Waterloop

Political sci-fi.  "What ifs".  Most of the time they're annoying to me, and every now and then a Q appears which I find amusing.   The Q here today is "Would the world have been better if France had won the Battle of Waterloo?"

My first thought was:  "Napoleon? Like anybody could know that."

Then, "there probably wouldn't be a dish called Beef Wellington", and Gordon Ramsay would immediately vanish.

The Napoleon is a pastry here... I think it's called  a vanilla slice in the UK.

Up till recently (about 7 yrs ago), the name of the train station at which we arrived in London from Paris on the Eurostar was Waterloo.   It still exists, but now the train arrives at St Pancras Int'l.  I wondered what the French must have thought every time they arrived at Waterloo in London.  Meaniepie alert.  BritisHumour.

"Our Leader, Comrade Napoleon, Father of All Animals, Terror of Mankind, Protector of the Sheep-fold, Ducklings' Friend: '"Gentlemen," concluded Napoleon, "I will give you the same toast as before, but in a different form. Fill your glasses to the brim. Gentlemen, here is my toast: To the prosperity of The Manor Farm!'"

"Gentlemen, to bed! Gentlemen, to bed, for we leave at first light. Tomorrow we battle, and we may lose our lives. But remember: death is but a moment. Cowardice is a lifetime affliction. Gentlemen to bed, for we leave at nine-thirty!"