Estonian media, hearts and minds have been dominated recently by the death of former, and first, President Lennart Meri.

I must confess my ignorance that I had never heard of the man until his death.

I feel proud that I was in Kadriorg yesterday for the ‘goodbye’ ceremony.

I have grown to love this country and it is now obvious to me that Lennart Meri was a key reason for Estonia’s freedom and spectacular pace of development.

I get the feeling from the Estonians that Lennart Meri will continue to be an inspiration and that there will never be a President quite as good as him again.

Lennart Meri also seemed to be fun, not just a great leader/thinker/humanitarian.

I particularly liked the stories of his moments of anti-protocol. His smiling, occasionally mischievous-looking, eyes say a lot to me.

Normally I do not have much time for nationalists and nationalism ( I think of myself as a Global citizen) but when someone is so passionately nationalist – and in such a charming and eloquent way it makes me wonder.

Goodbye Mr Meri, Hello Mr Meri….it’s time for me to learn more about you..