I hope you find this blog interesting and, where appropriate, entertaining. My role in Vienna covers the relationship between Austria and the UK as well as the diverse work of…
I hope you find this blog interesting and, where appropriate, entertaining. My role in Vienna covers the relationship between Austria and the UK as well as the diverse work of the UN and other organisations; stories here will reflect that.
About me: I arrived in Vienna in August 2016 for my second posting in this wonderful city, having first served here in the mid-1980s. My previous job was as HM Consul-General and Director-General for Trade and Investment for Turkey, Central Asia and South Caucasus based in Istanbul.
Further back: I grew up in Nigeria, Exeter, Lesotho, Swaziland and Manchester before attending Cambridge University 1976-79. I worked in several government departments before joining the Foreign Office in 1983.
Keen to go to Africa and South America, I’ve had postings in Vienna (twice), Moscow, Bonn, Berlin, Kyiv and Istanbul, plus jobs in London ranging from the EU Budget to the British Overseas Territories.
2002-6 I was lucky enough to spend four years in Berlin running the house, looking after the children (born 1992 and 1994) and doing some writing and journalism.
To return to Vienna as ambassador is a privilege and a pleasure. I hope this blog reflects that.
Aferin Başkonsolos, harikasın!
Congratulations. You are a very good example for everyone. We would like to publish your video in our website for Turkish Community in UK.
This is amazingly well spoken. Looking forward to see/hear next one
Regards
Tebrikler Sayın Başkonsolosum. Devamını bekliyoruz. 🙂
Cok tesekkurler! Elimden geleni yapiyorum 🙂
You are really different than all other bureaucrats. I’d like to meet you seriously.
I congratulate you and that makes me happy when i see you keen on learning Turkish.
Tebrikler sayın başkolosumuz, başarılarınızın sürekliliğini ve videolarınızın devamını dilerim.
Hi Mr. Consul. Welcome to Turkey and good luck on learning Turkish, your spelling is great. I believe few more exercise will make it perfect soon.
I would like to tell you my fathers saying who is a gourmet traveler: “I have traveled every city in the world, and i explored most of them in couple days. Paris in 3 days. Rio in 5 days etc. I’m exploring Istanbul for 20 years, and i’m not even in halfway.
There are many things to explore in Istanbul and i suggest you to take a look at gourmet books, traveler guides to get the best out of Istanbul. I hope you will have a pleasure stay in Istanbul. Good luck and best wishes :).
Siz nasıl bizim İngiliz aksanımızın olamayacağına inanıyorsanız, biz de sizin Türkçe’yi yeterince düzgün konuşamayacağınıza inanıyoruz, Türkçe öğrenmek için halkın içine çıkmalısın, fakat bir İngilize göre -ki İngilizleri çok çok severim- gayet güzel konuşuyorsunuz, lakin tekrarlıyorum Türkçe konuşmuyorsunuz, sadece Türkçe ezberliyorsunuz, halkla iç içe geçirdiğiniz her dakika sizi Türkçe “konuşmaya” yaklaştıran bir adım olacaktır. Bunları İngilizce yazmak isterdim fakat Türkçe öğrenmek isteyen birine yapamayacağım kadar kötü bir hakaret olurdu. Saygılarımla..
Çok tesekkürler!
Tebrikler Sayın Başkonsolosum. Başarılarınızın sürekli olmasını dilerim.