My Heart Runeth Over......

Firstly today is ANZAC DAY in New Zealand..... Once again Ian marched proudly down Onehunga Mall representing his time in the United Nations as a Border Patrol/ Security server for New Zealand. Such a great day with all the "old cobbers" enjoying camaraderie that we who have never seen war or hostile places can only ever imagine.... so whilst he sits down there no doubt having more than enough as far as the "liquid beverages" go I am sitting here reflecting..... on not only that but being so proud to have a really good friend highlighted in last nights 20/20 Video HERE and details below :

In a heartbeat
We all know life can change in a heartbeat; and for Maurice
Mangu that's especially true. The Auckland father was just 28 when
he collapsed at home after his heart stopped dead. He had
everything to live for, with his loving wife Renee, a little
toddler, and another child on the way. But as 20/20's Sonya Wilson
discovers it's what happened next that's mystified the medical
community. He was shocked five times - and was literally dead for
nearly 25 minutes. Just one in every 10 people survives to make it
to hospital - most are brain-damaged. His family reveals to 20/20
the secret to his survival.

there are SO many selfless people out there and I just feel very very proud to have two of them in my life :o)

You win some....

you lose some...... but that is all I am going to say about that - but apart from some minor hiccups along life's highway everything is going great - the play is rocking along, the weather is great, real friends are always there - 42 is a GOOD age! Also this is a short week! WOOHOO! Anzac Day on Friday so no doubt Ian will be getting all geared up to march and spend the day at the RSA - and no doubt someone else will be playing driver all day long :o) But it is his one day a year he really lets loose so am more than happy to hold his hand and feed him panadol before he goes to bed.....

AND the weather is still ridiculously beautiful for APRIL! What is that about? Anyways have a good week all and remember don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things!

What a Wonderful Day

poppies from the cenotaph at the Onehunga RSA

I was so very proud and humbled today to be a New Zealander and partake in a beautiful service and morning at the Onehunga RSA. The march to the RSA was magnificent with many folks (young and old) taking part and the actual cermony and lunch was the most well attended in RSA history. All in all a brilliant day and now I just have a rather "merry" husband to put up with :o)

Oh and PLEASE DON'T MENTION THE CRICKET!

Lest We Forget

Well tomorrow is ANZAC Day, which here in New Zealand means a commemoration and celebration of the Australian's and New Zealander's who have represented our glorious countries in a theatre of war or similar defence force role. All over the country there will be traditional parades and Dawn Services. Ian will be marching, as usual, at the Onehunga Parade which ends up at the RSA (Returned Services Association) Club Rooms at about 11.00am and I think the first drink is poured at 11.01!!! It is a day of rememberance and also a time for the "old cobbers" to get together, remember those who have fallen, and toast the fact they are still around.

On ANZAC Day, some 92 years ago, the allied forces staged one of the greatest coastal assault in history. The ANZAC tradition, the Australasian spirit, grew from the ideals of courage, endurance and mateship that those soldiers of the combined Australian and New Zealand Army Corps established on that day, April 25th, 1915.

These men, and women, fought for a freedom we now have the privilege to take for granted. In this push for the strategic lands of Turkey, the allied forces lost almost 50% of their forces in the first wave alone. The statistics are sobering - Australian 26,094 injured (7594 killed), New Zealand 7571 injured (2431 killed). A loss of life sustained to better their future; our future.

Please take the time out tomorrow to reflect on the life you have, the life people lost their lives to protect. Our thoughts are with the families of those who lost Fathers, Grandfathers and other family members, and also to the current serving members of the Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces here, and overseas.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

LEST WE FORGET!