Ceturtdiena, 11. marts
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Dienas projekti
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Latvijas lepnums
Latvijas lepnums
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On Wednesday I have invited a few friends and colleagues to the embassy Residence for a drink and something to eat. It will be a sad occasion for me, my farewell to Riga and the end of my time as British ambassador. If I had the space in my house, I could have invited the hundreds of the people whom I have met over the past two years. There are so many people with whom I have worked closely, shared confidences, had fun, made silly jokes and shared quality time.
I hope in return I have demonstrated my real self rather than the ambassadorial stuffed-shirt stereotype that is beloved by the popular media.I can't disguise how difficult the past months have been. I have been - as Americans are wont to say - on a journey. My wife died of cancer just over four weeks ago. She had been diagnosed in early 2008 and deemed to have had a reasonable prospect of survival. But over time hope gradually melted away and since the first months of 2009 it has been clear there could be only one outcome. Sheila had wanted me to stay in Latvia and keep busy as part of my own survival therapy. Hence I have been dividing my time between Riga and north London over recent months, trying to balance the role of ambassador with the certain death of wife. With hindsight I am not sure the balancing act was wise, not least because of the strains placed on my long-suffering colleagues at the embassy. Along the way I have learned more than I would have wanted to know about cancer; from now on, raising money for Cancer Research UK is going to be a main part of my life.
The journey from here on is about getting my my teenage children through the next phase after which - at some distant stage - I can start to think about where I want to head to next. But there is no hurry. I have in my care and protection my beautiful and intelligent daughter. It falls to me to oversee the process whereby the chrysalis becomes the butterfly. I have a son too in Florida who needs the full attention of a father to turn him into the fine man he is destined to be. I embrace the task with all my heart; my children are the living embodiment of their mother and have the potential to do great things.But it means of course that my place is in London, not Riga.
I would have so much wanted to stay to do more here. To build on the climate change event which the embassy organised last year in cooperation with the Latvian Employers Federation. To keep going to help British business here and support the British Chamber of Commerce. To do more to raise awareness of disability issues, working with the British Council. To build on the triumph of last May when the embassy - working with Nordea bank, Nords Communications and many others - laid what I hope will be the foundations for the Riga Marathon to join the market leaders in terms of opportunities for disabled runners. To put across fairly to London the gravity of Latvia's economic problems. To contribute to the UK's Nordic Baltic network of embassy cooperation. And I would have so much wanted to stay with my wonderful colleagues in the embassy, who have been with me throughout, supported me always, never let me down, and been the most inspiring team I could ever have wanted to lead.
I leave few footprints in the sand. I stayed for too short a time. Useful things were done, but too much was left undone. I have loved being British ambassador to the Republic of Latvia. But now it's time to go.
Citi šī autora blogi
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Pride (and Prejudice)
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Impossible is Nothing
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St George
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Jelgava and optimism
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A view from the summit
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Give me the facts, please, not the myths
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It takes a village to raise a child
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The way out is to look for export opportunities
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Let me know
|22| -
Pleased to start blogging
|34|
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Richard, I thank you so much for everything you have done here in Latvia. These are the things that make our little world better. I believe that UK is one of Latvia's best friends and hope that your successor will continue your important work. Please accept my condolences on the loss of your wife. I know it is probably the hardest time of your life, but I am sure you will get over this. Your blogs have convinced me that you are not only a great diplomat but also a great man who is not afraid of difficulties. Take care!
thank you, Richard, for your time here and all of the great things you have done. my deepest condolences to you on the loss of your wife. be strong. our prayers go with you. and - we here will miss your smile and your inspiring optimism :)
'' But now it's time to go.'' - good proposal to Gordon Brown, Prime Minister
Afganistan Resources for British Troops in Question
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Bye
Dear Richard, please accept my deepest condolence on the loss of your wife, she will be missed by many people.
And I would like to thank you for the amazing work you did here as UK Ambassador. Somehow you were very close to ordinary people and worked on things that are really important. Maybe you even did not work like an ordinary diplomat, but you worked to improve lives of people. And that is important.
I really hope that one day you will return to Latvia again. We will be waiting for you. Thank you for coming to Latvia. We were lucky to have you here.
Richard, I am so, so very sorry to hear about your wife - I had no idea. You were a breath of fresh air, and you are going so soon! :( I'm sure that your daughter needs you and that you are doing the right thing. Grieving is a lot of hard work. My heart goes out to you. Banuta Rubess
Richard - really really sorry to hear about your wife. I'm also very sorry for your kids.
I crossed paths with you a couple of times in Riga. You were a good ambassador and a good guy. You were always visible in Latvia and for the right reasons. I also enjoyed all of your articles in Diena.
As M says above, you were close to ordinary people. I even spotted you on AirBaltic economy class once!
I wish you and your children all the best in the future, and especially over the next few months as you come to terms with your loss.
Cheers.
Excellency, may God rest the soul of your wife and give you peace. Thank you for your time in Latvia. All ambassadors who come to this country not just with good will, but also with an understanding of what is wrong here are and always will be welcome. God go with you in your future journey, and farewell!
Dear Richard,
I was so sorry to hear about your recent loss, I want to share my deepest condolences with you, you will be sadly missed.
It was always a pleasure to meet with you in Riga and the energy and devotion you gave to your job was clear for all to see. We always enjoyed spending time listening to your stories and experiences of life as an Ambassador to Riga. You brought a human quality and a sense of integrity and vitality to the position. Riga's loss will be London's gain.
Take care old chap
Andy (partner to Ilva Grinvalde)
Richard, we have met just once, but that was a real pleasure and nice suprise to see that you were closer to people as other ambassadors... Thank you for that, for your greatness and generous soul, for your interest in our country, for your blog here etc....
I am so, so sorry to hear about loss of your wife... May Gods peace be with you and your children during this difficult time. You are doing the right decision by returning home, because we have nothing more precious in life than the people we love, and especially our children.
So sorry to hear about your loss. My deepest condolences to you and your family. Will always remember you as "The Blogging Ambassador" :)) Riga will remember you fondly.