Is it wrong to be just a little bit excited that last week I was ordered to “move aside” by one of US President Barack Obama’s Secret Service fellers?

I know those men have probably been trained to kill with their little finger, but as I surreptitiously tried to take a photo of the guy who I had upset, I couldn’t help but think being told off by the Secret Service is just a little bit cool.

I read the other day that TWO HUNDRED special agents accompanied the Obamas on their recent trip, and while most of them were no doubt charged with keeping an eye on the big feller, there was clearly no lack of security when the First Lady rolled into Oxford last week.

The long motorcade of black vehicles, helicopters buzzing overhead and all the people posted around Christ Church with machine guns made it clear no-one would get near the First Lady without the highest level of identity checks and strictest of security passes.

Well, no-one except myself and my other colleagues from Jack FM. Clutching our letter of invite from the White House, we arrived early as directed to have our bags searched and were deemed worthy to be in Mrs Obama’s presence.

Only one problem though, they had run out of official passes. But ‘not to worry’, said the lady wearing the White House badge ‘you should be okay’.

“As in, hopefully the men with the guns won’t shoot us?” I asked. Giving me that ‘don’t be over-dramatic’ look she directed us to the next checkpoint, where of course we could get no further.

After a 20-minute wait accompanied by three burly security men with ear-pieces (a clear sign they were important), we were allowed to enter the Great Hall to see Mrs Obama.

To set the scene, imagine 200 photographers, reporters and cameramen all elbowing each other for the best view of the First Lady. Then imagine me with my entry-level digital camera. I was clearly out of place, but other than getting a few stares I was tolerated... until I did something I now realise was pretty stupid.

Having taken my official photos I couldn’t resist holding up my iPhone to take some for my Facebook page.

Well, quicker than you can say ‘wonder what that bulge in his jacket is’ one of the guys demanded to see my security pass. The... one... I... didn’t... have.

As I started to bluster a response, out of his mouth came the magical words “Move aside ma’am!”. This was closely followed by an order to “back away ma’am”.

If I hadn’t been so scared by his tone I would have laughed. It was like being in a Hollywood movie, only the guns contained real bullets.

I’m not really all that au fait with White House protocol, but for future reference someone taking pictures on their iPhone in the middle of an international press pack officially rates about a Defcon 5.