Remembering Them 100 Years On...

ANZAC Day is a day to reflect... We raise a glass not only to those who have fallen in battle but also to those who lived through the horrors of war and survived, reliving those horrors for the rest of their lives...

I admit that I have never worn the army greens, born arms in the name of Australia. I don't know what it would be like to stand side by side with other Aussies and Kiwis facing a common enemy. I have no clue what it would have been like to land upon that famous Turkish beach with the bullets whizzing through the air around you... All I know is that I am thankful for the sacrifices of those men that century ago and just as thankful to all of those men and women who represent us on any warfront anywhere in the world.

So far from home
So far from friends
A day at the beach
Is this the end?

Brothers beside you
Bullets fill the air
Orders to claim the next ridge
Will we make it there?

So hot... Chaos
Orders make no sense
The ANZAC spirit drives us on
Leap the barbedwire fence

How many mates?
Which bullet was meant for me?
How much longer before it comes?
Death's day by the sea

I hope that your ANZAC day was a thoughtful one... A day of quiet reflection... A chance to pause for a moment and wonder how, why, what if... A moment to be proud of those who raised their hand so long ago and proud of those who still raise their hand today...

The Greatest Show on Earth

We have recently had the pleasure of taking our three little ones to a few performances marketed at families, Disney On Ice, movies like Home and Big Hero 6. Nothing compares to Lennon Brothers' Circus. The kids were so excited as we drove along Port Road in Adelaide and spotted the big top on the horizon. I must admit my own inner child also did a bit of a leap of joy! That was just the beginning...

To be sitting a mere meter away from where the lions would stroll into the centre ring, to see a young man with so much spark and confidence (and what looked like a severe lack of common sense) tackle the Ring Of Death and almost lose, to see tiny donkeys leap over a camel's head, not to mention the acrobats twisting themselves about.. So eye opening... Such amazing performances each and everyone...

Yes I am proud that we took Master 9, Miss 7 and Miss 5 to see such a truly amazing performance. I cannot remember if I ever saw a circus as a child... Though I would be surprised if my Dad and Mum never took my brothers and I to one. What I hope is that this experience I have shared with my kids they will have the chance to create again when they have kids of their own...

Let the magic live on...

The sad passing of a wizard of wit

It is with great sadness that I discovered today of the passing of one of my all-time favourite authors… The great wizard of wit, Terry Pratchett has been claimed at last by Death after a long battle with that horrid illness Alzheimers disease.

Author of the Discworld series Sir Terry Pratchett caused me at thirteen to cry with unstoppable tears of laughter as I read (and thankfully understood) his opening quip concerning the creation of new planets… referring to the process as ‘the big bang theory’. I was utterly hooked by the first paragraph of A Color of Magic, and have loved this man as an author ever since.

I lost my mother to Alzheimers disease while she was in her early sixties and it broke my heart when I heard that my favourite author was destined to suffer the same fate. I have been amazed by how Terry has used his profile however to try and influence how govenments and the world has looked at tackling such a cruel killer.

I am yet to feast upon the latest works by this great man and look forward to more tear causing laughs as I return to Anhk-Morpork and reunite with much missed friends. Pratchett had the ability to see the world differently, quirkily, he saw the soul of the world around him and the funny side to seemingly everything.

We have lost a fighter who proved that the pen (or keyboard) was indeed far mightier than the sword and that by laughing at ourselves we could learn so much more...

I feel like Rincewind as I stumble to find the right words to express my feelings of shock and loss... I guess I will never get to buy you that imperial pint of ale Sir Pratchett... Never get to see you live and hear you speak... Never shake your hand... Your stories are all we have now from which we can enjoy your wisdom and wit.

Fare well Sir Terry Pratchett... Rest in peace... The world is a much sadder place without you...

Our baby is growing up too fast

After the insanity of January and February combined it has come as a real shock to finally realise that our youngest is not Miss 4 any more. In one swift blow Miss 4 has started school and over a blur of a long weekend she has celebrated her 5th birthday very much in style...

Saturday we celebrated with two wonderful families and a highly entertaining trip to the Hahndorf farm barn (www.farmbarn.com.au/).
The staff there were all helpful, friendly and entertaining.
It was such a great time and enjoyed most definately by the birthday girl.

