48
one dinner in my life. A trip to the Kiev Opera was an
unforgettable experience.
• Enjoying a dinner in the caves and in the cellars in
Budapest – drinking a few glasses of “Bulls Blood” red
wine and tasting Tokaj white wine, especially those with
six “puttonyas”!
• Cruising the Bosphorus and visiting the beautiful
mosques, temples and palaces in Istanbul.
• Walking around Krakow in 2015 and getting a feel for
the rich and dark history of the city and the country of
Poland.
• In 2014 enjoying a Balinese evening close to the ocean
and getting a real taste of Indonesian hospitality and
food in a beautiful Balinese manor house.
• Feeling the rhythm and vibrancy of the Argentine
tango in Buenos Aires in 1998 and again, on the 10th
anniversary of the AFM, in 2007.
There were also some mysteries along the way and to
this day I am none the wiser as to what really happened:
• I recall applications from officials of certain Chinese
exchanges to attend various conferences, but no one
ever actually turned up. I am not sure if to this day they
are still on their way!
• When returning from various events rather late in
the night, several conference attendees asked to be
dropped off at different locations along the way back
to the hotel. Where they went and how on earth they
made it back to the hotel and looked so bright and
breezy the next morning I do not know (and do not
want to know!)
• Then there was the infamous disappearance of the
late Paul-Andre Jacot’s wallet from within his sock from
within the cupboard in his room in the hotel and the
equally infamous reappearance of the wallet the next
morning after certain authorities had been notified.
Truly, the “Harry Potter” moment of the AFM.
Just a taste of some of the places and experiences that
have provided life long memories to those of us who
had the privilege to attend the annual conferences. Was
it all play and no work? Far from it - as anyone who
attended and participated in the robust, yet down to
earth, debates and discussions that took place at the
conferences will attest to. The sessions organised by the
AFM at the annual Swiss Futures and Options Association
annual conferences were always well attended, attesting
to the high level of professionalism and the high regard
in which the discussions were held across the industry.
Chris Sturgess has paid tribute to Krisztina Kasza in
the preface to this publication and noted the enormous
contribution made by her to the AFM. I can only echo
this and thank Kriszti not only for the work, but for the
manner and spirit in which it was carried out. Nagyon
szépen köszönjük Kriszti.
The AFM has been an important and inspirational part of
my life for over 20 years – long may it continue to provide
the Futures Industry with a platform for discussion, a
place for building relationships and above all, a passion
to pursue!
Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to this
publication and enjoy the 20th anniversary in Argentina.
Roderick Gravelet-Blondin
South Africa
Alan telling Rod why
the Netherlands would
make the final of the
2010 World Cup –
and they did!
