The Burghers of Calais

You have probably recognised this sculpture by Auguste Rodin as 'The Burghers of Calais' - it does not stand in Calais, as you might think, but in Victoria Tower Gardens, London. Under French law no more than twelve casts of this piece were permitted after Rodin’s death. The London casting, purchased by the British Government in 1911, is one of them. The original statue still stands in Calais.

Completed in 1888. It serves as a monument to an occurrence in 1347 during the Hundred Years' War, when Calais, an important French port on the English Channel, was under siege by the English for over a year.

The story goes that England's Edward III, after a victory in the Battle of Crécy, laid siege to Calais and Philip VI of France ordered the city to hold out at all costs. Philip failed to lift the siege and starvation eventually forced the city to parlay for surrender. Edward offered to spare the people of the city if any six of its top leaders would surrender themselves to him, presumably to be executed. Edward demanded that they walk out almost naked and wearing nooses around their necks and be carrying the keys to the city and castle. One of the wealthiest of the town leaders, Eustache de Saint Pierre, volunteered first and five other burghers soon followed suit and they stripped down to their breeches. Saint Pierre led this envoy of emaciated volunteers to the city gates and it is this moment and this poignant mix of defeat, heroic self-sacrifice and the facing of imminent mortality that Rodin captures in these figures, which are scaled somewhat larger than life.

In history, though the burghers expected to be executed, their lives were spared by the intervention of England's Queen, Philippa of Hainault, who persuaded her husband by saying it would be a bad omen for her unborn child. Wikipedia

More birthday celebrations

Hi, sorry for not having made a post for some time but part of the reason was that I have been to London for a few days. Obviously I had to photograph the London Eye (which looks more like a big bicycle wheel) so that you can compare with Belfast's big rickety wheel.


The reason for being in London was Dr. Em's **th birthday - and to celebrate we took in a 'show'.
The show we (when I say we I mean of course I... ) selected was 'Wicked' (the untold story of the witches of Oz) and it is absolutely fantastic. Great music, great acting and a lot of humour. Two of the actors some of you may remember are Susie Blake and Nigel Planer (man, has he aged! - but then haven't we all?).

London Bomb

Call me cynical, call me sceptical but is it not too much of a coincidence that a car bomb should be found in London a few days after Tony Blair steps down from being Prime Minister and hands over the reins to Gordon Brown. Especially in light of the fact that it is not yet known what Gordon Brown will decide to do about the troops in Iraq.

Now it may just be that I am partial to conspiracy theories but what better way to ensure that the new Prime Minister continues with the current oppressive security policies and the war in Iraq by staging a terrorist attack on London. After all who could possibly withdraw troops from Iraq now? Now that they are hitting at the heart of Britain.

This quote from 'The Guardian' might put things into perspective:

'Rajeshree Patel, who was in the nightclub when it was evacuated, said the car "was parked at an angle by the front door of TigerTiger with all four doors open and the headlights on."

Now isn't that just what any self respecting terrorist will do? Leave a car bomb parked in such a way that will instantly draw attention to it? Somebody wanted that device to be found before it caused any damage.