ANZAC DAY, Australia. For me the end of an era.

    I  woke late this morning, it was nearly ten am., it was unusual for me to sleep in on this auspicious day.

    Age has wearied me together with my old comrades who were close friends as well as mates who were in close contact during our experiences in world war 2. Last year I was the  lone person of our association attending the Anzac ceremonies. Our chairman Harry H was the person who held the ever diminishing group together, but dear Harry was very sick and passed on last May.
   There was no suggestion we should meet today from any of my association, no phone calls no mail just a blank silence; which is not surprising as most of those left are much older than my modest 84.75 years. In the meantime  I shall however, keep in contact as much as possible with those who are left.
     Our association was formed from the surviving men of the British Pacific Fleet WW2, Many have lived in Australia most of their adult lives, having opted to stay or migrate to Australia  after the war.
It may surprise most people to know that after being in commission for two years, the average age of the crew in our ship was just nineteen at the end of the pacific war, I was very old at 19 and one month.
     I suppose to many people around the world this Anzac day thing is a mystery, so it is best researched on Google. However, its concept arrives from the original expeditionary force to fight in the Middle East and at Gallipoli in Turkey during WW1, although at Gallipoli; French, Indian and British forces were also privy to this  horrendous cock up (read about it) The title Anzac is derived from the Australian and New Zealand Army corps, I believe.

     No doubt our American Allies will have little knowledge of this, as most Yankee doodles have little knowledge regarding what happens beyond their own borders let alone their own mystic interior. Some Americans believe our country is misspelled and is in Europe someplace. New Zealand is confusing to the yanks as well, most would fail to point it out on the Atlas.  So for the uninformed , it lies to the east of Australia, and is the second greatest sheep producing country in the world after China. The people there are very nice; particularly a sweet and charming lady blogger I know who lives in Auckland. New Zealand is also well known for the quality of their Bouncers supplied to the Australian Club scenario.

   It is a very sombre day and it has begun to rain, I have since returned from the garden after hand feeding a family of magpies with chopped bacon, also the veggies are coming along nicely now the rabbit from next has been deported.
Rosemary and I have G/ Daughters Tamara 17 and Jacinta 15 staying over Easter and today, We love them lots.
Looking out of my window I am watching the rain bucketing down, it seems a dismal day, but it should not affect the revellers as the statewide club infrastructure will be gladly helping itself to this annual Bonanza and cash registers will ring continuously until late in the day.

Remember. Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage.

Have a wonderful day,....Vest.... Back soon.