Published 5th April 2020

I wrote this title way back in 23rd Jan 2020 (11th Jan. Looks like I’ve had a couple goes at this and gave up), just before everything changed, and not long after everything had changed just before that. We are pretty much in a state of flux. We are totally fluxxed.

If you have read Catch 22, there is a story where the general was very keen on seeing a tight bombing pattern from his squadron and needed photographic evidence. That’s all that seemed to matter. And during one bombing raid, one of the aircraft either let their bombs accidentally in to the sea. And the more I think about it, they didn’t feel like flying in to anti-aircraft fire again. And so, there was only one thing to do. All the other bombers dispatched their payloads and photo of a tight bombing pattern was taken. This was a total mission failure. However, this couldn’t be admitted and there was a picture of a tight bombing pattern. In this case, there was only one thing to do and that was to hand out medals!

I may have mis-remembered some of the Catch 22 story, but the essential essence is there. Great failures will be covered up with heroic acts and great sacrifices along the way. Even the Charge of the Light Brigade was a huge success until the real news arrived on these shores two weeks later. But then, for some unknown reason has been turned in to a great story of heroism despite the stupidity of the decision to attack when the real lesson should be to not run in to the unknown, because everyone might die. That’s what being British is. We can take the enemy head on and give it a damn good thrashing. And if we fail, we’ll turn people in to heros.

That’s it for this one. I’ve said my piece.