CINEMALAYO

It's that most independent time of the year

This being my last year at the Consulate, a highly-regarded documentary filmmaker was hired to capture all the behind-the-scenes action

That's a wrap.  The sharp-eyed easter-egg hunters out there will have figured out that my monologue was actually a line reading of the remarks of the Department's Big Boss -- yes, the same one who had been Waiting for Memo

As the movie critics might say, I didn't just get the memo...I brought the pages to life

an indie film years in the making

AMBASSADOR OF THE SPORT

The FIFA Women's World Cup organizers scheduled a briefing for the Diplomatic Corps of the COUNTRIES THAT QUALIFIED and it was a thrill and an honor to attend on behalf of A COUNTRY THAT QUALIFIED although I wasn't a Head of Mission like the other attendees nor a veteran of past Cups and all group stage opponents were side-eyeing each other so I had to play it cool throughout the open forum  

I just introduced myself as Trent Crimm The Independent

And what's this? All the cool merch meant for the Head of Mission is handed on to moi? Score!

look, the ball has a tracking chip inside so VAR can confirm I am clearly onside and it was the Secretary General herself who passed it to me WE SHALL NOT QUESTION FIFA REFEREEING DECISIONS

LET'S CHECK IN AGAIN ON THE FOREIGN OFFICE TRAVEL ADVISORY SECTION'S PUBLIC DIPLOMACY, SHALL WE?

At first, when they went with straight textual advice, I thought they would need some diplomatic show of support, judging by the ever-reasonable comments section...   

 these were the kinder ones

The solution, of course, was to win the audience over with respect and humility.  And memes. 

And Star Wars. Public service Star Wars always works.

This is the way.

DEADPAN DIPLOMATS

I mean, the fact that all this April foolery came from some of the most straight senior serious secretaries of the department make them hit that much harder...

Even the official travel advisory section of the Australian foreign office got in on the action

And if you're wondering if moi did anything for the occasion, let's just say quiet cool cosplay is more my style 

Guzmandalorians. This is the way.

JUST AHOPPING ALONG

an AHOP Round-op, if you will

* Acting "Madam"/Actual LLDD-Hyphen-L has Morning Tea at the Governor's House with the Sydney Consular Corps spouses, as one does

* Pay respects at Victory in the Pacific ceremony, as one should

* Judge some Balagtasan and Barong, some dance and some 'dobo, because Buwan ng Wika

* Join Southeast Asian missions in Sydney Lord Mayor's reception (but fail to get consensus on the ASEAN arm-link thing)

* And 10 years and 10,000 miles apart, I continue to have More Fun on the wrong side of Her Majesty's roads

an AHOP never forgets where he came from