Reach for the Sky

There is a smart line in the hagiographic TV series about the SAS, where the commander declares that the lesson he has learned - after attending a meeting with dubious allies and being ambushed - is that he must be selective about which orders he obeys. The honourable rebel, who is smarter than the government or the generals or the police department is a common trope in fiction and film, from Kenneth More as Douglas Bader to Clint Eastwood in anything to Arnie and Smiley. Break the rules to get things done for the greater good

It always works out for the best in the movies. 'Rogue Hero' is the title of the TV series and captures it perfectly. It's romantic and beguiling and exciting; you can't help but root for the charismatic individual against the stultifying system. In real life, I'm a bit sceptical. Flouting standing orders and due process might sometimes create romantic heroes, but sometimes it creates Grenfell or a crashed economy (just thought I'd mention that, Liz)

Today, a rogue hero came to call. The man who fits the smart meter. This mission had already defeated one engineer - repelled by the powerful resistance of "thou shalt not" (interfere with electrical fittings that don't belong to you). Today's young prince was made of sterner stuff, determined what had to be done, brandished his screwdriver and success was assured, to a background clanking of shattered chains. (Honestly: he removed the screw fastening a component to the wall plate, moved it 3cm and screwed it down again. This was not the liberation of Italy) 

We chatted a bit. He comes from a proud military family. He hinted that his father and uncle were keen on stern discipline and proper order. He also spoke warmly of his partner and young child, and his partner's battle with leukaemia - finally defeated on the 4th assault by a revolutionary new treatment called 'CAR T therapy', based on genetic engineering. I wonder if experiences like these make most rules seem a little trivial

He came early and worked fast; we found ourselves with most of an afternoon, a bright sky and bracing cold (which means firm ground). Like any hero after a successful denoument, we headed for the hills