Knowing the bureaucratic mind-set, and reluctant to take the run-around, I demanded they fix it. But concern mounted after an hour passed.

When does rudeness become necessary . . . or will they just ignore you as an arrogant foreigner?

The attendant disappeared and didn't reappear. At one point there were seven well-groomed employees loitering . . . but no-one fixing the problem. Eventually I bought another ticket . . . but then their system resisted issuing two reservations in the same name!

With little time to spare and notorious bureaucracy to navigate, I began to despair.

Then an attractive ground staff member effortlessly picked my bag up and sprinted through the airport. I kept up with her . . . though my colleague struggled. But we made the flight.

20-23 June, Bogota, Colombia A warm welcome from the Colombian authorities. Colombia is dynamic and transformed: security remains tight, but with a smiling face. Your documents are required to visit sensitive buildings but receptionists accepted my passport number in lieu.

You can walk around Bogota centre without worries. Officials are efficient, pro-business and fairly straight.

We once worked with a seismic operator, who had been lifted by leftists. He was under death sentence but convinced them he was Australian, and negotiated his life for future supplies. They celebrated with moonshine, after which he awoke alone with a hangover and hitch-hiked to town. Two days later the company lawyer bailed him out of the 'local cat-house'. But they honoured the deal and had no further problems.

Paramilitaries have since receded into the jungles, their grievances dulled by economic growth. There are few absolute goodies or baddies in civil disputes.

Outsiders tend to take sides, simplifying complex problems. But you can get on with anyone.

Irish people are again popular: no visas are necessary and the coolest place in town is 'an phub Gaelach', with the menu as Gaeilge. Past tensions over the Colombia Three are seen as an anomaly provoked by an er, 'commercial attache' at the British Embassy.

When arriving at immigration, a young lady noted that I had ticked the 'business' box, and said "you're a tourist!" "No, I'm on business, " I replied. "I think you're a tourist, " she smiled, waving me through. Thirty minutes later, my Bolivian colleague "nally emerged . . . having being interrogated about his business, and invitation letters demanded.

Never ignore local suggestions.

25 June, Staisiun na bPiarsach, Co BAC It's no longer rare to see aliens on the train. I'd also heard about the craze for nefarious woodland activities of enthusiasts in animal suits. But it was still odd to see a furry pink alien board the DART at Pearse Street Station, accompanied by an apologetic photographer from FM 104. The alien posed for photos with unfazed commuters. One senior citizen declined an invitation explaining that she was getting off at the next stop.

Did the stunt boost listenership or advertising figures? The future of advertising is entertaining, preferably interactive measures.

30 June, 'Marian Finucane Show', Dublin 4 Marian is the consummate professional. Her quick diplomacy correcting oversights only worsens your embarrassment! Ideally, you comment on subjects you know. But discussions go in unpredictable directions and you can be caught short if you missed a story . . .or just had too much to drink the previous night.

You get more airtime when there are no professional politicians. There's a hierarchy on panels: ministers come first. People consider even waf"e 'presidential'. The opposition must get equal time, which crowds everyone else out. You can challenge men but be careful with women and minorities.

Attacks on acknowledged 'experts' are hazardous; they can bamboozle you with detail and are more credible.

People defer to your supposed expertise.

But that makes it harder to keep an open mind.

Unchallenged, you become lazy.

The more nuanced your position, the harder to speak in sound-bites. Ideally, understand the detail and summarise simply. To communicate, you must tell a story.

Panels tend to move towards consensus . . .you need to ask yourself "am I really convinced?" Yet if you challenge the accepted wisdom, you may be dismissed as a crank!