We all woke up early a few hours to see the horrifying death toll in the Philippines. A reminder of the power of nature. The resilience of the people is humbling. And the impressive speed at which NGOs and Aid Agencies – including DfID – have moved is impressive and will save many lives.
We’re currently sitting on the tarmac waiting for their Royal Highnesses arrival in an a/c van. The flight is on time and wheels-up. The carcade – a new word for me – looks stunning if lonely. The team is raring to go. Thus far, they look pretty calm and confident. So either they’re on top of it all or they’re handling the tension better than me. It’s been said a million times, but the waiting is the hardest part.
The appetite of the Kerala press to learn more about the visit is extraordinary. At a press conference this morning with Paul Sellers, British Council Director for South India and Group Captain Andrew McCaulay the New Delhi based Navy and Air Adviser, we had around 40 media organisations against the 10 or so we’d hoped for. Some great questions about what promises to be a great visit.