Danae Dholakia
@danaedholakia.bsky.social
British Deputy Ambassador in Moscow. Formerly Beijing, Pretoria, Brussels, National Security, Prosperity, Climate, Health, Inclusion.
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Danae Dholakia
@danaedholakia.bsky.social
· Nov 17
I can’t at all claim to be a dab hand at starter packs - but here’s a fledgling one for Diplo-Bluesky. I hope to expand considerably very soon - with your help!
go.bsky.app/LFoxg2C
go.bsky.app/LFoxg2C
Marking 80 years since VE Day at the Tower of London
May 8, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Marking 80 years since VE Day at the Tower of London
Reposted by Danae Dholakia
Just finishing off this wonderful domestic history of the Victorian Foreign Office.
Never have I read a book more deserving of being made into a period TV drama.
In case Netflix are reading, some thoughts on the first couple of episodes:
Never have I read a book more deserving of being made into a period TV drama.
In case Netflix are reading, some thoughts on the first couple of episodes:
February 16, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Just finishing off this wonderful domestic history of the Victorian Foreign Office.
Never have I read a book more deserving of being made into a period TV drama.
In case Netflix are reading, some thoughts on the first couple of episodes:
Never have I read a book more deserving of being made into a period TV drama.
In case Netflix are reading, some thoughts on the first couple of episodes:
Reposted by Danae Dholakia
“Some who have read the book, or at any rate have reviewed it, have found it boring, absurd, or contemptible; and I have no cause to complain, since I have similar opinions of their works, or of the kinds of writing that they evidently prefer.”
- Tolkien
(forward to LOTR)
- Tolkien
(forward to LOTR)
January 26, 2025 at 9:38 PM
“Some who have read the book, or at any rate have reviewed it, have found it boring, absurd, or contemptible; and I have no cause to complain, since I have similar opinions of their works, or of the kinds of writing that they evidently prefer.”
- Tolkien
(forward to LOTR)
- Tolkien
(forward to LOTR)
Reposted by Danae Dholakia
“A frightful day in which everyone lays hand on every box they can find, crams into it all the worst and most complicated files, and throws them at my head”
From the diaries of Foreign Office Permanent Under-Secretary Sir Alexander Cadogan, 84 years ago today.
From the diaries of Foreign Office Permanent Under-Secretary Sir Alexander Cadogan, 84 years ago today.
January 18, 2025 at 4:00 AM
“A frightful day in which everyone lays hand on every box they can find, crams into it all the worst and most complicated files, and throws them at my head”
From the diaries of Foreign Office Permanent Under-Secretary Sir Alexander Cadogan, 84 years ago today.
From the diaries of Foreign Office Permanent Under-Secretary Sir Alexander Cadogan, 84 years ago today.
Reposted by Danae Dholakia
Delivery guy on a break
#Beijing #streetphotography #monochrome
#blackandwhite #photography #China #blacknwhite
#streetphoto #bnw #blackandwhitephotography #bnw_zone
#Beijing #streetphotography #monochrome
#blackandwhite #photography #China #blacknwhite
#streetphoto #bnw #blackandwhitephotography #bnw_zone
January 19, 2025 at 5:00 AM
If you’re interested in diplomacy, you might like the thread below - not only my modest Brit Dips starter pack, but all the others I’ve found so far. If you’re in diplomacy and not in the below lists, please do reply with your details or starter pack. #BlueskyDiplomacy
I can’t at all claim to be a dab hand at starter packs - but here’s a fledgling one for Diplo-Bluesky. I hope to expand considerably very soon - with your help!
go.bsky.app/LFoxg2C
go.bsky.app/LFoxg2C
January 15, 2025 at 8:02 AM
If you’re interested in diplomacy, you might like the thread below - not only my modest Brit Dips starter pack, but all the others I’ve found so far. If you’re in diplomacy and not in the below lists, please do reply with your details or starter pack. #BlueskyDiplomacy
Reposted by Danae Dholakia
Utagawa Hiroshige, 'New Year's Eve Foxfires at the Changing Tree, Ōji,' ca. 1857
December 30, 2024 at 10:25 PM
Utagawa Hiroshige, 'New Year's Eve Foxfires at the Changing Tree, Ōji,' ca. 1857
A very Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!
December 25, 2024 at 11:03 AM
A very Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!
