Paper Tiger

We should always use our brains and think everything over carefully. A common saying goes "Knit your brows and you will hit upon a strategem" In other words, much thinking yields wisdom. In order to get rid of the blindness which exists to a serious extent in our Party, we must encourage our members to think, to learn the method of analysis and to cultivate the habit of analysis.

I am working on Mrs May's speech to the upcoming Conservative Party Conference next week. I would, however, warn Mrs May:

Historically, all forces on the verge of extinction invariably conduct a last desperate struggle against the opposing forces who are apt to be deluded for a time by this phenomenon of outward strength until they grasp the essential fact that the enemy is nearing extinction while they themselves are approaching victory.

I could go on and on,. even fill a little red book. But the source of my wonderful speech writing will be found out when I start on:
"imperialism looked at from a long-term, strategic point of view, must be seen for what it is - paper tiger"

Yes, all from Mao Tse Tung in the 1940s and 1950s. I am glad I kept my 1967 Little Red Book. Knew it would come in useful one day.

So while Theresa has been sending paper tiger threats winging across the Channel, the real ones in the form of various storms of all sort of various names have been hitting "the Continent" aka. "Europe".

In a Project Fear type operation, the German Weather Bods had been forecasting doom and gloom for us in Bavaria. Saturday instead of being a washout turned very nice and the Oktoberfest parade went off well headed by a BMW (British Motor Works) Mini Police Car which was protected by the mounted police. (Link photo from 2017)

Today was Armageddon, so we were told. And?

Nothing, the huge Oktoberfest parade was held in dry and even sunny weather with a bit of a breeze threatening the odd young ladies hat.

We had made preparations, tieing everything down that could fly about. Angie even bound the sunflowers to some guttering.

At around 7:00 pm I took Luna for a walk in a good breeze having avoided the forests as required by all the official warnings. But frankly, it would not have been dangerous.

So we came away very lightly, in fact with nothing, not even an itchy eye. We were lucky. Elsewhere there was some damage and I think one loss of life.

I should note that my son-in-law in Ireland had his work cut out on the estate he manages, yet again, as with the Beast from the East and the last big storm, having to go out with equipment to clear trees. This time 7 trees and some needing (being forced to) have  Gardaí protection when working on public roads.


Son J had picked Friday, Saturday and Sunday to explore the wonders of the Afan area in South Wales with his Mountain Bike group. His Saturday comment after the ride "That was the wettest I have EVER BEEN!". And he wasn't refering to the main activitý this group gets up to which usually takes place indoors and is also very liquid.