We will remember them - the colour of War

Tomorrow brings us another Anzac Day, although sharing this day with Easter Monday, Anzac Day is so important to us, personally.
My great Uncle kept a diary from 1916 - 1919 which was striclty prohibited, no writings regarding the war were allowed but obviously he was one of many who wrote... not analysing the pros and cons or disagreeing with any plans, just the daily duties and travelling (of which was continuous) for him and his troup, the Lewis Gunners. The diary, like any of a young person travelling was quite descriptive of the beautiful countyside (France), the people they met and the kindness they were shown. Obviously this was between being trained and facing the enemy, called Fritz...'at midnight owing to a lovely moonlight night, the aircraft was very busy dropping bombs all around. One large shell bust about 10 yards away. Friday after sleeping most of the day through being up all night, we are again in the dread of them coming again' The diary goes on, and what struck me was the distances they marched, sometimes day after day, 19 miles, 14 miles, 7 miles. There were times when food was scarce, particularly food of any substance.
That is why we currently make the ANZAC biscuits, as they lasted the distance and didnt go off when being sent overseas.
I have posted a recipe 'to remember them'

ANZAC BISCUITS

Make some Anzac Biscuits to share around your friends and family.
These biscuits were know as the ‘soldiers’ biscuit’ before Gallipoli.
Anzac biscuits were economical to make, provided nourishment, and were durable to last being shipped from New Zealand.
Recipe: 50 gms flour
75 gms sugar
2/3 cup coconut
2/3 cup rolled oats
50 gm butter
1 tablespoon golden syrup
½ teaspoon bicarbonate soda
2 tablespoons boiling water
Mix flour, sugar, coconut and rolled oats together
Melt the butter and golden syrup
Dissolve the bicarbonate soda in the boiling water and add to the butter and golden syrup
Make a well in the centre of the dry mixture and stir in the liquid
Place spoonfuls on a cold greased tray, flatten with fork
Bake 15 – 20 minutes at 180 dgs C.

Wear your poppy, visit an elderly relative, or go a service and remember the journey from them to us....

Is Autumn moody???

Autumn, is probably the least favourite season. It's change signals the most contrast. We have that sense of the long winter ahead, for us generally lots of rain. But Autumn shows her best colours at the beginning, drops in temperature then a slight raise and you sigh thinking oh the good weather will go for a bit longer. On her beautiful mornings the air is crisp and the sky blue but really Autumn has moody changes as with my photo of the city on this morning's walk.

But with the Autumn change we also can change our lifestyle in preparation....food and the change of season is always a great option, the warm aromas of gently cooking casseroles and soups are an upside.
And time for one of those gorgeous Merino wraps for around the shoulders in the evenings, just to keep the chill at bay.
The best thing, I think, about Autumn is the leaves, I never tire of the colours. Whilst I have ceased gathering stacks of fallen coloured leaves to don the mantle, I still love them and marvel at the amazing colours of Mother Nature.

Maybe because she provides contrast, we symbolise it as change....but whatever we think of Autumn the colours are wonderful.

Broken but Brave

The next trip to Christchurch was always going to be a bit tough, I went with some foreboding. I had been told by some family members that it will be worse than I expect and quite different to seeing it on TV. They were right, to understand it you really need to see it in reality.
September 4th and Boxing Day had almost left our minds, and, outside of Christchurch, February 22nd was a couple of months ago. However being there is quite different. They live with it every day. Unlike a flood, or fire, or hurricane you dont really know when it will be over. 1020 shakes since 22nd Feb. Hard to get a handle on really! During the day it was quite business as usual, as I walked along the banks of the Avon in Hagley Park, children were on their way to school on scooters and bikes, and others walking to work. I thought how brave of those parents to carry on, let their children leave their sight, not knowing what the day may bring. On the other side of the road were groups of NZ Army personnel patrolling the cordon area, such a surreal sight. At night it seemed very quiet, on past visits I have laid in bed and listened to the boy racers in the distance, but now just the quiet, and for me really looking forward to morning, things always seem more threatening during the night. I guess they have now been in this 'cycle' for nearly 8 months and they must wonder every day when is it going to stop.
My first day I didn't take any photos, it seemed such an invasion to take photos of the broken buildings. On day 3 I did take some photos, of St Mary's Church in Merivale, where we had family members and friends who worshipped there, had been christened and married there and been farewelled there, so I wanted a memory of that important church.

I came home thinking how brave they are to stay, and some excited about the future of Christchurch and what a great City they are going to be part of, but I know it is going to be a long time before that City arrives.

Autumn Surprise

Autumn tends to arrive slowly, with an initial nip at your heels, that drop in temperature to let you know she is coming, and the slighly cooler evenings with lovely days. I find that it is really only the early mornings that show the coolness and of course the colour change. The early morning walk just needs a sweatshirt which is soon tossed and the gorgeous dawn is upon us. As I walk most mornings, dawn and sunrise tend to be a feature in the colour of my day, and I always give thanks and find my strength to take on the new day in the early morning. Also colour is an array at dawn, it just captures the world at her best, calm and shaking off the night.

So there it lies, with every colourful dawn just leads into a colourful day with movement...let the week begin.