David Clay
@davidclay.bsky.social
British diplomat. Currently Consul-General in Boston. Posting occasionally about the history of diplomacy, negotiation and great books.
Behold the summer tomato harvest from the residence back garden. One year away from full self sufficiency I reckon.
September 21, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Behold the summer tomato harvest from the residence back garden. One year away from full self sufficiency I reckon.
Really enjoying this book. Struck last night by this paragraph about how the US Ambassador to London during WW2 liked his team to present economic data to him:
“Give it to me in the form of shoes, in the form of clothing”
“Give it to me in the form of shoes, in the form of clothing”
September 16, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Really enjoying this book. Struck last night by this paragraph about how the US Ambassador to London during WW2 liked his team to present economic data to him:
“Give it to me in the form of shoes, in the form of clothing”
“Give it to me in the form of shoes, in the form of clothing”
Felt compelled to come on here and say that if you are in the US or Canada and have a chance to see this Pulp tour, don’t hesitate. The most fun (and strangely emotional) evening I’ve had for ages. Jarvis still has it.
September 14, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Felt compelled to come on here and say that if you are in the US or Canada and have a chance to see this Pulp tour, don’t hesitate. The most fun (and strangely emotional) evening I’ve had for ages. Jarvis still has it.
Have bought a copy of A Wizard of Earthsea to read with my eldest daughter on the basis of this episode.
New episode up now. The Tombs of Atuan (1970) by Ursula K. Le Guin, the second part of Earthsea, with guest Frank Cottrell-Boyce in conversation with Una McCormack and Andy Miller. @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social @iammilliam.bsky.social @unamccormack.bsky.social open.spotify.com/episode/0sc5...
The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. Le Guin
open.spotify.com
September 4, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Have bought a copy of A Wizard of Earthsea to read with my eldest daughter on the basis of this episode.
“English actor Nikolas Simmonds plays the role of a young genius who wreaks havoc upon the British Foreign Office”
I hear he wouldn’t stop writing “met with” instead of “met”
I hear he wouldn’t stop writing “met with” instead of “met”
August 9, 2025 at 2:56 AM
“English actor Nikolas Simmonds plays the role of a young genius who wreaks havoc upon the British Foreign Office”
I hear he wouldn’t stop writing “met with” instead of “met”
I hear he wouldn’t stop writing “met with” instead of “met”
Such sad news. These are three of our family favourites. I spent many happy hours having these read to me when I was a kid, and now reading them to my children.
Hard to imagine how much joy Alan Ahlberg brought into the world over his lifetime.
Hard to imagine how much joy Alan Ahlberg brought into the world over his lifetime.
August 1, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Such sad news. These are three of our family favourites. I spent many happy hours having these read to me when I was a kid, and now reading them to my children.
Hard to imagine how much joy Alan Ahlberg brought into the world over his lifetime.
Hard to imagine how much joy Alan Ahlberg brought into the world over his lifetime.
Latest in my New England literary journey: A Separate Peace by John Knowles (1959).
Beautifully written coming of age novel set in a New Hampshire boarding school. Seemed like just the sort of novel that ends up being assigned to teenage English students. Not that that’s necessarily a bad thing.
Beautifully written coming of age novel set in a New Hampshire boarding school. Seemed like just the sort of novel that ends up being assigned to teenage English students. Not that that’s necessarily a bad thing.
July 21, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Latest in my New England literary journey: A Separate Peace by John Knowles (1959).
Beautifully written coming of age novel set in a New Hampshire boarding school. Seemed like just the sort of novel that ends up being assigned to teenage English students. Not that that’s necessarily a bad thing.
Beautifully written coming of age novel set in a New Hampshire boarding school. Seemed like just the sort of novel that ends up being assigned to teenage English students. Not that that’s necessarily a bad thing.
Checked the baseball score before the cricket score. Wondering if I’m still qualified to represent my country abroad.
July 10, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Checked the baseball score before the cricket score. Wondering if I’m still qualified to represent my country abroad.
Learnt today that the first official UK celebration of US Independence Day took place on 4 July 1918.
The Stars and Stripes flew above Parliament and Westminster Abbey and King George V joined thousands of spectators to watch an Army-Navy baseball game at Stamford Bridge.
🇬🇧 🇺🇸
The Stars and Stripes flew above Parliament and Westminster Abbey and King George V joined thousands of spectators to watch an Army-Navy baseball game at Stamford Bridge.
🇬🇧 🇺🇸
July 4, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Learnt today that the first official UK celebration of US Independence Day took place on 4 July 1918.
The Stars and Stripes flew above Parliament and Westminster Abbey and King George V joined thousands of spectators to watch an Army-Navy baseball game at Stamford Bridge.
🇬🇧 🇺🇸
The Stars and Stripes flew above Parliament and Westminster Abbey and King George V joined thousands of spectators to watch an Army-Navy baseball game at Stamford Bridge.
