Within seconds, he'd proudly called up a map, locating every shot. No argument, our journey was sketched out, Kleve and Nijmegen could be distinguished. "Err, it means they know exactly where we've been; how long we stayed; what we looked at." "Yes, but it saves us having to make notes about our photos!"

It shifted my growing unease into a kind of controlled terror. What better proof of the truly delusional Faustian bargain we've been suckered into?  In exchange for the ephemeral status of the latest device, we've traded our secrets.

What gets me is the overweening self-righteousness that so often accompanies loads of money. The owners of the stuff strutting and preening around as though they have a right to so much of it. And to do what they like with it.

My argument is simple (but far from simplistic) -- they are just lucky. Think about it!

The manufacturing and shipping process was mind-blowing.  I ordered them from the UK for delivery in Amsterdam and could not believe the initial track and trace that started in Foshan City. After a hop to Guangzhou, the rest of the route was almost as unexpected.

It's the third example of real globalisation thrust at me in the last few months. I'm still trying to work out the implications.

With a group of Lebanese journalists from pretty well all the communities, we examined ways forward that had worked for others.  We looked at peace-building in Northern Ireland; and found where the cracks had just been papered over.  We considered consensus democracy in The Netherlands and realised it was breaking down.

I'm still trying to come to terms with what we uncovered.

The first step was sensible -- two-thirds into low-fee index-tracker funds, using a kind of massaged averaging technique, buying more when I thought the price was low. Not only has this brought peace of mind, but also rather good profits.

Stage two, where I would demonstrate my money-making talent, is where things fell apart. Or perhaps I've just been unlucky!!

It would indeed be strange if it wasn't true, as I've chosen to spend most of the last twenty years in the Middle East, initially working and now living there for much of the time. Nevertheless I can still feel uncomfortable; shocked even.  And also disturbed by the naivety and wishful-thinking that colours many of our attitudes here towards the region and the people. There are two touchstone issues; women and drink!