The PR Blog

The introduction of Eddie to his new home would have to wait, as I had to get to Sydney on business, three hours behind the wheel. I had everything I needed for the dog, collar, lead, bowl and a half bag of dried puppy food. And so we went, Eddie comfortably settled on the passenger seat, grinning at me—probably thinking—“sucker.”

I have been to England and France many times always accompanied by my wife.

We have visited all the famous places in England and played Monopoly in real life terms in London.

When I come across something of interest I like to ponder it in detail.

This usually ends up with a tug on the sleeve and a word in my ear telling me “Come on. You have seen enough of that. I want to look at the shops.”

A while ago, we published an article about Steampunk. It amazes me that since then, many comments on our blog come back to steam power. I suppose it is because steam power played a crucial role in the Industrial Revolution, transforming societies and powering the advancement of technology. My late Uncle was a great fan of steam power and often held court expounding its virtues. 

It marked a significant shift from human and animal labour to mechanisation, revolutionising transportation, manufacturing, and agriculture. People are fascinated by steam power because it represents a pivotal moment in human history, symbolising progress, innovation, and the birth of modernity.

A far cry from today, when we are increasingly told to turn the clock back and return to the dark ages. For dark ages they will be if we don't pull our fingers out and stop with the woke wankery invading our world today. 

Anyway, back to the purpose of this article. Why are we so fascinated with steam power? 

These days, we hear an awful lot about polls. Polls about The Voice, Trans Gender, Abortion, Ukraine. In fact, polls are conducted on all contentious subjects. It is amazing to think that so many people when polled, respond with the third option of "I don't know. " 

I wonder. Is it because they don't know? Or is it because they are too scared to admit their true feelings? Who, these days, is brave ( or foolish ) enough to get off the fence and choose a side? 

Charles de Gaulle and Marshal Philippe Pétain represent contrasting figures in French history during World War II. De Gaulle symbolised resistance, French sovereignty, and national pride, while Pétain's collaboration with the Nazis and authoritarian rule greatly overshadowed his earlier reputation as a World War I hero.

Today, de Gaulle is celebrated as a hero; Petain, a traitor. 

So who was this man who fell from grace so spectacularly? Was he a villain or was he simply a man who had never really changed at all? Was it simply his reaction to the world in which he found himself?