He was tall, like basketball-tall and like how people describe in Chinese; skinny and dry. He took to the stage and begun his opening speech. Big words, dramatic pauses and full of enthusiasm. The man was new but not really; he replaced an outgoing gentleman on the board, an Angmoh transferred in from another division. The audience was a raucous gathering of successful cowboys, swashbucklers and fishmongers. You could not find one here who could not tell a tale or two of their gallant exploits out in the field. They were seated in comfy chairs and smiling lazily, the effects of lunch were beginning to set in on most of them. Speaking slowly and simply, the man softened up these tough locals who were renowned to appear passive and indifferent. A simple joke here, a remark there, he succeeded in teasing out obligatory smiles from the crowd. And ......