Separated at birth

I've never been slow to comment on how different my brother and I are. Our paths have been very different indeed. And physically we are about as different as you can get...he is tall, powerfully built with straight dark hair and dark skin... I, on the other hand, spent most of my young life with blonde curly hair, and was so slight that if I turned side ways I could slip between the floor boards; height wise I am about 5'8"...which is just about average I am told. I think Grandma in Cyprus picked up the wrong baby at the hospital - although whether it is my brother or me, I have no idea.

So it is worrying that my friends have started to point to an uncanny resmblence between me and ex-Russian President Vladimir Putin. What do you think?

I'm the one without the comb-over if you were wondering.




The matter has been the subject of much debate over the last few days because we are off to Russia: Moscow and St Petersburg - for a holiday at the beginning of April. And as someone who studied Soviet politics at University, I am expected to provide the expert commentary. Evidently. I have pointed out repeatedly that within a matter of months after I left the hallowed corridors of education, the Soviet Union ceased to be, so nobody should expect me to be back Kremlin watching. But that doesn't wash evidently, so I must dig out a few bluffers guides and hope that I can get away with it. Or perhaps my long-lost sibling will meet and greet us all at the airport....