Civis romanus sum

One of the owners of this vehicle has blacked out the initial two letters of "DIESEL", leaving just "ESEL" which is the German word for donkey and often used to describe something or person who has to bear a heavy load. Thus a push bicycle is affectionately called a "Drahtesel" or "Wire Donkey". Some of course associate the donkey with stubbornness  - the blockhead, the jackass.

I trust nobody comes up with the idea of changing the "N" in MAN to a "Y". Indeed Mrs May has a heavy load to bear but my thoughts on the other "virtues" of the donkey seem to have the upper hand at the moment.

I think this version of the MAN truck is a second generation "Ponton-Kurzhauber" built between 1969 and 1994. Stands on the forecourt of an Ottobeuren Opel garage. There are no signs to say it is for sale but as it isn't registered (i.e. no numberplate) I suspect it is an heirloom that possibly makes the odd oldtimer festival..

Well today the deed was done and the letter handed over. I think the following sums up my doubts quite well:

"I therefore fearlessly challenge .......the foreign policy of Her Majesty's government has been conducted, and the sense of duty which has led us to think ourselves bound to afford protection to our fellow subjects abroad, are proper and fitting guides for those who are charged with the government of England; and whether, as the Roman, in days of old, held himself free from indignity when he could say Civis Romanus sum; so also a British subject, in whatever land he may be, shall feel confident that the watchful eye and the strong arm of England will protect him against injustice and wrong."
25 June 1850, Henry Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston.

I rather like some of his speeches to the House of Commons:

"I hold with respect to alliances, that England is a Power sufficiently strong, sufficiently powerful, to steer her own course, and not to tie herself as an unnecessary appendage to the policy of any other Government. I hold that the real policy of England—apart from questions which involve her own particular interests, political or commercial—is to be the champion of justice and right; pursuing that course with moderation and prudence, not becoming the Quixote of the world, but giving the weight of her moral sanction and support wherever she thinks that justice is, and wherever she thinks that wrong has been done...I say that it is a narrow policy to suppose that this country or that is to be marked out as the eternal ally or the perpetual enemy of England. We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow."
Ist March 1848

On a lighter note Wiki reckons the following event took place:

"A Frenchman, thinking to be highly complimentary, said to Palmerston: "If I were not a Frenchman, I should wish to be an Englishman"; to which Pam coolly replied: "If I were not an Englishman, I should wish to be an Englishman."