British Diplomats often stand lost in the beauty and significance of Holbein’s Ambassadors (which is handily just down the road from our HQ). This brilliant thread explains it 👇
Thanks @davidclay.bsky.social for drawing my attention to it
Thanks @davidclay.bsky.social for drawing my attention to it
I don't see many long threads on here, but I'll try one - it's about Holbein's Ambassadors, his 1533 masterpiece in the National Gallery. It's often presented as a great mystery, but I think once we understand the circumstances in which it was made, its meaning becomes clearer.
1/
1/
December 18, 2024 at 8:27 AM
British Diplomats often stand lost in the beauty and significance of Holbein’s Ambassadors (which is handily just down the road from our HQ). This brilliant thread explains it 👇
Thanks @davidclay.bsky.social for drawing my attention to it
Thanks @davidclay.bsky.social for drawing my attention to it
One of the great joys of a life in diplomacy is the opportunity to learn languages. Although I wouldn’t describe myself as a naturally gifted linguist, I’m currently deep into studying my seventh and though it might be helpful to share what I find useful (and get some tips in return!)
December 13, 2024 at 9:45 AM
One of the great joys of a life in diplomacy is the opportunity to learn languages. Although I wouldn’t describe myself as a naturally gifted linguist, I’m currently deep into studying my seventh and though it might be helpful to share what I find useful (and get some tips in return!)
Reposted by Danae Dholakia
1/2 Maud Chadburn (L) & Eleanor Colley-Davies were among first women to train as surgeons. They worked at New Hospital for Women in Euston Rd then raised funds to open a hospital solely for women & children. In 1912 the small South London Hospital for Women was opened on Clapham Common Southside …
December 13, 2024 at 8:06 AM
1/2 Maud Chadburn (L) & Eleanor Colley-Davies were among first women to train as surgeons. They worked at New Hospital for Women in Euston Rd then raised funds to open a hospital solely for women & children. In 1912 the small South London Hospital for Women was opened on Clapham Common Southside …
Reposted by Danae Dholakia
NEW RECORD: 2024 is the first year in history when wind, solar and hydropower generated more electricity than fossil fuels in the UK.
December 10, 2024 at 8:10 AM
NEW RECORD: 2024 is the first year in history when wind, solar and hydropower generated more electricity than fossil fuels in the UK.
Hope for a better future in #Syria isn’t enough. Am pleased that 🇬🇧 is increasing humanitarian aid for the people of Syria by £11m to help the @UN and NGOs meet the needs of the most vulnerable. An estimated 370,000 people have been displaced by recent events.
➡️ gov.uk/government/new…
➡️ gov.uk/government/new…
December 10, 2024 at 8:40 AM
Hope for a better future in #Syria isn’t enough. Am pleased that 🇬🇧 is increasing humanitarian aid for the people of Syria by £11m to help the @UN and NGOs meet the needs of the most vulnerable. An estimated 370,000 people have been displaced by recent events.
➡️ gov.uk/government/new…
➡️ gov.uk/government/new…
Reposted by Danae Dholakia
1949 Foreign Office advice for junior diplomats heading off to a job in the US:
“To appear superior is the eighth deadly sin. Let Mr and Mrs John Bull be their natural selves and never, never behave as if their name was Mr and Mrs Cholmondeley Haugh-Haugh.”
“To appear superior is the eighth deadly sin. Let Mr and Mrs John Bull be their natural selves and never, never behave as if their name was Mr and Mrs Cholmondeley Haugh-Haugh.”
December 6, 2024 at 1:26 PM
1949 Foreign Office advice for junior diplomats heading off to a job in the US:
“To appear superior is the eighth deadly sin. Let Mr and Mrs John Bull be their natural selves and never, never behave as if their name was Mr and Mrs Cholmondeley Haugh-Haugh.”
“To appear superior is the eighth deadly sin. Let Mr and Mrs John Bull be their natural selves and never, never behave as if their name was Mr and Mrs Cholmondeley Haugh-Haugh.”
