war – WrAnTz

Right Now #2

What am I listening to …

For What It’s Worth – Buffalo Springfield.

For me, this song has always been associated with the war in Vietnam, an anti war protest song.

How wrong could I be. I have only recently come to understand that the song was referencing the “Sunset Strip curfew riots in Los Angeles,” which took place between police and young people in 1966. It was these events that inspired Stephen Stills to write the song.

I believe my misconception was fed by numerous documentaries of that era, using this song as a musical backdrop.

The lyrics are here …..

There’s something happening here
But what it is ain’t exactly clear
There’s a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware

I think it’s time we stop
Children, what’s that sound?
Everybody look, what’s going down?

There’s battle lines being drawn
Nobody’s right if everybody’s wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind

It’s time we stop
Hey, what’s that sound?
Everybody look, what’s going down?

What a field day for the heat (Ooh ooh ooh)
A thousand people in the street (Ooh ooh ooh)
Singing songs and they carrying signs (Ooh ooh ooh)
Mostly say, “Hooray for our side” (Ooh ooh ooh)

It’s time we stop
Hey, what’s that sound?
Everybody look, what’s going down?

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you’re always afraid
Step out of line, the men come and take you away

We better stop
Hey, what’s that sound?
Everybody look, what’s going down?

You better stop
Hey, what’s that sound?
Everybody look, what’s going down?

You better stop
Now, what’s that sound?
Everybody look, what’s going down?

You better stop
Children, what’s that sound?
Everybody look, what’s going down?

Peace Protest

Spotted this yesterday afternoon while out for Mothering Sunday lunch.

I will admit to a fair amount of guilt.

Guilt that we were out enjoying ourselves while war criminal Putin has destroyed the Ukrainian peoples lives and their homeland.

I suffer a huge amount of frustration too. Knowing that there is nothing tangible that I can do. But also that I, being almost 70 years old, have seen Russia do this time and time again.

Russia has been testing the waters for the last few years. Sending ships and submarines into our territorial waters. Invading and annexing neighbouring states.

Meanwhile, we and our allies have reduced spending on defence. Reduced the size and capability of our forces.

Putin has watched all of this and and has siezed the moment. Our complacency has signaled our inability to respond.

It may be that Putin may have over-reached himself and underestimated Ukraines ability to resist.

One thing is sure Putin did not expect the worldwide condemnation of his actions. He has woken Europe and the world out of its slumbers.

I feel sorry for the Russian people who are being lied to by Putin and his government. They, like the Ukrainian peoples are going to pay the price of Putins ambitions.

The Russian people are the ones that are going to have to topple Putin from his position of power.

Limousin, France – Day 5 Evening

Finding ourselves back at the gite, a little earlier than we expected, a couple of us decided to go for a walk up into La Porcherie. The gite is situated in a very quiet corner of a very quiet village so we were able to stroll the lanes with no concerns about traffic. Here are a few shots I took along the way.

This is the lane that gives access to the gite.

Behind the gite there are three lakes from which the water trickles, one to the next before passing through some kind of water treatment works. The water then passes on to the large lake which can be viewed below the gite. Whoever, owns and works at the water works had created a rather stylish rock patio set.

I think Fred & Wilma probably live here. Actually an improvised outdoor dining set for our nearest neighbour. — I think Fred & Wilma probably live here. Actually an improvised outdoor dining set for our nearest “neighbour”.

Just a few yards from the lane leading to the gite, at the side of the road, we came across a totally random collection of flowers. Not in someones garden, just at the side of the road. Beautiful.

Beautiful. A random roadside collection of flowers.

Across the road from the flowers was a field containing three horses. We were rather puzzled by the fact that all were sporting blindfolds. Perhaps they were playing some kind of equine “Blind Mans Bluff” ? We were later informed, by the owners, that this was to protect their eyes from flies. The horses were visited two or three times a day and the blindfolds were removed at times when the flies were less apparent.

A horse playing "Blind Mans Bluff" or perhaps "pin The Tail On The Donkey" — A horse playing “Blind Mans Bluff” or perhaps “pin The Tail On The Donkey”

As we entered La Porcherie we came across this old shop front. Apparently La Porcherie used to have shops and an active restaurant but all are gone now. It is a shame but does, of course, mean that the village remains very peaceful.

La Porcherie, France - Old Shop Front — La Porcherie, France – Old Shop Front

The church here dates from the 12th century. Unfortunately, I have forgotten if it is dedicated to a particular saint. To the left of the church is the now defunct restaurant. Anyone want to start a new business. The canvass is completely blank.

La Porcherie, France - 12th Century Church — La Porcherie, France – 12th Century Church

La Porcherie, France - Village Well — La Porcherie, France – Village Well

As we strolled around the village we came across the war memorial. As we were to see in many other towns and villages, the names listed really drive home the devastating impact the first world war must have had. Not just to the families but to whole communities. When you see that single families lost two, three or even four members, it really drives home the futility of war.

La porcherie, France - Monument to the fallen of the 1914-1918 war. — La porcherie, France – Monument to the fallen of the 1914-1918 war.

One thing the Limousin is renowned for is it’s cattle. They really are solid looking beasts, much more robust than there English counterparts. And, as one of our group commented, rather glamorous with their long eyelashes and the lighter markings around the eyes, reminiscent of mascara only white. This fine example studied us intently as we made our way back to the gite.