I get up at 5:30

Russet mantle clad

to catch a plane to Tokyo.

The flight magazine is all in Japanese but there is an article about Islay – of course.

Check: https://quietripple.wordpress.com/2012/02/12/et-encore/

I mention this to the flight attendant and ask if there is an English version. She shakes her head. Just before arrival, she sits down beside me and begins to write laboriously. This is what she wrote

Aira

I don’t know – the Japanese are just very nice people.

We had a Press Conference at the Cabinet Office.

You do not have to wear a tie after May in Japan

We go to a hole in the ground bar with journos post press conference. They have all the Islay whiskies. We drink Caol Ila.

I fly home.