Saturday, November 2, 2024

That Was the Week That Was ...

Après la Bataille
Paul Louis Narcisse Grolleron
Source
I seem to be fully recovered from my recent illness, no fun at all I tell you, no fun at all.

Actually, wasn't all that bad once I had the antibiotics going strong, it was the clear liquids for the first day, bland food for a few days after that which was no fun. I mean First World problem, right?

At least I have food, yeah?

Retirement gets closer and closer, I've spent some serious time lately getting all the paperwork in order. Some of it is gubmint paperwork, which usually means "user unfriendly" and not that clear. Once I pulled my head out, I got it done.

Managed to get some good rack time in over the past week. Early to bed, early to rise, etc., etc., etc. Sure made Jack a dull boy though, even if I did really, really need it.

That opening painting caught my eye as I cast my net around the web of worldwideness to perhaps catch a topic to write about. The painting is of a Second Empire French dragoon who seems to be unassing the battlefield in a somewhat furtive manner.

His mount is probably exhausted, having had to haul his rider all over the battlefield in what appears to have been a losing effort. In the 1870 Franco-Prussian War the French didn't win many battles. A few, but they did wind up losing the war, their emperor (Napoléon III, nephew of the more famous Napoléon I) was captured at the Battle of Sedan and the victorious Prussians declared the founding of the German Empire at Versailles. Yes, that's in France, at the old royal palace of the Bourbons.

Die Proklamierung des Deutschen Kaiserreiches¹
Anton von Werner (PD)
That's Bismarck himself in the fancy white uniform at the center of the composition, Kaiser Wilhelm I is the white-haired chap up on the raised platform (stage left) being acclaimed as emperor by all the other chaps. He was the grandfather of Kaiser Wilhelm II (the bogeyman of World War I fame) and had been present at the Battle of Waterloo. He'd assisted in the defeat of the first Napoléon and his generals had defeated the third Napoléon.

For those of you wondering who was the second Napoléon, well, that was Napoléon I's son, who died in his twenties in Vienna where he was a "guest" of the Austrian government under the rule of his grandfather, Kaiser Franz I. Mom was an Austrian princess don't ya know?

An interesting time period that war, nasty in a lot of aspects, perhaps I'll write about it someday. The last "old school" war with cavalry charging about and men marching around in lines and columns, standing in the open, and getting cut to shreds much like our own unpleasantness ten years before.

All that being said, I'm back in the saddle, so to speak, and ready to get back to writing. Once the Muse shows up of course. I don't control her, she comes and goes as she sees fit. If I try to force her to be creative, it often blows up in my face.

So, I'm back, be patient, the free ice cream will be forthcoming.

Any day now.




¹ The proclamation of the German Empire

28 comments:

  1. Glad you're feeling better. Wife is also doing better (fingers crossed).

    So Bismark was the first winner of the Tour de France?

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    Replies
    1. Yes, The Missus Herself is also a lot better, via the wonders of chiropractic therapy.

      Well, while Bismarck was a winner of that contest, the Allied armies who forced Napoléon I's abdication in 1814 and then chased him to Paris in 1815 were the first.

      Delete
  2. Good to read that you're up and about, little the worse for wear.

    Opening image. Did you ever notice how many paintings of a defeated army include an overturned or broken gun carriage or limber?

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    1. Well, an entity with no artillery can't really be called an army now, can it?

      Painters who leave out the busted up guns and limbers aren't very good at details.

      Delete
  3. Feeling better Sarge, good news indeed. Liking the style of that painter. good choice.

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    Replies
    1. I'm going to chase down more of his stuff, he's very good.

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  4. I’ll add my “Glad you’re feeling better” chant, Sarge. See what I did there? ;-)
    But… Glad prayers were answered.
    juvat

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    Replies
    1. Chanters gotta chant, yeah?

      Good to be feeling better I'll say.

      Delete
  5. Glad you are feeling better Sarge - and doubly glad you are in the home stretch to retirement!

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  6. Glad to see you are back up and around again.
    I must commend Mr Blackshoe for his very interesting fill-in articles.
    I know that stress can at times be a trigger for your GI issue, so I am hoping that once you get through the door and into retirement, you find that any stress in your life is significantly reduced along with your gut being happier. I have noticed that since I retired, I am eating in a more healthy manner, less fast food and eating out, and the blood pressure has certainly improved. Now if I could just get the scale to register a bit lower, I'd be a very happy camper.
    Ms Muse will show back up, I have great confidence.

    Suz

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    Replies
    1. Stress is indeed a factor in this illness, hope to be cutting back on that very soon!

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  7. Sarge is back! Time for a party!
    That's worth some singing by Kool and the Gang- CELEBRATION!
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GwjfUFyY6M

    Of course, this is just a rehearsal for the big party with the BIG Celebration coming up shortly.

    Best to The Missus on her recovery too! It's gotta be stressful for her when El Jefe is under the weather.
    John Blackshoe

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    Replies
    1. 'Tis a celebration indeed!

      Yeoman work there JB, thanks again!

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  8. You see a pic like that and you wonder that anyone could survive on a battlefield with rifles and th3n you see a horse walk by.

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    1. Marksmanship among conscripts is often lacking.

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    2. Nearly always lacking in conscripts unless their prior lives dictated such skill. Of course it was frequently lacking amongst the "professionals" before rifling.
      Glad you're on the mend!
      Boat Guy

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  9. That was the week that was…. Did you just date yourself? Noted was the differences in capitalization.
    Alan E.

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    Replies
    1. Historians, even amateur ones, never date themselves. 😉

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    2. Start a union of conscripts where the only rule is to always aim high. Who could object? 😎

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    3. Heh. Old USAF motto, never liked it.

      Delete
  10. Two scoops, waffle cone please.

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