The British Diplomat Who Went For A Long Walk - Patrick Davies

Patrick Davies OBE is a former UK Diplomat with 25 years of service representing Queen and Country in the UK and abroad. In the fallout of Brexit, and caring for his father who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Patrick sought a profound change, embarking on an incredible journey that took him across the length of Britain on foot, tackling each of the three nations highest peaks along the way. In this episode, Patrick shares his insights from the front lines of diplomacy, his thoughts on US and foreign affairs, and the personal revelations he encountered while walking the diverse landscapes of Britain. We explore what drove him to take on such a monumental journey and how it has reshaped his perspective on life and how he spends his time. Patrick's Book - Where Skylarks Sing: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CP68MN6Q Patrick's Book: The Great American Delusion: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1838251200/ For more information on Patrick, please visit: https://patrickjdavies.com/ SUPPORT THE PODCAST: Get a whopping 65% off your first Gousto box at: ⁠https://www.gousto.co.uk/raf/?promo_code=TOM42277653 Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 03:08 Life as a British Diplomat 06:10 Breaking Foreign Office norms 09:23 Working alongside Robin Cook and Jack Straw 12:42 Witnessing Donald Trumps rise to power 18:50 Tom’s perspective on the US 23:05 How America’s success is vital to us 29:17 Russia’s influence in elections + climate change 36:20 The fallout of Brexit inspired change in Patrick 38:27 Patrick’s Dad’s Alzheimer diagnosis 47:24 The cost of Alzheimer’s 49:31 The challenge of putting someone into care 54:25 Deciding to do a long walk 59:35 Having a tight deadline 01:02:34 Putting a spin on Land’s End to John O’Groats 01:05:03 Where Skylarks Sing 01:08:20 The beauty in walking 01:12:31 Finding answers in time 01:16:03 How a simple life gives you more time 01:19:07 Finding happiness and contentment in life 01:22:27 Stripping back life to what is important 01:27:50 Kindness in Llanidloes 01:36:26 Life as a nomad 01:39:53 The beauty of the UK 01:43:43 Experiencing Brexit on the walk 01:49:00 Camping meals 01:53:16 Taping up feet 01:59:30 What it takes to go on a long journey