One difference between we French and the anglo-saxon mindset is that
I was chatting with the dad of a friend of Gwilym. He works for a multinational aeronautics firm, so he speaks pretty good English (though we stuck to French), he knows that Welsh culture is different from English culture (hurrah !) and ... wait for it ... he has visited Cwmcarn many times. He said, "Of course, one difference between the French and the Anglo-Saxon mindset is that we are very logical while you are very pragmatic." I think I looked puzzled and doubtful... "You must do something", he said, "and if that does not work then you will change and do something else until you find out what does work. We must reflect before we do anything." He's so right. Although the verb 'to reflect' exists in English I don't think I ever used it and I certainly never did it. I MUCH prefer to do SOMETHING than nothing, even if it is the wrong thing. After all, in a crisis to do nothing is usually the wrong thing. However here in France I find that w...

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By the way, 1, the author of the article seems to neglect a whale (or Big Fish), as a means or motivation of arriving at Ninenvah, and 2. although the poster doesn't explain where Mermaid Quay is, from the description that is rendered, I take it to be either Liverpool, London, Bristol or one of the cinque ports.
You may also find the following 'link' of interest if you like Masefield and don't wish to buy a book:- http://www.theotherpages.org/poems/masef01.html
(Whilst on the subject of Masefield, I had previously thought that the poem I now know to be called 'Night Mail' had been written by Masefield, probably because of the comparable staccato rhythm of the last stanza of 'Cargoes'. However, to correct my error, I now know it to have been by Auden. I bet I forget and attribute it to Masefield again at some stage in the future!)
One possible tenuous link with France could be Napoleon's comment that the British are a nation of shopkeepers?
Oh yes! And also just how boring they were and how late they went on, (always well past the anticipated time), and just how fed up and tired my sister and I were by the time we got home. Anyone who makes their children participate in them should be tried as war criminals. (Sorry Mum)