David Clay

I think I discovered Backlisted about nine years ago. Since then, on any given day, I estimate that there’s probably a 50-50 chance that the book by my bed would have been inspired by an episode of the podcast (Barbara Pym the latest example)

So thank you, keep going, and come to Boston soon

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”

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.

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.

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.

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.

🇬🇧 🇺🇸

Congratulations!

1961. The Foreign Office pneumatic tube room.

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.

Took the kids to visit the magnificently bonkers Ponyhenge near Lincoln MA

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

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.

How the St James's Park pelicans sparked a Cold War stand-off between Russia and the USA Former diplomat Alistair Kerr tells the strange tale of the pelicans that live in the centre of London – and how their mysterious ailments sparked an international incident.

Possibly my favourite tale of diplomatic gifting. Always think of it when I’m in St James Park

www.countrylife.co.uk/out-and-abou...

I persevered to the end but this was crying out for an editor with a firm hand. The endless sailing.

Thanks Tim - great suggestion

On International Women’s Day, here are three recommended reads on the history of women in diplomacy.

Any other recommendations?

Wonderful book. Good to see a new edition

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.

Obituary: Dr Keith Hamilton (1942-2023)

I recommend the book if you can source an affordable copy (not easy). It has its dry moments (lots of wrangling about pay) but brings to light the lives of Foreign Office staff that would otherwise be lost to history.

Sadly, the author Keith Hamilton passed away in 2023. issuu.com/fcohistorian...

I could have gone on for many more episodes.

I think my drama would centre on the brilliant but over-worked, under-appreciated and under-compensated librarians: Lewis and James Hertslet in series one. Series two could follow Lewis’ son Sir Edward Hertslet.

A lighter tone for episode 4: the housekeeper’s dog causes havoc in the office, barking at breakfast time and doing its business on the floor of the Permanent Under-Secretary Henry “Pumpy” Addington.

Episode 3: A fire breaks out, threatening the Foreign Office library and an elderly German translator working on the top floor. It’s put out thanks to the bravery and quick-thinking of the clerks, maids and guards. Manuscripts are flung into the street to save them from the fire.

Episode 2: Ms Glover is short of money after the death of her husband and decides to open a bar in the basement of the Foreign Office. The Chief Clerk dismisses her on suspicion of serving “unauthorised persons”.

Episode 1: Class tensions within the Queen’s Messengers lead to a fight breaking out between Mr Wright and Mr Fricker. Mr Wright throws a jug at Mr Fricker’s head before Mr Crotch steps in to separate the adversaries.

Book cover: “Servants of Diplomacy: A Domestic History of the Victorian Foreign Foreign Office” by Keith Hamilton

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:

Nick Elam obituary: British diplomat who promoted the arts Adviser to Lord Soames in Rhodesia and later ambassador to Luxembourg

Love the idea of converting a spare room in an ambassador’s residence into a studio for visiting artists.

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.