Doing nothing is not an option..
This phrase is often applied to nuclear power, bird flu, bad schooling, immigration, crime, the NHS. The railways, global warming and the over-stretched armed forces. Yet nothing is done - so actually doing nothing is an option.
The latest photo of Annie.Nothing much has happened this week apart from battling with the Christmas cards. If you are an avid reader of this blog and don’t get a card – tough titty!! You could try sending us a card just to embarrass us!!
Elinor has been at a public enquiry for the last two weeks – and it’s due to stretch on into next week as well. She is the main Environment Agency witness and is giving evidence on discharges into the River Ribble at Preston. She had a four hour cross examination on Thursday after which her counsel described her as "the indefatigable Mrs Smith". She was uncertain as to the meaning of "indefatigable" and had to ring Robert up that evening to find out whether it was a compliment or not!! It’s not a word in common use is it? Robert seems to remember an HMS Indefatigable in the Royal Navy. See postscript.
Robert’s knee is no better and if anything slightly worse than before the op – he’s seeing the surgeon on Thursday – so we’ll just have to see what happens.
Weather cold and getting colder but there has been a load of sunshine to cheer up the views if not the cockles of our hearts.
Keep cuddling up, loads of love Robert and Pikey
PS Robert looked up HMS Indefatigable on Wikipedia and it came up with:-
Seven ships of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS Indefatigable.
The first Indefatigable was a 64-gun two-decked shipof the line launched in 1784.
The second Indefatigable was an armed ship purchased in 1804 and sold in 1805.
The third Indefatigable was to be a 50-gun fourth-rate (2,084 tons, 176 ft long, 53 ft beam), carrying all 32-pounder guns. She was ordered from Woolwich 29 November 1832 but cancelled in March 1834.
The fourth Indefatigable was also a 50-gun fourth-rate, launched in 1848, was used as a training ship after 1865, and sold in 1914.
The fifth Indefatigable was a second class cruiser launched in 1891, renamed Melpomene in 1910 and sold in 1913.
The sixth Indefatigable was a battlecruiser launched in 1909. She fought under Capt. C.F. Sowerby in the Battle of Jutland (1916), when a hit (probably from German battle-cruiser Von der Tann) penetrated the armour of her forward turret, leading to explosion of the magazine and her sinking. All but two of her crew died.
The seventh Indefatigable was an Implacable class aircraft carrier. She took part in the hunt for German Battleship Tirpitz, and was later transferred to the Pacific theatre, where she was the first British ship to suffer a kamikaze attack. Due to her armoured flight deck typical of British carriers, she was not seriously damaged. After the end of World War II, she was paid off, but later re-commissioned as a training ship. She was scrapped in 1956.
Seven ships of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS Indefatigable.
The first Indefatigable was a 64-gun two-decked shipof the line launched in 1784.
The second Indefatigable was an armed ship purchased in 1804 and sold in 1805.
The third Indefatigable was to be a 50-gun fourth-rate (2,084 tons, 176 ft long, 53 ft beam), carrying all 32-pounder guns. She was ordered from Woolwich 29 November 1832 but cancelled in March 1834.
The fourth Indefatigable was also a 50-gun fourth-rate, launched in 1848, was used as a training ship after 1865, and sold in 1914.
The fifth Indefatigable was a second class cruiser launched in 1891, renamed Melpomene in 1910 and sold in 1913.
The sixth Indefatigable was a battlecruiser launched in 1909. She fought under Capt. C.F. Sowerby in the Battle of Jutland (1916), when a hit (probably from German battle-cruiser Von der Tann) penetrated the armour of her forward turret, leading to explosion of the magazine and her sinking. All but two of her crew died.
The seventh Indefatigable was an Implacable class aircraft carrier. She took part in the hunt for German Battleship Tirpitz, and was later transferred to the Pacific theatre, where she was the first British ship to suffer a kamikaze attack. Due to her armoured flight deck typical of British carriers, she was not seriously damaged. After the end of World War II, she was paid off, but later re-commissioned as a training ship. She was scrapped in 1956.
So Robert’s memory was not at fault – pity about ships number 2 and 3!! Melpomene is the Greek muse of tragedy so why name a battleship after her? Answers on a postcard – a prize for the first sensible reply.
4 comments:
Tragedy is a term that can apply to a form of drama involving a person who experiences a reversal of fortune or 'peripety'. This can mean a change of fortune from bad to good. Melpomene represents tragedy in lots of different forms, and out of that tragedy she helps to bring forth the triumph of the human spirit. She is a guide, an inspiration and encouragement to weather the storm. Great name for a battleship.....
Where do you come from? Identify yourself.You don't win the prize 'cos your answer - good as it is - is not on a postcard as required by the rules of the competition.
sorry dad..... will do..
The next question is how to pronounce "Melpomene". Is it "melpomeen" in which case it sounds like a cleaning material or is it "melepponny"? Again answers on a postcard.
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