Every man and his dog was expecting the provisional final election result tonight – less a few disputes, ballot boxes from remote locations etc. But no, it didn’t seem to happen. I put it down to “Timor Time”.

In “Timor Time”, 10am usually means 10:15am or even 10:30am or perhaps tomorrow. After a while, you don’t let it worry you. You run with it.

So it was probably a slow news day for the highly paid international correspondent hoping to get the money shot of the candidate claiming victory, the exclusive interview with the victor etc. etc. blah blah. Get used to it boys. FOS certainly has !!

I must admit to being unimpressed with the casualness of the reporting of vote count numbers. Official vote numbers and numbers from observer groups (Fretilin and Comeg) all mixed in together and no-one ever seems to state the RELEASE TIME of the figures and WHO released them.

Early in my work career, I worked for a guy (lets call him Don as his name was Donald) who beat me around the head and shoulders for not specifying units of measurement, sources of information and dates of release of information. I never regarded his behaviour as anal, but it has imparted an over-exuberant retentive streak on my approach to numbers and their use to prove whatever point it is one is trying to make.

In a nutshell, at the moment, I haven’t a clue which number means what, where they came from and who provided it. So wine tonight, results tomorrow.

Postscript : It rained most of today and I had an appointment this afternoon with a Timorese guy at 2pm. I was a little late (which I usually never am) but I did’nt let it worry me, assuming that 5 or 10 minutes late would be no problem whatsoever. The main task was to collect something and I would have liked to thank Jaquelino. I arrived at 2:10pm, assuming “Timor Time” was in effect. Goods in a sealed plastic bag left on desk – in plastic for my benefit because it was raining. Jaquelino gone – couldn’t wait. Case proven.