be quite excellent, in fact potentially – my current favourite flag. Maybe I should join this hilarious conversation.