1 No, it's not (entirely) about On War; rather, in the beginning, at any rate, it is On Staying In, when there are radio programmes, blogs, and a book to look forward to, some major jobs having been completed. Tea to begin with, whilst waiting for the first of the radio programmes. The meal can be a complement to the programme.
2 Earlier this morning, I heard something of In Our Time. The subject was On War, the text by General Karl von Clausewitz, a text which influenced military planners and politicians, particularly those in the 19th century, from the time it was published in 1832. One of the contributors was Hew Strachan, author of the magisterial First World War, the first volume of which has been published, a volume which I have carried about, from time to time, as a boy might carry a favourite toy. A companion, a comfort.
3 I heard enough to know that I will listen to the programme - an abbreviated version, admittedly - later this evening. The author's background will be set out. I will hear again that, having joined the Prussian army, he experienced his first battle at the age of 12. I will hear of the developments which led to the battle of Jena, the French crushing defeat of the Prussians. And I will hear about the regeneration of Prussia, the impact of the Prussians on the battle at Waterloo. All to come.
4 Meanwhile I have my hard-back copy of the (slight) book by my side as I key. Listen to the programme. Take the book to bed. Eventually. For the past 15 minutes I have listened to a dramatisation of an extract from Pepys' diary. Lovely stuff. The diarist is a careful observer, one who recounts the events which made up the day. A Progress. Fifteen minutes is just right, long enough to present the man and his days, not long enough to weary of the episodes.
5 And now a celebration of Ascension Day. An hour-long service - song, familiar prayers (an Angican Mass), and a sense of the rhythm of the year.
6 A following half-hour before In Our Time (and On War); a preparatory cup of coffee, a move to the comfortable chair in the kitchen, On War on my lap, and I woke to the last five minutes of the programme. Ah well. I'll just have to listen online.
7 Today, the following morning: swimming, iron a pink shirt, find my Grapple tie. Ready to go
Friday, 18 May 2012
Thursday, 17 May 2012
1 No matter how hard I peered, there were no words to be seen. Whilst the e-mail had pointed towards a successful posting, the cave itself - the blog itself - was empty. Still what is empty is there to be filled. So fill it we will, a confident assertion, I know, but one which is prompted by the news that you had accepted the offer of membership by way of your gmail address. With Google on your side, how can there be failure.
2 Let me pass on this morning's story from the Chartham Park member who is a point of contact for distressed British drivers in faraway places. A call from Portugal from a driver who had lost his keys on the beach. No, he didn't have a spare set. Ah. Whilst it would be easy to organise the forced entry of his car, he might be able to secure a spare set from England. Outcome: a spare set to be sent from a daughter in Birmingham. A wonder: what was the man doing on the beach so early in the morning.
3 Two following meetings. A brief meeting about Armed Forces Day to choose a revised programme, one which would accommodate the presence of the Grenadier Guards Band. The accommodation was made.
3.1 The offer of the Band was a surprise. The organisers of AFD in East Grinstead was a winner in a lottery which the organisers had not heard about. So there will be a march from the Queen St car-park to the Meridian Hall, a fanfare to open the celebration, and 30 minutes of band-playing ahead of our own dear Concert Band.
4 The following meeting was about the proposed improvements to the Upper Room and the participation of the RBL in the Jubilee parade and celebration. I missed much of the meeting. The part I experienced was attended by the usual round of elderly men, and one elderly woman. It was about the Jubilee celebration. However there was nothing to discuss because there was no information. Yet the absence of information did not impede the flow of the meeting to the appointed time. The allotment committee? Yes.
5 Liam and Hannah are going to Greece at somewhat short notice for a week. Her family celebrated her birthday on 15 May. Greece in turbulent times? Liam will take the chance. What is certain however is that they will enjoy the sun; what is likely is that they will be able to enjoy their meals, prepared though they will be by others.
6 Post on.
Stayathome
2 Let me pass on this morning's story from the Chartham Park member who is a point of contact for distressed British drivers in faraway places. A call from Portugal from a driver who had lost his keys on the beach. No, he didn't have a spare set. Ah. Whilst it would be easy to organise the forced entry of his car, he might be able to secure a spare set from England. Outcome: a spare set to be sent from a daughter in Birmingham. A wonder: what was the man doing on the beach so early in the morning.
3 Two following meetings. A brief meeting about Armed Forces Day to choose a revised programme, one which would accommodate the presence of the Grenadier Guards Band. The accommodation was made.
3.1 The offer of the Band was a surprise. The organisers of AFD in East Grinstead was a winner in a lottery which the organisers had not heard about. So there will be a march from the Queen St car-park to the Meridian Hall, a fanfare to open the celebration, and 30 minutes of band-playing ahead of our own dear Concert Band.
4 The following meeting was about the proposed improvements to the Upper Room and the participation of the RBL in the Jubilee parade and celebration. I missed much of the meeting. The part I experienced was attended by the usual round of elderly men, and one elderly woman. It was about the Jubilee celebration. However there was nothing to discuss because there was no information. Yet the absence of information did not impede the flow of the meeting to the appointed time. The allotment committee? Yes.
5 Liam and Hannah are going to Greece at somewhat short notice for a week. Her family celebrated her birthday on 15 May. Greece in turbulent times? Liam will take the chance. What is certain however is that they will enjoy the sun; what is likely is that they will be able to enjoy their meals, prepared though they will be by others.
6 Post on.
Stayathome
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