Not On War

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