Imeldific or what?

Bizarre things keep happening to us here in the Philippines - the Crucifixions in Pampanga being an excellent example of course. Last night I was given a small orange dolphin (plastic) massager by Imelda Marcos, with a picture of the good lady herself on its head! Yes- she married to former dictator deposed by the peoples revolution. (see picture)

She was guest speaker at a dinner held by the Business Leaders Forum here in the Philippines - A posh dinner do at a fancy hotel. Imelda arrived with minders and her whole photo collection in tow - the photos, all of her with country leaders, where installed in a side room where we could view her former friends in high places. She was supposed to speak for 20 minutes but we were treated to a whole hour of the world according to Imelda , the great things she and her hubby had achieved and her best friends - Mao, Castro, Qaddafi, Brezhnev,Saddam Hussein, Norriego the list was endless with many characters one wouldn't ususally be keen to associate oneself with . There were stories of giving advice to leaders with her philosophy that "everything is beautiful if u think beautiful thoughts". Her dear departed husband was misunderstood - he loved his people and country and was cruelly maligned by the press!! She then went on to answer questions for another half hour - most people's concentration was straying by this time but the ample provisions of wine and a great 4 course meal kept everyone in good spirits - despite much whispering and nudging amongst the guests no one asked her about THE SHOES! This interview published in the Philippine Business post earlier this year covered much the same ground http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/04172007/perspective01.html Read it to get her very individual take on events of the last 73 years!

Her final gesture was to give each and everyone of us our own massager which she hoped would calm us and remind us of her! If this was not incredulous enough, to open the box and see her photo on the creature's head was just surreal!

Suggested caption for the picture of me and her? "What" she says "You mean people aren't grateful for the way we ran our beloved country????????

Durng dinner a stready stream of texts where coming in from the gang at Glastonbury who were in the Theatre field - The performance I was being treated to was similar to a Glasto theatre field experience!! Something you watch but not quite sure you are actually seeing. I think they should book Imelda for the Sunday night headline next year! Move over Shirley Bassey. Just imagine 1000's of orange dolphins being waved in the air...............................