to think my brother's friend is an MI6 spy?

[faintpinkline]

She has a first class degree from Oxford, a phd from Yale, speaks fluent Arabic and looks completely unassuming - pretty, brunette, petit, always cheerful and friendly. She has a job in some obscure branch of the civil service and is abroad more than she's at home

I've changed a detail or two just in case she actually IS but AIBU to wonder?

I actually think she might not be.

I have a friend who clearly wants people to think he's a spy, he will always give the 'civil servant' answer, drop hints about his trips to Afghanistan. Eventually I found out he is, in fact, a civil servant who occasionally goes to Afghanistan. Not a spy at all.

She could be in development, or helping to sell UK arms to dodgy dictators. Military advisory stuff.

From what I know, real spies would never let you think for a moment they might be spies. They will invent some incredibly boring job that no one in their right mind would ask about and be very good at deflecting attention.

I was approached to be a spy once. Well, they didn't say that but I did get an unsolicited letter from the MOD saying they had some job openings that might interest me, mentioning a time and place in London to report to if I was interested and warned "it would be in your best interests not to mention this to anyone you know". (Since it was about 20 years ago, I imagine it's okay to mention it now.)

I was also approached in Geneva airport once by a man leaning close and whispering "The geese fly south in the summer". When I asked what on earth he was talking about, he quickly mumbled "sorry" and scuttled off with a folder under his arm. I suspect that was a botched drop - I had been hanging around for quite a while by myself. But of course I'll never know for sure.

I agree with you, dreaming bohemian. By its very nature, spying is a secretive job and there's a very extensive security vetting system. Anyone who might be expected to be indiscrete or "stand out" in any way would immediately be ruled out. Hence the questions about drinking - is the person concerned likely to be a bit too forthcoming when they've had a few drinks? Do they like to boast? Are they an attention seeker? And so on.

Oh No re drinking!! Much spying stuff was done at the embassy in Riyadh where there was much booze flowing!!! I know this cos I was there with several attaches, the ambassador and my Dad in the 90's. The spy culture does not commit you to years of sobriety, in fact the opposite, it nurtures it!!!!

(Or did pre- 9/11)

I'm not saying you can't drink - I'm saying you can't be the sort of person who "blabs" when drunk.

Surely a real spy would have some kind of cover story? They would say "I work in optical lenses" or "I help to administer a charity office" and when questioned they would be knowledgeable and convincing about that job but never too specific about where they worked.
Spies are not nosey are they? Just careful at observing I would say.
Anyway, the OP should be careful not to blow the spy's cover just in case it leads to some nasty consequences. Or am I being too imaginative?

My dad always says "civil servant" rather evasively - he couldnt talk about his work as it was based at a particular building royalty frequent. He was def not a spy though, just signed official secrets act which prevented him even giving his job title when asked.

so I dont think her reply is as fishy as it could be seen to be iyswim

My grandfather was a 'civil servant' during WWII.

It would be brilliant if she worked for HMRC, and spent her trips abroad investigating "non-doms" and suspected money launderers. Bastards

She might be a high-class prostitute who works abroad a lot? I bet her bank statement would make interesting reading!

"She might be a high-class prostitute"

Poor thing! I hope she never finds out what is being said about her. If she isn't a spy, then her unassumingness could simply be due to shyness, and suggestions of prostitutions could be pretty humilating!

prostitution

She might be a logistician who sorts out supplies to Afghanistan; or an FCO bod who goes to and fro. She could be one of the people who do the security vetting, and has to travel to interview those being vetted.

I know a spy. Lots of quite boring surveillance.

If she's a good spy, she'll hold her hands up to being a prostitute and be thankful her cover wasn't blown

I know a spy and she says she works in insurance.

It would be thrilling to be a spy wouldn't it? Or well, it would be in my head. I remember reading an article actually in Marie Claire or similar many years ago that was about spies and the reality of the work that they do. There was one woman who was working at a dodgy east-end cafe to get intelligence from dodgy regulars. There was another woman who, as part of her training, was grabbed from her bed one night and interrogated, blindfolded etc to ensure that she was made of tough enough stuff.

Surely if you 'know' a spy then the spy is clearly breaching the Official Secrets Act?

Well, Highlander, my spy has never admitted it but we know!

You have to blend into the bakground to be a spy though don't you? Super beautiful people like Daniel Craig are far too noticeable (which DH says I always tell everyone in earshot when we're watching a spy film)

I interviewed with MI6 but they didn't want me (can't think why, I'm only sharing this on the Internet...) and spent the whole journey to and from the interview convinced I was being followed and trying to look competent and cool and less like I wasn't hopelessly lost in London.

Dh still pisses himself at the thought of them approaching me. I come across more capable on paper than in real life unfortunately.

Did anyone, anyone really understand Tinker Tailor? I loved it and kept going to myself "Oh that makes sense, his shoe under the table, get it now" only for all the fragile bits of insight to evaporate a second later. I would be the shittest spy. Totally not understanding things or getting them so mixed up that they would need truth serum to get the realy version out of me. Loads of sex though yeah? And Champagne? Moonlight over Moscow and what have you

I used to live next door to the head of mi5 although didn't have a clue until recently that's what he did!

Where's the op gone?.......