A time to remember and give thanks

In Australia and New Zealand today is the day that we take a moment to pause and to thank our armed forces for their sacrifice so that we can live the kind of life we have. 105 years ago the first ANZAC soldiers (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) landed on the shores of Turkey during World War 1. It was not a pretty campaign but it brought two countries very firmly together in mateship and it showed the world the toughness of these foreign fighters as well as their ability to make the best of a bad situation.

Each and every year both countries stop to remember Anzac Day and all the other war and peace efforts of our armed forces. We give thanks, think of those who have been brave enough to put their hand up and say they'll put their life on the line in the name of country.

This year thanks to that dreaded disease there are no gathered crowds, no marches of past and present soldiers but we have instead attended this service in our own way by lighting a candle at the end of our driveways and watching the sun rise as we remeber and give thanks.

In my mind was my Grandfather, John, whom I never had the privilage of meeting. My dad has told a few stories though of how this famer from Tepko (a little community just outside of Murray Bridge) raised his hand when the call came out during World War Two. Grandpa was part of the Royal Australian Air Force. I have seen a photograph of the German submarine he and the crew he belonged to forced to surrender. My Great Aunt as well was a nurse during this same war. I wonder what they saw while so far from home and what stories they could have told, today especially.

There are many soldiers I know serving now, young people around my own age who have shown that same bravery. So to those who have put up there hand yesteryear, now and into the future I just wanted to say thanks.

We shall always remember, we shall always be grateful.

Lest we forget.

2020 proving to be a year of chaos

What a year 2020 has turned out to be for all of us. As fire and flood were prominent in the media we in Australia held our breath and hoped for the best. The Laws and Crooks spent the end of February and early March on our first ever cruise (6 days around Tasmania) and then traveling across Victoria and South Australia revisiting some of our favourite spots. Our timing could not have been better...

Two weeks after our return to normal lives COVID 19 turned the world on its ear. It has been something that started so far away (from Australia) but came upon us so unexpectedly. Now so many have no job and those that do have a job are doing their best to redesign it on the fly so we can still offer the services our communities need when and where they need it (of course all the while keeping that magical 1.5 meters apart).

With hope we watch and wait for when this massive change to the entire world will begin to calm. There is no change in sight yet, it may be a month, it may be longer. My fingers are crossed that normal returns to us all soon. What ever the new normal will be... Too much has been lost already.