🇬🇧 🇺🇸
1961. The Foreign Office pneumatic tube room.
I guess the novelty of launching messages into the tubes wore off pretty quickly
I guess the novelty of launching messages into the tubes wore off pretty quickly
June 29, 2025 at 1:34 PM
1961. The Foreign Office pneumatic tube room.
I guess the novelty of launching messages into the tubes wore off pretty quickly
I guess the novelty of launching messages into the tubes wore off pretty quickly
Latest stop in my New England literary journey: Arundel by Kenneth Roberts. Tells the story of Benedict Arnold’s march to Quebec in 1775.
June 11, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Latest stop in my New England literary journey: Arundel by Kenneth Roberts. Tells the story of Benedict Arnold’s march to Quebec in 1775.
Took the kids to visit the magnificently bonkers Ponyhenge near Lincoln MA
One of the little guys came with a story. Godspeed Wonder-Horse.
One of the little guys came with a story. Godspeed Wonder-Horse.
June 9, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Took the kids to visit the magnificently bonkers Ponyhenge near Lincoln MA
One of the little guys came with a story. Godspeed Wonder-Horse.
One of the little guys came with a story. Godspeed Wonder-Horse.
Slowly making progress on my shelf of British ambassadors to the US. Lord Lyons (ambassador during the civil war) biography is best so far
June 7, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Slowly making progress on my shelf of British ambassadors to the US. Lord Lyons (ambassador during the civil war) biography is best so far
One of the saddest scenes in modern life is kids in their swimming class excitedly looking up to check their parents are watching, but mum and dad are too busy staring at their phones to even notice.
June 7, 2025 at 8:26 PM
One of the saddest scenes in modern life is kids in their swimming class excitedly looking up to check their parents are watching, but mum and dad are too busy staring at their phones to even notice.
On International Women’s Day, here are three recommended reads on the history of women in diplomacy.
Any other recommendations?
Any other recommendations?
March 8, 2025 at 4:09 PM
On International Women’s Day, here are three recommended reads on the history of women in diplomacy.
Any other recommendations?
Any other recommendations?
Latest on the New England reading list. Not sure a chapter a night before bed is the best recipe for a night of peaceful dreams.
March 5, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Latest on the New England reading list. Not sure a chapter a night before bed is the best recipe for a night of peaceful dreams.
After six months in Boston, I think I may finally be pronouncing Fanueil Hall, Scituate and Bowdoin properly.
February 21, 2025 at 11:39 PM
After six months in Boston, I think I may finally be pronouncing Fanueil Hall, Scituate and Bowdoin properly.
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:
Love the idea of converting a spare room in an ambassador’s residence into a studio for visiting artists.
www.thetimes.com/uk/obituarie...
www.thetimes.com/uk/obituarie...
Nick Elam obituary: British diplomat who promoted the arts
Adviser to Lord Soames in Rhodesia and later ambassador to Luxembourg
www.thetimes.com
January 27, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Love the idea of converting a spare room in an ambassador’s residence into a studio for visiting artists.
www.thetimes.com/uk/obituarie...
www.thetimes.com/uk/obituarie...
“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.
If I ever write a book I hope my author photo has the same energy as E B White’s on the dust jacket of One Man’s Meat.
January 14, 2025 at 1:22 PM
If I ever write a book I hope my author photo has the same energy as E B White’s on the dust jacket of One Man’s Meat.
One of the nice things about going on a new overseas posting is that it provides a ready-made reading project.
So my reading list in 2024 has been all about New England. Here are eight of the highlights, in no particular order (apart from the first one).
So my reading list in 2024 has been all about New England. Here are eight of the highlights, in no particular order (apart from the first one).
December 31, 2024 at 1:37 PM
One of the nice things about going on a new overseas posting is that it provides a ready-made reading project.
So my reading list in 2024 has been all about New England. Here are eight of the highlights, in no particular order (apart from the first one).
So my reading list in 2024 has been all about New England. Here are eight of the highlights, in no particular order (apart from the first one).
What a Christmas treat. My favourite books podcast and one of the quintessential New England novels.
Death. The self. Nature. Bob Dylan. Burt Reynolds. Christmas cracker jokes. All the good stuff. 🎄
Death. The self. Nature. Bob Dylan. Burt Reynolds. Christmas cracker jokes. All the good stuff. 🎄
New Christmas episode up now. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville, with guests Jarred McGinnis and Erica Wagner @ericawgnr.bsky.social, with @iammilliam.bsky.social @johnmitchinson.bsky.social @birchos.bsky.social. THAR SHE BLOWS!! 🎄📚 🐳
www.backlisted.fm/episodes/229
www.backlisted.fm/episodes/229
229. Moby-Dick; or the Whale by Herman Melville — Backlisted
Join the Backlisted crew as we navigate the swells and surges of Moby-Dick; or the Whale by Herman Melville. That's right, Moby Dick is a Christmas book! Andy, John and Nicky welcome aboard nove...
www.backlisted.fm
December 27, 2024 at 2:02 AM
What a Christmas treat. My favourite books podcast and one of the quintessential New England novels.
Death. The self. Nature. Bob Dylan. Burt Reynolds. Christmas cracker jokes. All the good stuff. 🎄
Death. The self. Nature. Bob Dylan. Burt Reynolds. Christmas cracker jokes. All the good stuff. 🎄
Reposted by David Clay
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
Reposted by David Clay
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!)