Belgium, Memorial 1815 at Waterloo, Belgium.
What can you expect for five euros? The deeper question, though, is why folks buy any of this kind of stuff. Eiffel towers by the million, little bulls and donkeys; keyrings for marques one doesn't own, leather cowboy hats. Shiny gold coins that are advertised on tv as collector's items, just like mugs and dishes bearing pictures of royalty. What purpose do these serve, other than extracting the hard stuff from people? Are the Napoleons edible? I think a lot about food at this time of year; don't think much about X'mas pudding, but very much about the mince pies we used to enjoy with a little sherry. I almost went nuts smelling them in the oven. Better to have eaten and lost etc. etc.
I wonder if there is any kind of similar fatal attraction experienced by the "lower" mammals? You know, something silly that they often can't resist? Do apes play with old digital cameras, that kind if thing? I admit that "my" mare does anything for a carrot. Except that now she can't. As the road into town is pretty much deserted in winter, and worried since my recent mugging of a repeat performance, I have not been walking into town much, though I did yesterday and today, mainly because being a holiday, if I move my car from its current parking slot, I know it will be occupied when I return, forcing me to move beyond street lighting. If that makes any difference in a virtually empty place. Did I mention there are ever more cars on local roads?
Anyway, as I had some carrots not used in the last big soup production run, I thought I'd treat the poor girl. There she was, at the wrong end of her field, and she proved yet again to have a good memory because she shot to attention the moment that she heard my whistle. I waved the bag, and she moved towards me, then stopped short. Poor thing is back on a short rope, and I have no way of getting carrots anywhere near her. I tossed them into the field, but perhaps that was more cruel than just waving and wishing her season's greetings. In the event, I managed both and moved briskly away, not daring to catch her eye again. Perhaps they will release her. Actually, that happened yesterday, and today, one carrot was still lying visible, and she was still roped. I guess rats don't eat carrots.
