It was a meeting between old friends -- one with his future secure, the other not so sure.

When President Bill Clinton and Bermuda's US Consul General Robert Farmer met each other recently, they chatted about golf, among other things.

But did Mr. Farmer's future in Bermuda come up for discussion? Yesterday he was not letting on.

"You know I can't repeat private conversations I had with the President,'' he told The Royal Gazette .

"I told him stories about Bermuda and how much I enjoyed being here. I said Bermuda and its people were wonderful.'' He added: "We spoke about a lot of things, and he told me about his golf game with Greg Norman. I can't really tell you much more than that.'' Speculation has been rife over Mr. Farmer's future since Clinton easily toppled Republican hopeful Bob Dole in the recent United States presidential election.

Mr. Farmer, who was appointed by Clinton, has stated he would be happy to stay in Bermuda, if asked to do so.

A former campaign fund-raiser for Clinton, he moved two years ago into the Consul's official Paget residence Chelston, whose future is uncertain.

The property is likely to be examined by a special committee formed in America to examine the possible closure of State Department properties.

Mr. Farmer met up with Clinton when he went from Washington to Philadelphia recently to watch the Navy take on the Army in one of American football's most eagerly-awaited confrontations.

The occasion was attended by admirals and other military chiefs.

Although Mr. Farmer was keeping more or less mum over his chat with Clinton, he did say he was going nowhere in a hurry.

"I'm still here. I'm not packing and I'm planning to enjoy the July 4 celebrations.'' Mr. Farmer was yesterday remaining similarly tight-lipped over a conference of ambassadors he attended last month in Miami.

It was attended by ambassadors from the Caribbean and South America. Also present were American political VIPs.

"I was glad I was there. I think Bermuda shares the same sorts of issues of the Caribbean in terms of drug enforcement, economics and money laundering. We talked about a lot of issues.'' Mr. Farmer was reluctant, however, to say much more.

"They were private meetings and no press were present. I can't really talk about the details of what was discussed.''