ANZAC

Just returned from the dawn ANZAC service at the Auckland War Memorial - brrrrr. Autumn has definately arrived. We followed the full moon all the way to the domain, and were gobsmacked at how many others were following the same path. The 10-year-old God-daughter and I had a bit of a walk, to get to the Cenotaph, and we missed the arrival parade of veterans. However, it was pretty special just to be there, in the cold dawn, with so many others. The Herald estimates 2000, but I think that's extremely conservative. I'd say more like 4 or 5000. (there were FAR more there than the population of my school, which is 2200-ish). Still nothing like the 20,000 estimated to arrive at Anzac Cove in Turkey this year.
It was pretty amazing to stand while the last post was played, and the flags on top of the Museum were lowered to half mast, and have that many people silent for a whole, precisely measured, minute, and then to turn round and see the dawn breaking over Rangitoto. Click here for Dick Hubbard's dedication, and here for the address by the Governor General, Dame Silvia Cartwright.

We left our poppies planted in the ground in this cross, only to discover most others were placing them at the foot of the cenotaph where the wreaths had been laid.

On the way home I spotted a cat on the road, which I could see was obviously still alive, but looked unable to move. It was dreadful - we did a U-ey round the roundabout and went back to see if there was anything to be done. I lifted him off the road (a GREAT big grey fluffy tabby), and he squirmed away with only his front end working. Poor baby. Went door knocking (at 7am, you understand!) till I found his owner, who was understandably distraught. By then she had a couple of neighbours to support her, so off we went, and off they went to the vet. Spare a thought for some random woman called Allison, who will be feeling very sad this morning - I don't know if "Fester" (what a dreadful name!) will make it. My Honey got hit by a car about 5 years ago, and she's as bouncy as anything now - well, apart from that she's now 10, and sleeps most of the day on my bed in the sun. I would have hated if she had been left on the road like that for someone else to run over later.