It also means expecting the unexpected, like, perhaps, a terrifying guttural roar directly outside your tent, a lion so close you can hear his soft feet padding the dust just beyond the canvas.

BBC: The Serengeti in the off-season

As for the British ambassador, the soft-spoken Sir Stephen Wall, he is close to John Major--but for the past two years this has often seemed something of a disadvantage.

ECONOMIST: The power-house

So, while there has yet to be any concrete evidence that the economy is actually losing steam right now, with lots of people talking about another soft patch, we will want to pay particularly close attention to the upcoming data such as the ISM reports, the jobs numbers, and the commentary from corporations when they report earnings.

FORBES: Some Investors Concerned We Could Be Entering Another Soft Patch