Author: telboy2

ANZAC morning

images.duckduckgo

 

It is ANZAC morning.

We did not make it to the Dawn Parade, this year held at the new memorial park at the National Memorial, Pukeahu. We were concerned about the popularity this year and the feasibility of being anywhere close. Seeing the coverage on the tv this morning, it was packed, and possibly a sensible decision. Images from this morning are here.

The ceremony was moving to watch even in the the comfort of the armchair. The choir had boys from St. Pats in it as well as students from other Wellington schools.

The television schedules are full of ANZAC related programmes and later the NRL will have a very sporting flavour. Currently watching a history of the planning and implementation of the invasion.

I very briefly heard a comment from an historian on Maori TV that commented on the current popularity of attendance at ceremonies. In comparison to the 75th anniversary, when attendances were low, the current commemorations have been embraced by the country. This is I think reflected in the interest of WW1 elsewhere and an apparent greater connection of the younger world with the events, history and their significance. A more romantic and idealistic view of history without the now reality of the participants being long gone or nearly gone for WW2?

 

 

 

ANZAC 2015

The important national event is fast appearing and given it is the 100th anniversary the interest is that much greater this year.

Here is an excerpt from the Guardian:

Princes and prime ministers are in Turkey to mark 100 years since the disastrous campaign that became a cornerstone of Anzac pride

 
A British soldier pays his respects at the grave of a colleague
A British soldier pays his respects at the grave of a colleague near Cape Helles, where British and French troops landed. Photograph: PA

Prince Charles and Prince Harry will join heads of state and dignitaries from more than 70 countries in Turkey on Friday and Saturday for a series of commemorations marking the 100th anniversary of arguably the most ill-conceived, poorly led and, ultimately, senseless campaign of the first world war.

In nine months of bloody slaughter, about 58,000 allied soldiers – including 29,000 British and Irish soldiers and 11,000 Australians and New Zealanders – lost their lives during the ill-starred operation to take the Gallipoli peninsula; a further 87,000 Ottoman Turkish troops died fiercely defending their homeland, and at least 300,000 more on both sides were seriously wounded.

 

Good Friday

A long weekend lays ahead. Currently enjoying a slow start to the day although the virus in my throat being somewhere else would be nice. Reflective parts will ensue with church and Malvina Major duty.

jesus-christ-crucifixion-150

Family time and fun along the way. Walks, exercise and laughs with the boys. No egg hunt this year?

The Bees remain famous

Well the situation remains tight at the top of the Championship as the BBC report:

How it stands after 39 games

Championship table

This is the closest promotion race since the second tier became known as the Championship in 2004.

So once again Brentford remain in the limelight. Still a chance of a trip just down the road to Wembley? Automatic promotion looks too far off with their drop in form recently.

Who would have believed it?

 

imgres

Griffin_Park_aerial_2011

Family visit to see Selma

A very early(midday) trip to the cinema for family (including Swen) fun and apparently an education session for Isaac. He is studying the American civil rights  in history currently. Off to the Lighthouse in Petone into the cinema not much bigger than our lounge.

A good film, fine performances and instructive to have  the violence depicted to convey the reality that people fighting for their rights does not just involve talking and verbal discussion. Fear and physical risk is involved as well as the psychological humiliation that pervades racist attitudes.

Everyone enjoyed the film; the usual suspects cried.

As commented afterwards, is there racist irony in the fact that the lead did not get at least a nomination for the best actor at the Oscars?images imgres

 

Ace driver

Congratulations to Joe as he passed his full driving test today.
Wonderful news and good for him to have his success.
imgres

Driving Instructor

Back on the the teaching trail for dad.

 

Eleanor has decided that learning to drive is actually necessary and that the restricted license needs to be had by the end of the year. Swen is smiling at the reality that he does not have to be the teacher.

 

So today was day 2 of the regimen, our first trip to Ian Galloway Park.

 

A day of clutch control and getting into second gear in the racy Fiat Punto.

 

 

Trip to the Cinema

The French film festival has hit Wellington. We booked to see two films, the first of which was last night. Une Nouvelle Amie came with a good intro and appeared to have potential. However, it fell extremely flat with me and Shaz.

index

The premise is that a newly widowed man is a transvestite and his behaviour is re-ignited by the death of his wife and his wife’s best friend becomes part of this world. The film did not really seem to know what it was portraying and came over as ridiculous and farcical with the twists and turns of what was happening. So 0/5 for that one.

Before that we had been to see Salt of the Earth a documentary of a Brazilian photographer , Sebastião Salgado, who is a renowned for his social documentary work and later natural work. It was very good but unlike EQ and Swen we did not cry at the images of human misery that he documented around the world: Rwanda, Ethiopia and the former Yugoslavia.

We are maybe just too hardened by history and work to be affected in the same way now. The beauty of youth and the progression of aging?