Unfortunately, Bottger failed to achieve this and soon gave up, but in order to please the king he attempted to make high-quality porcelain.

"People have to make compromises," says von Wachter, which often means taking a stopgap job with a less glamorous employer, and trying to switch careers or switch employers later on.

Israel's attempts to stop this fire eventually triggered the cycle of raids that led to Corporal Shalit's capture and Mr Olmert's new policy: a big army incursion.