Michael Palaeologus

"Poor strategy for sure but hardly bad at war" - Huh!! It is precisely that! The list of French failure is almost universaly down to bad strategy. For instance, if you dont want to lose a European war, DONT go to war with most of Europe. If you dont want to be invaded by Germany make sure your defences cover the big hole that was the Ardennes. Indeed if you dont want to lose the 2nd WW, dont try fighting it as you did the 1st WW. Your list of British losses is mostly a list of Battles, not wars. The US Indepedance War we lost. Did we lose the Boer war? No. Used some nasty tactics?? Yes. I could give a very lengthy list of British vistories, I would suggest that these would outweigh our defeats. Not so the French.

Um, I dont think that the perception of the French as being a bit rubbish at the war thing is based on recent history. This view does suit those who have a particular take on the Iraq War, but doesnt really relect the national antipathy felt towards France certainly since the Napoleonic Wars and before. Certainly, these early wars were about political and economic power and so were not particularly high brow on our part. The French "surrender" reputation comes about from losing conflicts over time - Agincourt, the retreat from Moscow, Waterloo, Trafalgar, the French army in revolt on the Western Front, the Battle of France, Vichy, Indo-China and Algeria. Their record of late is more positive, they did have the bottle to stay out of Iraq but led the charge into Libya, for which, fair play.

Quids - you have your lawn. Count your blessings whilst mowing and rolling.

Pish Tush and Nonsence. Clearly no natural Ginger would be willing to cross-breed with a Day-walker. Such a thing would be a travesty, an abomination. It says much for my heightened sense of reason and fair-play that I came to Gingers defence, even though she is strangely deformed. This in the face of wrong headed but nontheless voluble trumpeting from the Wolf-hunters and their kin. As to the identify of the Lupine one? My lips are sealed, the Wolf is at the Door.

Quite so. I am a regular competing spectator. Normally at the Clock House End. It is taken seriously, throughout the day, more seriously as the evening comes and goes. I am very much looking forward to the annual pre-race, "Where the feck are Barry and Barriet the Bears?" competition.

We dislike the French, because we always have. When we fight them, they make alot of fuss and then lose. When we fight alongside them, they make alot of fuss and then lose. As an allies they are a pain. The Germans have now taken on the mantle of being "chums with the French" and are wishing they hadnt. You will note that during the recent Euro-problem, Il Presidente Sarkozy blamed the UK for not being French. This from a Hungarian Pigmy. Their cheese is OK. Their wine is crap. Their cooking is old hat. They will harp on about how they conquered us. However this was 1000 years ago, they werent French, they were Vikings and he was a Bastard. Its a nice country, we used to own large parts of it. MAXXI - back off, I have bragging rights here. I saw that the Emperor wore no clothes, fought the cause on two threads and even had a PM discussion on the matter with the Mighty Wolf in his current shape shifting form.

Oh it is entirely down to Katie. So many drinks owed ..... :))

Indeed. You are very welcome. You will find that the "Wolf-Hunters" are the sweetest and most welcoming people in real life.

IF Gingerbeer is genuine and interested in moving to ED and is looking for a friendly area; this rather cliquey finger pointing (not banter, banter is amusing) does not shine a good light on us. If it is BBW - then lets see the evidence. Not sure what MO Gingerbeer is demonstrating that is generating so much excitement.

The evidence is what? So far, both on this thread and the other, all I have seen is collective finger pointing and sniggering. Which is tantamount to bullying. So, EVIDENCE? FACTS?

Big Bad Wolf, a past member who could rub various persons up the wrong way. Managed to get banned many times. Is alleged to have returned under various persona. Seems to have created a certain amount of paranoia.

Come on Wolf spotters, justify yourselves.

I wasnt actually aware that Gingers (or I) were flirting. When did banter become flirting? Anyway, to be absolutely clear. Some Forumites seem to think that Gingerbeer is infact Big Bad Wolf in disguise. Nobody has come out and said it yet. So, here we are. I have no idea. I have no insight into the back office functioning of the Forum, perhaps some people can actually see whether posts are being made from the USA or Forest Hill or wherever? Or is this based on summise and best guess? or some other evidence? Thoughts?

Tsk, both of you, SO cynical :))

Oh shush you horrible people!! You will be most welcome. I had lunch in The Bishop with a fellow forumite this very day and saw a number of chums passing, waived and everything. Why we were not at work is beyond me. Strafer, you KNOW are the very personification of a pint of Guiness and are of the Irish persuasion. Huguenot, stop your silky ways, shouldnt you be in bed? Its bound to be the middle of the night in the Far East (not Nunhead). Paddys Day is celebrated here, particularly by the brewing and hospitality trades. We dont die stuff green, our teeth are naturally that colour, but we do enjoy a few pints of stout. Especially as it was invented in London. Tomorrow's excitement will be as much about it being the last day of the Six Nations Rugby Tournament. Three games back to back, finishing with England vs Ireland. By the end of that lot I will be drained of my manly strength.

Translation: "Septic" = Septic Tank = Yank Wolves pray? Who knew that the Lord was on their side. Ceryainly need it as relegation beckons.

Gingers, ask as many ricidudolous questions as you wish dear lady, somebody will always reply. We like talking about ourselves. Indeed, the success of this Forum is based on that very premise. However, I have spent a most entertaining evening in a reborn pub with a group of most engaging Forumites and so must now retire to bed. I am spannered and its a school night.

Gingers - old style local boozers are a dying breed in these parts. One of the last (Crystal Palace Tavern aka the CPT) is re-opening tonight after a refurb and the Uplands pub became The Actress and starting serving (rather good) pizza. The last old style boozer in the immediate area is The Castle. Having said that, we arent short of pubs and bars.

Oh dear. I thought they were a myth?

Hence you dont see any old, slow or deaf cats. Its Darwinian on the streets of ED.

Foxes being omnivors will happily scoff rats, mice, cats and chickens. Every year there is usually at least one fox related urban chicken massacre reported on this very Forum. Steveo - Twit! I am a ginga ...

Gingers - no yachting hat or indeed any kind of hat. My ginger mop doesnt take kindly to head gear. Ref cats - theoretically cats on a lead would be OK, but as noted above, local parks tend to be dog-centric. Best not. In London, you are never more than a few meters from a rat. Our local cats look plump and sleek and you dont see many rats, I suspect that the two are related. Cats keep rats down, foxes keep the cats down and the East Dulwich Hunt keeps the foxes down. The East Dulwich Hunt meets and takes its stirrup cup at 9am every Sunday morning during the hunting season. The pack of hounds is a motley group of overweight Staffordshire Bull-Terriers, Cockapoodles and King Charles Spaniels.

Chinese Foxes. They like 100 year old eggs.

Hmmm. Need to rethink. I propose "Barcelona" and environs is probably more upperer than The Plough. Still Gingers can stroll around ED at her leisure in search for geogaphical boundries, Gyms with anti-social hours, tea and proper bacon.

Midwest? In East Dulwich that would be the Library. Which makes the Middle East The Plough, explains much.