Our last true digger died last year

Damn. Makes me weepy. Last time I I was in Paris, it was on the anniversary of the Liberation, and I ended up watching the parade and then walking clear crosstown to Notre Dame Cathedral and lighting a bunch of candles. I'm a pagan, but so what - it's about a light in the darkness and giving memory a place, isn't it, really?

it's about a light in the darkness and giving memory a place, isn't it, really?

Very much so. I always thought that's why it was a dawn service.

Anzac Day, as a National day of pride, probably hit an all time low in the 60s and 70s. The WWI servicemen (and woman!) were getting older and the country was questioning its position on the global playing fields. But we got through the Vietnam debacle and it's now an incredibly supported institution, with representation from all the conflicts in which Australia have been involved, and a growing drive to involve Australians with diverse cultures, and differing (wartime) histories.

Shiny new tagline - inspired by the discussion of the meaning of "Naff".

t on edit

And I posted before catching up. Not really appropriate to the discussion of Anzac day immediately before it.

billytea!!!!! I'm eating Smith's Potato Crisps' Great Australian Tastes Heinz Big Red Tomato Sauce & Meat Pie Flavour chips right now. And it's (not so) fucking great. And honestly? They do taste like cold pie and sauce. (And yes, I have no culinary standards. But at least I didn't pay money for them.)

I'm actually quite pleased to hear that they're roughly authentic, even if that does demand that they taste like cold pie and sauce. Incidentally, I discovered last year that Bec (DW, for those unfamiliar with the familial arrangements of Chez Tea) makes a bitchin' meat pie. I've since been trying to persuade her to make it again. Lamb roasts are another big nostalgia kick, but I can cook those pretty successfully myself anyway.

Holidays that have a serious or solemn component, always leave me uncomfortable with the salutation making. So when I say, Happy ANZAC Day, please pardon the happy bit of it, or take it and turn it into whatever would be an appropriate greeting.

Happy ANZAC Day, antipodeans.

I must admit to listenig to "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" on the way to work this morning.

I remember Princess Anne or someone shocking the press by telling some paparazzi to naff off.

Orf. It's very important that you pronounce it "Neff Orf" if yuo want the proper Windsor cred.

Happy ANZAC Day, antipodeans.

It only counts if you filk Waltzing Matilda, Cindy.

(No, seriously, go scroll the black and tan!)

I've just been watching the news and I'm glad that anti-war protestors didn't seem to have a vocal presence at the Anzac services. (Uh, unless they did and that both stations I watched edited it out which I think is unlikely). There was some worry about there being a disturbance in previous weeks, I think, but really since the day is designed for remembrance of those killed in war, turning up as a 'protestor' would have been a bit nonsensical.

Damn. Makes me weepy.

What always gives me allergies is the playing of the Last Post (which, for un-antipodeans who mightn't know is this proudly melancholic trumpet solo they play at all the services). I get the good kind of shivers listening to that piece.

(No, seriously, go scroll the black and tan!)

I saw it. I saw it hours ago. Was that the boy?

I saw it. I saw it hours ago. Was that the boy?

Lookit all those glorious capital letters :)

grrrr line breaks argh!