Jim Culleton

We worried that people might expect something a bit more risque than we were actually delivering.

In Etanagar, we had a lovely young man as our guide.

He welcomed me by addressing me as Sir Jim.

I told him there was no need to call me Sir, that Jim was fine.

But he asked me please to allow him call me Sir as a mark of his respect and happiness that I had visited his region.

So I agreed, of course, not wanting to seem ungrateful.

His English was fantastic, but it was his third language, so there was the odd slip-up, understandably.

So for 24 hours I was not addressed as Sir, but as Madam.

Would Madam Jim like to come this way, please?

Did Madam Jim sleep well?

Would Madam Jim like a cup of tea?

I thought this was very endearing.

But then I saw his friend call him aside and the poor man started shaking his head in horror.

He came over and apologised.

I reassured him there was nothing to be sorry about.

He was worried he had offended me.

I reassured him that I wasn't offended in the slightest.

We got over this and then he was back to calling me sir again although there was a moment later in the day when he said sir, madam, oh dear I'm confused and he asked me which it was.

I found myself saying it's sir Jim actually and I thought if anyone overhears me correcting him it must sound like I've lost the run of myself completely.

We were all very moved by the respect we were shown and the time taken to welcome us at airports with banners and gifts and songs.