Saturday, 13 May 2017

Microsoft Trumpish Cardigan


I've just finished reading a biography of James Brudenell, the 7th, and last (after he died, it became a subsidiary title of the Marquess of Ailesbury), Earl of Cardigan - the chappie who led the Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War. It's called The Homicidal Earl.


Cardigan was an utterly odious, vain, conceited, narcissistic bully of the Tufty-Bufty variety, who courted controversy and whose life was dogged by scandal wherever he went, (a bit like Trump, now I come to think of it) although he could occasionally show some uncharacteristic concern for the enlisted men under his command  (unlike Trump), despite the many floggings. He had a long-lasting feud with his brother-in-law, the Earl of Lucan, who commanded the Heavy Brigade and was Cardigan's superior officer, much to the Cardigan's chagrin.

Trevor Howard portrayed him perfectly in the 1968 film, The Charge of the Light Brigade, although it took a few liberties with some events. George MacDonald Fraser in his book, Flashman at the Charge, also described him quite accurately.

The Charge of the Light Brigade somewhat rehabilitated him back into society as a national hero, and he wasted no time in basking in the glory, but even then there was a charge that he didn't actually reach the Russian guns and was seen slinking back before the rest of his command.

To get to the point, in one passage he is described as having been totally faithful to his much younger wife - 'except for the odd dalliance'. Seems a bit of an oxymoron to say he was totally faithful, yet had the odd extra-marital liaison.

Been having some issues with Windows 10 and my Wi-Fi connection dropping out intermittently, despite the Wi-Fi icon showing me as fully connected. It's almost as if my laptop is losing its IP address somewhere along the chain of command and I'm buggered if I can fix it. Anyway - is there anyone out there who has ever had a positive result back from Microsoft Trouble Shooter, because as sure as eggs-is-eggs, I never have.

The dusting of rain has brought on the most God-awful hay fever and my eyes feel like I've had sand poured into them.


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