Reposted by Danae Dholakia
Hey! We’ve compiled a starter pack of museums, galleries, archives and libraries in the UK who are right here on Bluesky 🦋 go.bsky.app/9o1sRWp
November 11, 2024 at 10:17 AM
Hey! We’ve compiled a starter pack of museums, galleries, archives and libraries in the UK who are right here on Bluesky 🦋 go.bsky.app/9o1sRWp
Every year the kind people of Norway give the Foreign Office a bit of Christmas cheer, with a special gift. Here, in all its glory, is this year’s lovely 🎄
December 3, 2024 at 5:22 PM
Every year the kind people of Norway give the Foreign Office a bit of Christmas cheer, with a special gift. Here, in all its glory, is this year’s lovely 🎄
Reposted by Danae Dholakia
With sunset now before 4pm, an evening visit to the twinkling lights and beautiful plants of Kew Gardens is balm for the soul
November 27, 2024 at 7:53 PM
With sunset now before 4pm, an evening visit to the twinkling lights and beautiful plants of Kew Gardens is balm for the soul
Well this is exciting - with a message in a bottle too! Must pay a visit to 🇳🇴
Norwegian #archaeology find of the year:
The remains of this #Viking ship
www.sciencenorway.no/archaeology-...
The remains of this #Viking ship
www.sciencenorway.no/archaeology-...
Norwegian archaeology find of the year: The remains of this Viking ship
Archaeologists discovered several traces of an enormous Viking ship at the Myklebust burial mound. They also found a message in a bottle from the person who first excavated here, 150 years ago.
www.sciencenorway.no
November 27, 2024 at 9:22 AM
Well this is exciting - with a message in a bottle too! Must pay a visit to 🇳🇴
Reposted by Danae Dholakia
Visit of HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH to Hamburg this week and first Ministerial since signature of 🇬🇧🇩🇪Trinity House defence Agreement on 23/10
November 23, 2024 at 3:13 PM
Visit of HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH to Hamburg this week and first Ministerial since signature of 🇬🇧🇩🇪Trinity House defence Agreement on 23/10
Today’s #MosaicMonday treat, this rather lovely peacock, gracing the ruins of Carthage in Tunisia
November 25, 2024 at 9:56 AM
Today’s #MosaicMonday treat, this rather lovely peacock, gracing the ruins of Carthage in Tunisia
Optimist: The cup is half-full
Pessimist: The cup is half empty
Diplomat: The cup has the potential to be full and we’re working on a resolution to address the remaining capacity
Pessimist: The cup is half empty
Diplomat: The cup has the potential to be full and we’re working on a resolution to address the remaining capacity
Optimist: The cup is half full.
Pessimist: The cup is half empty.
Historian: The cup, 1789-1914
Pessimist: The cup is half empty.
Historian: The cup, 1789-1914
November 24, 2024 at 10:01 AM
Optimist: The cup is half-full
Pessimist: The cup is half empty
Diplomat: The cup has the potential to be full and we’re working on a resolution to address the remaining capacity
Pessimist: The cup is half empty
Diplomat: The cup has the potential to be full and we’re working on a resolution to address the remaining capacity
Finding new starter packs full of friends feels like opening a 🎁 - with thanks to @weixinwindow.bsky.social for forwarding and @christiangoebel.bsky.social for compiling - here are some great China ones 👇
In the 🧵 below, you will find all China-related starter packs that I know of, reverse sorted by number of people today.
I occasionally search for new ones, but won't find them if the post (!) which introduces them doesn't contain certain keywords.
Adding #Chinastarterpack facilitates search.
I occasionally search for new ones, but won't find them if the post (!) which introduces them doesn't contain certain keywords.
Adding #Chinastarterpack facilitates search.
November 23, 2024 at 9:29 AM
Finding new starter packs full of friends feels like opening a 🎁 - with thanks to @weixinwindow.bsky.social for forwarding and @christiangoebel.bsky.social for compiling - here are some great China ones 👇
Nice to see @harryvx.bsky.social newly joined here - 🇬🇧 High Commissioner in Trinidad and Tobago - well worth a follow
November 23, 2024 at 8:49 AM
Nice to see @harryvx.bsky.social newly joined here - 🇬🇧 High Commissioner in Trinidad and Tobago - well worth a follow
Reposted by Danae Dholakia
Some Friday reading on #ScienceDiplomacy: this year we’ve been working on a major project to review how Science Diplomacy has evolved since a major Royal Society - AAAS report we published in 2010.
As part of that work, we’ve produced a special issue of “Science and Diplomacy”
As part of that work, we’ve produced a special issue of “Science and Diplomacy”
www.sciencediplomacy.org
November 22, 2024 at 10:51 AM
Some Friday reading on #ScienceDiplomacy: this year we’ve been working on a major project to review how Science Diplomacy has evolved since a major Royal Society - AAAS report we published in 2010.
As part of that work, we’ve produced a special issue of “Science and Diplomacy”
As part of that work, we’ve produced a special issue of “Science and Diplomacy”