I found myself heading, somewhat cautiously, into Brussels on the motorway from Zaventum - Brussels Airport - which is closed because they have no de-icer for the aircraft (its true).
I was emerging from a tunnel which leads onto Brussels biggest roundabout, which is called "Square" Montgomery (this is also true - you don't need to make stuff up about this place). Suddenly the traffic came to a halt, and Belgians were emerging from their cars in a state of what passes for anxiety here. So I left the warmth of my car to see what all the commotion was about.
Three cars ahead of me, a fecking great big blue skip was blocking both lanes. It had, literally, fallen off the back of a lorry. Thank God nobody was injured or worse.
It took some time for the police to organise another lorry to come and take it away.
I wonder if the total idiot responsible for this even noticed that the skip was missing when he arrived at his destination - stupidity is taken to new dimensions in this town, it really is.
Mongomery Square was originally called St Michael's Circle after the Patron Saint. After the liberation of Brussels by British troops it was renamed Montgomery Circle in honour of Field Marshal Montgomery who led the liberation.
ReplyDeleteThe name was later changed to Montgomery Square.
Interestingly, in the 18th Century a war strategy was devised by the British called 'The Square'. This involved at a moments notice, troops assembling in the shape of a square and firing outwards at all incoming assaults. It proved a very effective strategy and victory was assured many times. It was used successfully at the Battle of Waterloo.
Because of the historic success of the British devised 'Fighting Sqaure' used by British troops in battle, 'Sqaure' is now regarded and used as a British memorial and reminder of the victorys that have been acheived by the British.
The liberation of Brussel is one such great victory, and the changed name from Montgomery Circle to Montgomery Square is an emphatic reminder and declaration, that it was the British who were responsible for Brussel's liberation and no-one else.