Sunday, October 16
Oct. 17th, 2022 12:22 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gottawonderToday I am grateful for:
Continued lovely weather.
No one rattling around in the house besides me and the critters.
I could actually get up and not have to be fully clothed.
I had a nice phone conversation with Mom. She did not remember the recent family gathering today, but otherwise seemed in good spirits.
I went to see River, and had a very nice day with him. Once again, I did not drill any of the ground work or anything today, because we don't have any upcoming shows. Kind of nice just to enjoy each other's company.
The other rider that I usually see on Sundays was there, and we had a nice chat. I initiated the idea that we could go for a trail ride in the bigger horse pasture, if she wanted to. She kind of hemmed and hawed, and was non-committal, so I gave her a few minutes to make up her mind, which she did not. So I just walked out of the barn with River, and went for a trail ride.
I had a very nice time. It doesn't take long to get around the pasture, so I went around it a few times, weaving in and around the bush on all the little trails the horses have made. River was a tiny bit concerned at first, until I showed him where his friends were in the pasture, then he was fine.
When we got back she was riding in the outdoor arena, so we joined her. I didn't say anything about the trail ride.
We rode with her for a while, and then I took off his tack and rode with just the neck rope for a while, and he did really well with another horse being in the arena. We did practice some lateral work and circles with just the neck rope.
R and her husband left a jar of home made tomato sauce in my car for me, and I thought that was very nice.
I had it with some quinoa when I came home.
I didn't do much at home, noodled around on the computer and had a nap. I've been napping a lot lately, but I think I've been running on nearly empty for sleep for several weeks now, so it all evens out.
Today I learned that in 1940, after the fall of France during WW2, the British Royal Navy attacked and destroyed, neutralized or captured the largest ships in the French naval fleet in order to ensure they would not fall into German hands.
Most of the French fleet was neutralized peacefully, but the French Admiral stationed in Algiers was not compliant in the terms offered by the British.
"The Admiralty had drafted four options for the French admiral: (1) to put to sea and join forces with the Royal Navy; (2) to sail with reduced crews to British ports, where the vessels would be impounded and their complements repatriated; (3) to sail with reduced crews to the base at Dakar, where the ships would be immobilized; or (4) to scuttle his ships within six hours. The Admiralty had instructed Somerville that should Gensoul refuse all of the offers, the French ships were to be put out of action in their present berths, using “all means at your disposal.”
The French Admiral Gensoul dragged out negotiations with the British, until it dawned on the British Admiral Somerville that the French were stalling because they had called for other ships to arrive for support, and that they were likely going to reject the British's terms.
So, they fired on the French, who were only days before their friends and allies against Germany.
In the end, the French navy was kept from being used by Germany, and had done a lot to turn the tide of the war.
Admiral Somerville was knighted for his difficult role.
https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/why-did-the-royal-navy-sink-the-french-fleet-in-world-war-ii/
Continued lovely weather.
No one rattling around in the house besides me and the critters.
I could actually get up and not have to be fully clothed.
I had a nice phone conversation with Mom. She did not remember the recent family gathering today, but otherwise seemed in good spirits.
I went to see River, and had a very nice day with him. Once again, I did not drill any of the ground work or anything today, because we don't have any upcoming shows. Kind of nice just to enjoy each other's company.
The other rider that I usually see on Sundays was there, and we had a nice chat. I initiated the idea that we could go for a trail ride in the bigger horse pasture, if she wanted to. She kind of hemmed and hawed, and was non-committal, so I gave her a few minutes to make up her mind, which she did not. So I just walked out of the barn with River, and went for a trail ride.
I had a very nice time. It doesn't take long to get around the pasture, so I went around it a few times, weaving in and around the bush on all the little trails the horses have made. River was a tiny bit concerned at first, until I showed him where his friends were in the pasture, then he was fine.
When we got back she was riding in the outdoor arena, so we joined her. I didn't say anything about the trail ride.
We rode with her for a while, and then I took off his tack and rode with just the neck rope for a while, and he did really well with another horse being in the arena. We did practice some lateral work and circles with just the neck rope.
R and her husband left a jar of home made tomato sauce in my car for me, and I thought that was very nice.
I had it with some quinoa when I came home.
I didn't do much at home, noodled around on the computer and had a nap. I've been napping a lot lately, but I think I've been running on nearly empty for sleep for several weeks now, so it all evens out.
Today I learned that in 1940, after the fall of France during WW2, the British Royal Navy attacked and destroyed, neutralized or captured the largest ships in the French naval fleet in order to ensure they would not fall into German hands.
Most of the French fleet was neutralized peacefully, but the French Admiral stationed in Algiers was not compliant in the terms offered by the British.
"The Admiralty had drafted four options for the French admiral: (1) to put to sea and join forces with the Royal Navy; (2) to sail with reduced crews to British ports, where the vessels would be impounded and their complements repatriated; (3) to sail with reduced crews to the base at Dakar, where the ships would be immobilized; or (4) to scuttle his ships within six hours. The Admiralty had instructed Somerville that should Gensoul refuse all of the offers, the French ships were to be put out of action in their present berths, using “all means at your disposal.”
The French Admiral Gensoul dragged out negotiations with the British, until it dawned on the British Admiral Somerville that the French were stalling because they had called for other ships to arrive for support, and that they were likely going to reject the British's terms.
So, they fired on the French, who were only days before their friends and allies against Germany.
In the end, the French navy was kept from being used by Germany, and had done a lot to turn the tide of the war.
Admiral Somerville was knighted for his difficult role.
https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/why-did-the-royal-navy-sink-the-french-fleet-in-world-war-ii/
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