Yakking for Argyll

The funniest thing in the fantastically thoroughly stage-managed finale at the Beiing Olympics came as the platform party left the central podium, after handing over the Olympic flag for London 2012 to Boris Johnson, Mayor of London. Symmetry ruled. The party left in pairs. The shaggy humourist stuck both hands in his pockets. This looked untidy against the perfect arrangement of everything else. The Mayor of Beijing, walking beside him to his left, noticed, thought - and acted. You’ve never seen anything so smooth, so fast-witted, so naturally diplomatic - so successful. He gently put his own hand on Boris’s back, all fraternal warmth. Boris had to take his own left hand out of his near pocket to reciprocate. One down. Then - immediately, with a flourish of brotherhood, the Chinese guy thrust his own left hand out across Boris’s body, offering a big, celebratory handshake. Well, what could Boris do? Out of the pocket came his right hand to complete the gesture. Job done. No sense of criticism, No request or instruction. Just the silkiest piece of manipulation ever. If you recorded the closing ceremony, Fast Back and have a look.