This morning I walked by Ivan Jakovčić, the governor of Istria, right in the center of Zagreb. I kept mum. Hours later, I am still mulling over the best insult.

Addendum (August 24, 2017)

The insult that is still with me after so many years is the popular salute to Benito Mussolini, the fascist leader of Italy between the two world wars: Evviva il Duce. The salute came to my mind as soon as I spotted Jakovčić’s pudgy face, but I bit my tongue just before pronouncing it with gusto. And I am annoyed with myself to this day for my compunction. For the former governor of Istria surely deserves the insult. What is more, he would understand it perfectly, as would anyone else from the peninsula that he held under his thumb for a couple of decades. Alas, the best I can do at this stage is to write it all down! My only solace, as ever.