Category: General

“I feel sure I am right when I say that the less the Afghans see of us, the less they will dislike us.”

– “Bobs” of Kandahar, 1880: Field Marshal Earl Roberts of Kandahar
Field Marshal Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts, Bt, VC, KG, KP, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, PC (30 September 1832 – 14 November 1914) – no slouch when it came to matters, oriental. His wikipedia entry makes interesting reading: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Roberts,_1st_Earl_Roberts Continue reading ““I feel sure I am right when I say that the less the Afghans see of us, the less they will dislike us.””

I know who I am backing!

It all dates back to the time Boris was in College. By College, of course, I don’t mean Oxford, but the boarding house reserved for King’s Scholars at Eton. Boris was a scholarship boy, while David Cameron, who was two years beneath him, was an Oppidan. Like George Orwell, Boris was lower-upper-middle, while Dave was unambiguously upper-upper-middle. Boris was the striver, the prize-winner, the boy who had to prove he belonged, while Dave just effortlessly fitted in. In spite of being older, Boris was like a younger, illegitimate half-brother to Dave, the heir apparent. He played Richard III to Cameron’s Edward IV. Continue reading “I know who I am backing!”