Then came the Monday... so NOT a holiday... 14 kids all running around, stopping only for a moment to
play pin the plat on Queen Elsa and pass the parcel (both games requested by our beautiful daughter.

Now I breath a sigh of relief that you are only 5 years old once.

What a way to celebrate!

The People of Murray Bridge Make Me Proud

Wow... What a beginning to the year it has been. Beautiful fireworks over Sydney Harbour is always a wonderful way to see in a New Year! We were lucky to have a friend over in Sydney who saw the pyrotechnic display first hand and filmed it so we could see the dazzling light display... Watching the gorgeous colours light up the sky it got us thinking 'What will this year hold for us..?'

For many the year of 2015 has started off with a great disaster, fire tearing through our state and threatening the homes of many of our friends and family. From this disaster though there have been many moments lately where local people of the Murray Bridge community (and other communities) have pitched in and banded together and we have all pitched in where we can to help out a stranger.

Great job Murray Bridge! Great to see the community spirit alive and kicking! It makes me proud to know when we as a community see someone in trouble we do what we can to help.

I also want to mention here my deepest respect to the fire fighters and other organisations (such SES) who are out there on the front lines doing what they can to extinguish this frightening fire. Awesome job all of you. Many thanks! I especially want to thank the many of you who do all this as volunteers. Without you all many of these services would not exist.

My thoughts go out to everyone whose lives have changed due to this fire. I hope that it will be out soon...

Welcome to 2015... The New Year has begun

Welcome to a new year to everyone and I hope that you have all had a wonderful Christmas and a safe but merry New Year celebration. The year ended pretty well for me with a new phone just before Christmas, something that I am still trying to get my head around... I also whipped up an entry for the Reader's Digest 100 word short story competition so now Ben and I have an entry in an overseas writing comp and I have an entry in an aussie one too. My fingers and toes and eyes are crossed for getting a great result with both...

Christmas was a family focused affair seeing most of my family and my wife's family over Christmas day and a few days after. It was great to see the smiles on the faces of my own kids, nieces and nephews and friends kids as they opened gifts. I know that it is an obvious observation but in my mind kids make Christmas... Their innocence and wonderment makes the holiday even more special no matter what the reason you celebrate the day.

New Year was a repeat of our last couple of years, a relaxed affair at our house with a few close mates. The party was a lot of fun and the clean up the next morning was easy as... We also had great mates from interstate drop in for a big BBQ lunch (great catch up BB as always... We love you guys!!)

January 2nd was a day of cool air conditioning, a fabulous family movie and an epic tantrum from our smallest one... It was Miss Four and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad afternoon!!!

Now it is the 3rd day of the new year and so many of our friends and family are fleeing the cruel fate of an unpredictable bushfire... My love and thoughts go out to all who are facing such a stressful, fearful beginning to the year... Stay safe and remember the greatest treasure is your life and your loved ones. Keep them close, in your life and in your heart. May the sky open up and pour down on that fire and may the brave souls who are out there fighting it and fleeing from it have some relief...

The Silly Season Has Arrived

To all,

Life has been crazy lately... more at work than at home... Which has seen me neglecting my blog.

To those who have been wonderfully following my humble slice of cyberspace and posting comments I cannot state enough apologies for such a crime!

For everyone else I guess this is me popping back up again and saying 'Hi!'

Seeing as Christmas is so close I thought it as good a theme as any (and yes I am horrified when I look back and see that Halloween was the last time I posted).

So what is Christmas now for you? Is it still the holiday filled with childhood wonder? Does it have reverent religious relevance?

I have three beautiful children and some wonderful young nieces and nephews who still enjoy the wonderment of Christmas time. For them there is nothing better than seeing the tree go up with the pretty lights flashing. Every present large or small is a surprise waiting to happen, a glorious gift needing to be unwrapped vigorously, the toy inside played with immediately.

For me this is a time to reflect on those that have passed on, to remember them fondly and miss them deeply. It is also a time to celebrate those who are still with us, friends and family, all loved ones. And for those precious moments it is a time to celebrate the pure joy of belief in love and magic and all things holy.

Merry Christmas to everyone and a happy, hopeful and prosperous New Year...

Thanks to all who have checked out my blog and a BIGGER thanks to those who posted a reply or two!!

Lets see if I can blog more in 2015...