We Shall Remember Them... Anzac Day...

After our exciting day being interviewed with TV...

Next day was Anzac Day... And the service

at the 19th Armoured Regiment memorial...

Read the history here.

 The meeting of these veterans who first met seventy

years ago and were some of the fortunate who returned

to life and a future to be lived...

My dad, Les Wood on the left, Des Tomkies and Jock McPhail.

 Some jokes and laughs shared...With Lachie Griffin...

Des thinks Dad's hat needs adjusting!

 So much to talk about and remember...

 

 A line up of the four... The only four veterans from
the 19th now alive in Christchurch.

 

 All ready...
Jock McPhail has the wreath and the honour of laying it.

 It's 7.30am, thankfully not raining but cold.

There was a great turn out of people, including families 

and young people including the Girl Guides and Boy Scouts.

 It was wonderful to see so many people and so much

interest in honouring the fallen and veterans of all the

wars but particularly of the 19th Regiment.

The flag being unfurled...

The stone memorial and plaque...

 Laid with wreaths and poppies

 Everybody was invited to lay their poppies and tributes...

 Young and old...

 And the Ode...

"They shall not grow 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."

 

 The most haunting for me... The bugle playing

"The Last Post"

The lowering of the flag as it was played...

  I hope the four meet again next year...

"As we remember them"

Anzac Veterans... My Dad... On The News...

I'm in Christchurch to share the commemorations

of Anzac Day with my father. It's a special year or him.

First a television interview...

Here he is arriving at Anthony Wilding Retirement Village

 where it's all going to happen... Being greeted by the

manager... and made a fuss of.

Walking to meet his old war mate... 

The look on his face says it all...

His mate Lachie Griffin... They last met a decade ago...

Getting ready for the camera... Beret on...

Television One - New Zealand

And Action...

There were lots of memories...

Questions and stories...

They both thoroughly enjoyed it all...

It was a  very special meeting and time of remembering.

Here is a link to the TVNews clip:

Rocks... On The Beach... And Climbing...

 There are amazing rock formations all around this area

but particularly at Pohara and Paynes Ford, ten minutes

drive south from Takaka town back to the Takaka River.

These are some photos I took on yet another rainy day

as I walked along the beach. These rocks are the cliff face

around the road...

These are on the beach.

 Sharp and jagged...

 

 A storm water drain flows out to make this little 'creek'.

I have spent many happy hours here with my two

grandsons when they were younger... Playing

and making dams and swimming.

 

 The tide leave pools where all sorts of treasures might be

found... Crabs, shells...

 Rock climbers come here from all round the world.

I think they're amazing...

The rocks that is...


Rock climbing is definitely  not my 'thing'

... And It's Still Raining...

 These are the views from my bus this morning... Just five minutes ago.

 I ventured out between downpours and quickly snapped.

The wire fence in the foreground is about a meter away from my bus.

 Across the paddock to the stand of gum trees.

The wind has blown lots of them over... All lying on the ground.

You can see the effect of the wind across the tree tops.. 

It's turned  more to the east so I'm not rocking and rolling so 

much as I'm now facing into it.

Looking to the south west... Out my back window... More

rain coming...

And it has, it's pelting down again.

Rain... And More Rain...

 We have had days and days of rain.Today has been the worst

with wind gusts up to 110km and torrential horizontal rain.

Later tonight thunderstorms are forecast and more rain tomorrow.

In the paddock beside my bus numerous trees have blown over

and water is overtaking the grass.

I walked on the beach this afternoon during a lull, or so I thought!

I had to lean into the wind not to be blown backwards.

Trees down means power cuts and we have been without power

most of the day. In my bus I have solar power so lights and

internet access and my fire is going... the advantaages

of being off-grid!

These are a few photos I took... the beach is deserted...

The hills shrouded in cloud and mist.

 West... North... And East...

 The tide is out.

 Can't see the hills at all...

 Or the Farewell sand spit.

 I got back to my bus totally soaked but wonderfully invigorated...

Off to bed now to listen to rain squalls on the roof.