H.E. .Judith Macgregor British High Commissioner to South Africa
DS: Last country where you were based before coming to South Africa
HE: Mexico
DS: Most interesting place in South Africa
HE: Impossible to say, there is such a variety! But very struck by the physical beauty of Cape Point; the impact of the Anti Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg and the brightly coloured buildings of Bo-Kaap.
DS: Your impression about South Africa in 3 words
HE: Vibrant, warm, diverse..
DS: One place you would like to be posted to or visit
HE: I am already posted to three great cities in SA- I would like to spend more time in each of the provinces here and travel extensively through the beautiful mountains of Lesotho and Swaziland
DS: Most memorable appointment thus far
HE: My temporary appointment as leader of the UK's ITU (international Telecommunications Union) delegation to the general conference in Mexico in 2011. I had to become an IT expert in record time and thoroughly enjoyed it- thanks of course to the support of my expert colleagues!
DS: Most challenging situation that you had to handle thus far
HE: Organising the UK delegation to former President Mandela's memorial and funeral was very challenging because of the complexity of being part of such a fast moving, huge event of such importance to South Africa, the UK and the whole world
DS: My inspiration is/comes from.
HE: My inspiration comes from people: being moved by their concerns and motivated by their passions and ambitions
DS: Place in your country that you love to visit.
HE: I love going to Northumberland on the border with Scotland- beautiful wild countryside, few people and the chance to stroll along Hadrian's Wall still standing after almost 2000 years!
DS: Most interesting place to visit elsewhere
HE: I found the Mayan Pyramids in Mexico extraordinary and endlessly fascinating to revisit.
DS: Favourite dish of your country
HE: Porridge..
DS: Tastiest dish of another Country.
HE: Mexican Guacamole or Lebanese meze.
DS: Favourite eating place in Pretoria.
HE: Too many to choose from - I love the variety. Some great Italian, Greek and South African restaurants.
DS: The best book I have ever read.
HE: The First Circle by Alexander Solzhenitsyen or Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
DS: At the moment I am reading
HE: Women in Diplomacy by Helen McCarthy- all about the history of women in the British Foreign Office.
DS: I spend my leisure time
HE: Walking the dog, playing tennis, tapestry making and reading.
DS: One sentence describing a lesson that you have learnt from being a diplomat
HE: You need to listen to the views of others.