Recent flash events have tended to occur around this same time of day, in between the close of US markets and the start of Asian trading. It was also early in the new year and a public holiday in Japan.
Everyone who had the privilege to accompany you on your travels hails your tact, your ability to instinctively read a conversation the right way, and your gift for bringing people together. And you were out and about so often that I am sorely tempted to reword in your honour a witticism originally directed at the former German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher.