ONLY time for a quick post today, but I did notice plans for an intriguing new building due to be built nearby. Next to the national sport centre by Uzvaras Parks (which sounds more impressive than it is) a couple of notices on the railings give details of a new administrative block for ‘Riga Football and Chess School.’ This is a combination that surely can only be found in Latvia.

I’d be interested to learn if there is any crossover in the curriculum at this school. Surely the only sight more pitiful than a group of gawky budding Grand Masters trying to beat the offside trap would be the sight of a couple of strapping Inside Halves wresting with a Sicilian defence?

THIS is a bit off-message, but I thought I should let everyone share in a tremendous business opportunity that has just been revealed to me.

Completely out of the blue, I have been contacted by that well-known billionnaire oil magnate by the name of Sir Collins E. Paul. The old duffer is on his last legs, it seems and despite wealth beyond the dreams of Croesus he appears never to have thought of visiting a financial adviser. Maybe that’s the secret of his success?

Anyway, his email to me was erroneously identified as spam, but luckily I spotted it in time. I’ll be happy to pass on the contact details to anyone else who wants to borrow a few million (for charitable purposes)…

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INSTEAD of simply writing about what’s happening, today I find myself in the novel position of reading other people writing about what I’ve been writing about.

My story asking about the levels and types of corruption present in Latvia was picked up by Business Week. As soon as BW print the word ‘Latvia’, computers across the country evidently light up.

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