Call me a fuddy-duddy, but I think that appearances matter.

When one walks into a shop or office or home, what is the first impression? Smart, tidy, clean premises? People looking intelligent and interested to see you? A sense of good order?

The grand former Federation Palace building in New Belgrade was once a bustling centre of Socialist Self-Management, with countless self-important self-managers from across Yugoslavia having hundreds of totally pointless meetings aimed at furthering Titoist Brotherhood and Unity, enjoying a nice day or two away from their dull offices in the republican capitals and lesser centres of the country.

This building is now a Mausoleum to Socialist Self-Delusion, vast echoing spaces, weeds sprouting from the car-parks and few visible signs of life. Outside it is ugly and impersonal. Yet inside it has a cool Commie-Retro Sixties style, with some great paintings and many unchanged period details (elegant door-knobs, low chairs and tables with spindly legs and so on).

As Ambassador to Belgrade I would go there now and then to meet FRY President Kostunica, as he then was.

Outside his office I could not but notice an erratic row of electric plug sockets low in the wall, installed by a blind and possibly intoxicated Balkan electrician unfamiliar with the technology of either ruler or spirit-level.

Eventually I cracked, and politely pointed out to his protocol team that this poor finish in such a key position in this fine and important building did not look very good to senior visitors. They warmly agreed with me, and said that they would fix the problem asap.

On my next visit they showed me a large plant-pot and plant, placed carefully in front of the sockets so as (mostly) to conceal the disarray. "You see, we have taken your advice and solved that problem at least!" they beamed.