Bertie Ahern sat on the left of Queen Elizabeth at the banquet for the British EU summit in Cardiff Castle last week. Quidnunc is informed that it is not protocol for the participants to disclose their conversation but she has learned that the Taoiseach was impressed by the queen's high degree of detailed knowledge about Ireland.
The menu, however, is not a secret and it has now comes Quidnunc's way. Europe's political elite dined on a salad of asparagus with quail's eggs and pink grapefruit in a butter sauce; saddle of Lyn Saltmarsh lamb with leeks and prunes, Pembroke potatoes and vegetables; Glamorgan strawberries with elderflower ice cream, followed by Welsh cheeses and coffee. The wines were Monnow Valley 1994, Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 1993, Veuve Cliquot Ponsardin 1988 and Warre 1977. elite of Europe consumed a salad of new asparagus with quails quail's eggs and pink grapefruit with a butter sauce; saddle of Lyn Saltmarsh lamb with leeks and prunes; Pembroke potatoes and vegetables; Glamorgan strawberries with elderflower ice cream, followed by Welsh cheeses and coffee. The wines included Monnow Valley 1994, Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 1993, Veuve Cliquot Ponsardin 1988 and Warre 1977. In case the leaders were at a loss for what to say to the nine accompanying spouses, they were provided with the following background notes:
Mrs Lone Dybjaer (58) Denmark, M Sc chemical engineering, currently member of Euro Parliament, minister of the environment 1988-1990. Author - The Information Society 2000.
Mrs Paivi Hertzberg (31) Finland, MA philosophy, school history teacher, journalist Demari and Me Naiset. Vice-chairman of the Environment Committee.
Ms Celia Larkin Ireland. Longtime manager of the constituency office of the Taoiseach. Interested in current affairs and politics.
Mrs Ana Botella de Aznar (45) Spain. Degree in law, specialist in civil administration, has worked at the Ministry of public works and the treasury ministry. Active in Partido Popular.
Mrs Margrithe Kok-Roukema (58) The Netherlands. Trained as a cutter at the Rotterdam School of Dressmaking. Specialised in weaving, has worked with the disadvantaged and since 1994 has been an adviser on craft tests for people with special needs in The Hague.
Mrs Eeva Ahtisaari (55) Finland. MA history, secretary to the city of Espoo (1968-1975) with responsibility for the local museum and culture. Loves opera.
Mrs Daphne Simitis Greece. Studied social psychology at LSE. Was imprisoned during the dictatorship. Worked for husband's legal firm, and organised libraries for children and adolescents. Worked in husband's political office in Piraeus. Mrs Flavia Prodi (51) Italy. Graduated in political sciences and economics - head of economic policies department, Social Services Institute in Reggio Emilia. Involved in practical research and social service provision - lectured on social service administration in Verona and Bologna.
Mrs Annika Persson (47) Sweden. Schoolteacher, course leader, educational consultant. Director of Immigration Service Bureau. Has worked on communities for social services, education and childcare.
(And the Finn doesn't have two spouses. Mrs Hertzberg is married to the prime minister and Mrs Ahtisaari to the president. Both attended. There was no mention of one Ms Cherie Booth. Maybe her achievements were too long for the page.)