Anyone seen the Ambassadors on BBC 2. ? 
50 years on the FCO payroll. I would not have changed it.  No automatic telephones/ ladies los a rarity / messengers/ vacuum tubes/ no central heating
Bosses World War II Veterans or at least National Service. 
A life in two parts  -  home and abroad.  Off show and on show.  Sink and chandelier. 
Variety of experiences.  Each being a building block in experience. 
Brevity and clarity of writing.  Merrick & Garel Jones/ Antarctic Treaty. 
At home:
My job in UN Dept.  Office hours. 
Advice to ministers via superiors.  Ministers views to Embassies.  Mackilligin and Anguilla./ Webster.   Sending instructions briefs to UKMIS or Embassy 
Dealing with outsiders: Anti-Slavery/ Gerald Draper/ Parliamentary debates
Attending conferences: Status of Women/ ICRC / UNCTAD
Negotiating : Falklands. Fish.  John Beddington. 
Helping OGDs:  Dumping Waste at Sea Conference.  
All within this marvellous & extraordinary building.  Unfit for purpose?  Inspiring !    Who saved it?  Barbara Castle. 
ABROAD:
Representational   How I learned Japanese.  Work in Chancery. QBP, Duck Netting, Cormoratn fishing.   Real name of game to get to k now movers and shakers. 
Did this often through parties:  Not allowing anyone to reach the Ambassador/  Mr. Baker Kingdom United Bates MPS 
Projecting Britain to others  selling products/ finding agents./ Making movies in the UK.  Seeking out investment.  Tough if things not good at home. : 3 Day week.  Bitten by a bat.   seeing stuff. JAMA Mission. 
Looking after VIP visitors.  Clement Freud.   
LA  and Royals.  Walter Annenberg an Honorary Old Etonian / 21 Chrsitmas cards from the Queen Mother. and Winchester College. 
Last 6 weeks: Princess  Anne and Alexandra, Mo Mowlem, Chris Smith ( Culture) Lord Mayor of London and the Duke of Edinburgh twice. 

"Freedom of Information" . Three harmless words. I look at those words as I write them, and feel like shaking my head till it drops off my shoulders. You idiot. You naive, foolish, irresponsible nincompoop. There is really no description of stupidity, no matter how vivid, that is adequate. I quake at the imbecility of it.   Tony Blair. 
FOI Law.
Data Protection and crooks. 
Royals. 
Princess Margaret. 
20 Year Rule. 

You're not As dull as they told me you were "
