Today being St Patrick's Day seemed as good a time as any to start this blog. Please however do not feel obliged to drown in Guinness today. It can be a fine pint, but this is not so much an occasion to appreciate it as a global marketing opportunity. Do however, go out and have a few pints of whatever you fancy.
I was hardly even aware of St Patrick's Day growing up in Ireland - it was mainly a thing for expats and Americans - they didn't hold a parade in Dublin until some time in the 90s. The first serious celebration of the day I witnessed was also the silliest: held in the US embassy in Moscow in 1984. The marines tried to import lager coloured green, but it was impounded at Frankfurt airport. However, the deputy ambassador and several other senior diplomats did perform an impromptu ballet in green tutus. The most embarrassed man in the house was a diminutive chap in a dark sobre suit in the corner. He didn't know where to look. his name was Padraig Murphy (honest!) and he was the Irish Ambassador.
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