Danae Dholakia
@danaedholakia.bsky.social
British Deputy Ambassador in Moscow. Formerly Beijing, Pretoria, Brussels, National Security, Prosperity, Climate, Health, Inclusion.
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
A very Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!
December 25, 2024 at 11:03 AM
A very Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!
Thoroughly recommend Kintsugi - here are some of my recent efforts (I am very new to this art)
December 18, 2024 at 9:26 AM
Thoroughly recommend Kintsugi - here are some of my recent efforts (I am very new to this art)
8. Embrace your mistakes! I guess it’s a universal truth - but I’m definitely hardwired to focus more - and do better - having got something wrong. So I try to give new vocab and grammar a go “in the wild” before I feel 100% confident - however uncomfortable that feels (and it does)
December 14, 2024 at 12:42 PM
8. Embrace your mistakes! I guess it’s a universal truth - but I’m definitely hardwired to focus more - and do better - having got something wrong. So I try to give new vocab and grammar a go “in the wild” before I feel 100% confident - however uncomfortable that feels (and it does)
7. Make grammar fun - I think there’s a fortune to be made by whoever designs the app with enjoyable grammar games. Meanwhile, I’m experimenting with asking ChatGPT and similar to make up fun games and quizzes for me (it’s a slog, though - better suggestions appreciated!)
December 13, 2024 at 10:41 AM
7. Make grammar fun - I think there’s a fortune to be made by whoever designs the app with enjoyable grammar games. Meanwhile, I’m experimenting with asking ChatGPT and similar to make up fun games and quizzes for me (it’s a slog, though - better suggestions appreciated!)
6. There is also a whole world of graded listening podcasts and apps out there now too - for various levels and at various speeds. I remember “the Chairman’s Bao”
being a real blessing when I was learning Mandarin - news read slowly, graded according to various levels
being a real blessing when I was learning Mandarin - news read slowly, graded according to various levels
December 13, 2024 at 10:24 AM
6. There is also a whole world of graded listening podcasts and apps out there now too - for various levels and at various speeds. I remember “the Chairman’s Bao”
being a real blessing when I was learning Mandarin - news read slowly, graded according to various levels
being a real blessing when I was learning Mandarin - news read slowly, graded according to various levels
5. Another precursor to the feature-length movie is the best possible soap or series in your target language you can get your hands on. Even if you generally hate soaps - it really helps to hear the same voices over and over in 30 minute installations
December 13, 2024 at 10:18 AM
5. Another precursor to the feature-length movie is the best possible soap or series in your target language you can get your hands on. Even if you generally hate soaps - it really helps to hear the same voices over and over in 30 minute installations
4. Disney animated movies are a great precursor to the wonderful (but often quite complex) world of foreign movies. They are available in a range of languages, easy to follow and beautifully translated
December 13, 2024 at 10:12 AM
4. Disney animated movies are a great precursor to the wonderful (but often quite complex) world of foreign movies. They are available in a range of languages, easy to follow and beautifully translated
3. Make good use of graded readers, then dive into your favourites - for me that’s Jane Austen, Charlotte Brontë, JRR Tolkien…Reading something I already know well in English is initially less daunting than a great work from that culture - and I don’t need a dictionary on the bedside table!
December 13, 2024 at 10:05 AM
3. Make good use of graded readers, then dive into your favourites - for me that’s Jane Austen, Charlotte Brontë, JRR Tolkien…Reading something I already know well in English is initially less daunting than a great work from that culture - and I don’t need a dictionary on the bedside table!
2. Spaced repetition apps are amazing. When I learned French as a toddler, there wasn’t such a thing, of course - I annoyed my parents with my « dictée magique » instead. But space repetition apps are a different kind of magic - definitely essential to the modern language student!
December 13, 2024 at 9:55 AM
2. Spaced repetition apps are amazing. When I learned French as a toddler, there wasn’t such a thing, of course - I annoyed my parents with my « dictée magique » instead. But space repetition apps are a different kind of magic - definitely essential to the modern language student!
1. Do it for love: learning a language is super-difficult (for me at least 😂) and needs a lot of passion and energy - so strong motivation - and an end-goal - is essential. For me, I haven’t embarked on learning a language that doesn’t already fascinate me
December 13, 2024 at 9:50 AM
1. Do it for love: learning a language is super-difficult (for me at least 😂) and needs a lot of passion and energy - so strong motivation - and an end-goal - is essential. For me, I haven’t embarked on learning a language that doesn’t already fascinate me
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!)
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 🎄
And your fourth bird of Carthage - also from the Roman villa - #birders of Bluesky - identification most welcome! #MosaicMonday
December 2, 2024 at 12:57 PM
And your fourth bird of Carthage - also from the Roman villa - #birders of Bluesky - identification most welcome! #MosaicMonday
I figure I might just turn this into a “bird mosaics of Carthage” thread - so here’s your third one - from the Carthage Roman Villa - a grey heron, I think? #MosaicMonday
December 2, 2024 at 12:48 PM
I figure I might just turn this into a “bird mosaics of Carthage” thread - so here’s your third one - from the Carthage Roman Villa - a grey heron, I think? #MosaicMonday
Another #MosaicMonday treat from the ruins of Carthage - this time it’s a graceful goose
December 2, 2024 at 12:00 PM
Another #MosaicMonday treat from the ruins of Carthage - this time it’s a graceful goose
Also pleasing to see evidence that the lights are designed not to upset the local wildlife
November 27, 2024 at 7:54 PM
Also pleasing to see evidence that the lights are designed not to upset the local wildlife
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
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
Lovely autumn sky in Westminster today
November 20, 2024 at 3:59 PM
Lovely autumn sky in Westminster today
A tile in one of the quite beautiful ‘Weijin’ (Wei & Jin Dynasty period: 220-420CE) family tombs (魏晋墓葬) outside Jiayuguan in China’s Gansu province - so many vivid - cartoon-like - depictions of ordinary life #TileTuesday
November 19, 2024 at 10:38 PM
A tile in one of the quite beautiful ‘Weijin’ (Wei & Jin Dynasty period: 220-420CE) family tombs (魏晋墓葬) outside Jiayuguan in China’s Gansu province - so many vivid - cartoon-like - depictions of ordinary life #TileTuesday
For #MosaicMonday one of my favourites from the glorious Fishbourne Roman Palace - the largest Roman house in Britain excavated to date - with a larger footprint than Buckingham Palace
November 18, 2024 at 8:49 PM
For #MosaicMonday one of my favourites from the glorious Fishbourne Roman Palace - the largest Roman house in Britain excavated to date - with a larger footprint than Buckingham Palace
There was indeed - The Inn of Sixth Happiness
November 17, 2024 at 10:05 AM
There was indeed - The Inn of Sixth Happiness
Her story is immortalised in the 1958 Ingrid Bergman film “The Inn of Sixth Happiness”
November 17, 2024 at 10:03 AM
Her story is immortalised in the 1958 Ingrid Bergman film “The Inn of Sixth Happiness”
Gladys was already loved and trusted in the community so people turned to her in 1938 when Yangcheng’s peace was shattered by war
November 17, 2024 at 9:57 AM
Gladys was already loved and trusted in the community so people turned to her in 1938 when Yangcheng’s peace was shattered by war