Ummm, I remember every 1369 debrief, all of which began with;
'if only you could develop a little more tact'
Says it all really

My career [such as it was] was saved by a boss who remarked that tact and diplomacy were essential when one was junior, but could be dispensed with at a suitably senior level. At this senior level the same traits were seen as "firm", "knows his own mind", "does not suffer fools gladly"..

My ACRs [copies of] show the trend accurately.

After a certain social occasion at an RAF base somewhere in Germany, held just before I was posted back to UK, I remember drinking beer that was being kept cool in a bath full of ice. It must have been rather nice beer because I don't remember much else except that it was a "schooldays" themed party.

I thought no more of it until I returned to said base on a temporary basis, almost two years later. I was advised by a certain pilot (the late GB, who had also been present on said occasion) that it might be a nice thought to give a certain lady who now worked in the PSI shop a peace offering. I quizzed him why but all he would say was: "You'd better ask her, I don't know what you did but she's mentioned your name quite a few times since that party!"

So I bought her a very nice bunch of flowers and delivered them in person. She accepted them but wouldn't discuss my alleged "misdemeanor". To this day I have no idea what I was supposed to have done to upset her. But whatever it was, my wife had also been present and more sober than I, so it can't have been too outrageous! :confused:

oh yes, vividly, but I am sure you were at a quite different event from mine, even in the same time and place :)

I do Bill!

Ralph

I do Bill! and the Coachride back to Cottesmore....

Ralph

Dinner with my English Boss and five Japanese senior managers. He liked to order the best Rioja, unfortunately I like to drink it.
At some point during the inevitable joke round, I decided to up the ante and told the most appalling joke, that I won't repeat.
As the tumbleweed rolled past, I knew I'd cocked this up big time. The following day he let me know what he thought of me and parked it there. I reckon in today's climate I'd have been sacked.
Hopefully I learned about diplomacy from that.

Was Joe Sevright OIC your coach?