25th April 2024
Reflect & Remember: Anzac Day 2024
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
23rd April 2024
Good English – A Key to Panama’s Future Success
21st March 2024
Forests in focus on International Day of Forests
20th December 2012 Athens, Greece
From January 2009 to January 2013: Continuity and Change in the British Embassy, Athens
In January 2009, the then newly-arrived Ambassador, Dr David Landsman, OBE walked into my room, accompanied by our then Political Counsellor, for a brief discussion about my work. Upon leaving, he asked “what is the single area of work that you think will be most important in the period ahead?” I replied “migration”. I think […]
Read more on From January 2009 to January 2013: Continuity and Change in the British Embassy, Athens | Reply (1)
20th December 2012 Beirut, Lebanon
Lebanon 2012: Running to Stand Still
Each year, many ambassadors send Ministers a review of trends in their country, and thoughts on what lies ahead. To share the more candid elements would be a bit of digital transparency too far, but here is a redacted version of what I have just sent. You can read the rest when it is released […]
Read more on Lebanon 2012: Running to Stand Still | Reply (4)
19th December 2012 USA
Scotland – it never ceases to surprise me
I should confess that while I am not Scottish I would quite fancy being Scottish for a while. The Scots, like the Irish, are renowned for being people who love to live life to the fullest. They produce God’s finest water (Scottish whiskys are seeing their exports to the US and most others markets rocket […]
Read more on Scotland – it never ceases to surprise me | Reply
19th December 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
2012: 12 Highlights
This is my last blog of the year. Many thanks to all of you for taking the time to read my ramblings. Herewith twelve personal highlights from a fascinating, fun and fast-moving year in Sweden: January saw the first of many Ministerial visits this year. Lord Green, our Business Minister came for a big meeting […]
19th December 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Remembering the Holocaust
70 years ago, Europe was the scenario for an unprecedented and horrific experiment: the systematic effort to exterminate an entire race. On 17 December, Foreign Secretary William Hague marked the 70th anniversary of a declaration by the Allies denouncing the barbarous and inhumane treatment of Jews in Nazi-occupied Europe – “the bestial policy of cold-blooded […]
19th December 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Guide to applying for UK Business Visitor Visas
I recently wrote a blog about how to apply for Priority Business Visas. I’m pleased to say that UK Trade and Investment, supported by the UK Border Agency, have published an excellent guide to applying for a UK Business Visitor Visa in Turkey. It sets out five easy steps to apply for a visa; background on long-term […]
Read more on Guide to applying for UK Business Visitor Visas | Reply
19th December 2012 London, UK
Consular Christmas blogs: An alternative Christmas in Goa
The end of the year is a fun time to be in Goa. The festive season starts with the Hindu festivals of Ganesh Chaturthi and Diwali, then you have the various church feasts that honour the patron saints of each village. In December, Roman Catholics celebrate the feast of St. Francis Xavier, the patron saint […]
Read more on Consular Christmas blogs: An alternative Christmas in Goa | Reply
19th December 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Promoting LGBT Rights in Turkey Through KAOS
A guest blog by Peter Spoor, Head Press and Projects Team at the British Embassy in Ankara, Turkey KAOS GL is a small but perfectly formed Turkish organisation which is seeking to overturn prejudice in Turkey on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LBGT) issues. KAOS’ aim is to ensure that the country’s LGBT citizens can […]
Read more on Promoting LGBT Rights in Turkey Through KAOS | Reply (1)
18th December 2012 Vancouver, Canada
Walls and Windmills
There’s a Chinese proverb that says: “When the wind of change blows, some build walls while others build windmills.” It reminds me of Darwin’s theory which states that it is the best adapted of the species that survives. Every change to the context of our existence provides an opportunity to flourish or the potential to […]
18th December 2012 New Delhi, India
SINners best bits of 2012
Keeping in line with the many ‘highlights of the year’ lists that are released during December we thought we would do a ‘best bits of 2012’ blog. It has been a busy year with a huge number of visits facilitated, workshops run, events attended and collaborations formed. My highlight has been getting the opportunity to […]