Entente and an Ending.

There was a fight at Waterloo

We Brits wore red, the Frenchies blue

And then we ceased

(For now, at least)

And said ‘Bonjour’ and ‘How do you do.’

*  *  *

We suffered a sad loss in the Shire recently – a magnificent ash tree which I estimated to have been around 200 years old. When the tree surgeons cut it down, they counted the rings and declared that it was, in fact, 220 years old. That means it was growing there when the timely arrival of Blucher saved our bacon and put an end to the little corporal’s career. And now it’s gone.

*  *  *

The Frenchies must get a bit miffed at the fact that we call the sea which separates us ‘The English Channel.’ It’s so very possessive, unlike their term ‘La Manche’ which is merely descriptive. There must surely be no division, however, regarding that splendid term ‘the Western Approaches.’ So very evocative of home, horizons, and the cold smell of maritime conflict.