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30th November 2014 Skopje, North Macedonia
Scottish recipes for St Andrews Day
The people of Scotland account for 8,3 % of the total UK population. Today, Scotland marks its national day – St Andrew’s Day. It’s a chance to really celebrate all that is great about our heritage and culture – our people, our food, and our skills, many of which have been passed on through generation […]
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30th November 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
A Scotsman in the Holy See
Guest blog by Monsignor Charles Burns OBE, Ecclesiastical Advisor of the British Embassy to the Holy See There have been Scots here in Rome for many centuries. The Scottish Hospice was founded in 1475 to assist Scottish pilgrims, and the Pontifical Scots College – where the Feast of St Andrew is celebrated every year – […]
29th November 2014 Islamabad, Pakistan
Celebrating St Andrew’s Day in Pakistan
For many here in Pakistan, Scotland needs no introduction, with its vibrant Pakistani communities and the links between Scotland and Pakistan in higher education and business.I was delighted that my first big event as the new British High Commissioner to Pakistan after I arrived in January was to host a Burns Night party. Haggis being […]
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28th November 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
In St.Andrew’s footsteps
St Andrew may not be my name saint, but he is my adopted one. I’ve been following him around all my life, born in Scotland and serving in three of the other countries that have St Andrew as their patron saint – Ukraine, Romania and Russia. Indeed he was in the background before I was […]
28th November 2014 Beirut, Lebanon
ALEXANDER THE GREAT, SPEED DATING AND JAWBONE
I recently got a Jawbone ‘Up’, a device that monitors your daily activity, sleep patterns and exercise, and helps you better control your health. As a father of two boys, I don’t need anyone to tell me I don’t get enough sleep. But, like many, I’m outsourcing the collection of my data to a plastic […]
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28th November 2014 London, UK
Reviewing the digital work of our embassies – part 2
This blog post looks at what we learnt from our recent review of how our embassies around the world are using digital. In our 2014 digital review we asked posts (embassies, high commissions, consulates etc) to assess how they were using digital tools and techniques in four areas: communications; strategic planning and leadership; policy making; […]
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28th November 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
St Andrew’s Day always has a special place in my heart.
Guest blog by Greg Quinn, Deputy Head of Mission St Andrew’s Day always has a special place in my heart. Not only do I have many friends from Scotland but there are various other connections. These include the fact that my mother is of Scottish ancestry (and I’m therefore the proud wearer of a kilt), […]
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28th November 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Investing in the future: British Embassy Fellowship Programme
People in Bosnia and Herzegovina like to complain about politics. It’s almost a national sport, on a par with football, basketball or handball. Some of these criticisms are justified; some aren’t. But what is not always sufficiently recognised is that it’s not just up to the politicians to resolve the country’s problems. It’s the same […]
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28th November 2014 Budapest, Hungary
Là Naomh Aindrea!
Guest blog by Douglas Arnott, Chairman of the Robert Burns International Foundation in Hungary. Before you reach for a handy online dictionary, this is what Scots around the world celebrate each year on 30 November, St. Andrew’s Day! Named not surprisingly after the patron saint of Scotland, you may nevertheless be surprised to learn that […]
28th November 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Saluting St Andrew’s Day in Australia
We’re flying the Scottish Saltire at the High Commission today for St Andrew’s Day, as we do with the flags of the other nations that comprise the rich tapestry of the United Kingdom on their national days. Around Australia my colleagues are attending various events hosted by local Scottish societies at this time. Last week […]