Anzac Day

I have gotten a bit slack on the blog, and this post isn't even going to mention running.   It's about how we spent Anzac Day last Saturday.

Ever since I can remember I have always gone to an Anzac Day ceremony, way back in a past life I played with a brass band, back when I played with FYCB we would attend three Anzac ceremonies on the one day.  Even now I still go, and I probably will forever more.

So last Saturday was an early start.  We had gone to a function on the Friday night and by the time we got home and got to bed it was 12.30am !!  With our alarm set for 4.00am.  Ouch!    Bleary eyed we got up, had a coffee, Mike got himself ready and then we drove near on the hour to get over to Penshurst as Mike was playing pipes.  We have gone to Penshurst for many years now, with Mike piping for them, it's a lovely community event.  This year instead of the 10am service they were going for a dawn service commencing 6am.

The night was still and cool, but not overly cold (certainly scarf and jacket weather with hands firmly in my pockets).   The service was lovely, very moving, a local woman sang and she had the most incredible voice it cut through and then hung on the air.  Mike played his lament as the wreaths were being laid, the lone piper.

I reckon the entire little town turned out.   And afterwards they put on a sausage sizzle and hot coffee breakfast, it was nice to have a chat, as usually we are racing off.

So home we went, Mike flaked it on the couch for an hour or so, and then we headed off for the 10am Mortlake service, as spectators.   It involved a parade, a wreath laying and then a service.  I assisted with a collection for Legacy whilst "Onward Christian Soldiers" was played, I was amazed people were throwing notes in the tray.

Look at that wee little girl on the left there, marching along holding onto her daddy's kilt.  Every now and then her hat (buzzby is that what you call them) went slippy sliding on her head and someone would come out from the gathered crowd and upright it again!

There was a memorabilia display at the RSL, some amazing old newspapers and artifacts.  I really enjoyed it.  Our CWA decorated the hall with poppies and red, blue and white streamers.  The hall looked great.   The crosses were a reminder of the people from the Mortlake area who died in WWI.

And our CWA ladies and other helpers did not disappoint, there were two huge tables groaning with good country fare.  And whilst I didn't run on Anzac Day, I did do laps of the morning tea table I'm afraid to admit!  I did then go for a run on Sunday morning, in the rain.  Impressed?

Och Aye for a wee run!

Bit of a catch up from the past week, one day at a time.  It's been a big week!

Last Sunday Mike and I headed to Ballarat to the Highland Festival.  Weather forecast was for a warm day but thankfully most of the day the sun was behind cloud cover so that was a blessing in itself.  Plan was we were to get there about 11am as with typical band jobs there's a lot of waiting around as Mike wasn't playing till about 3pm.  I really felt for them wearing all their clobber.

So we found where the band was set up and dropped our stuff, chair, picnic basket and the like, and my plan was to leave Mike there while I went for a run around Lake Wendouree.  

It's a beautiful running track, the Steve Moneghetti running track with a 6km loop round the lake.  What a jewel in Ballarat's crown.  The running track/pathway was well maintained and signposted every .5km with how far to the nearest public toilets, how far to the closest water drinking fountain, and a bit about the nearest landmark.  I must admit I did wonder if there was an unwritten rule that you needed to run anti-clockwise.  My first lap I ran clockwise and everyone was coming the other way.  So the second lap I changed and went anti-clockwise!  Two laps done for a total of 12km, warm, slow going, but done.

I mentioned the sign posting, I wasn't kidding, you couldn't miss it.  Oh how this would be so great to have in Warrnambool along the promenade, at least to mark the kms.

And of course this area around Lake Wendouree is also known for the famous black swans.  They can be mean and nasty and I tell you this one looked quite ferocious until it neared its arse at me!!

After changing and freshening up I had my picnic lunch and soon enough in the afternoon the band competed.  Ouch, just as the cloud cover cleared.  The sun was biting!  There he is...

Mike needed to hang around for the massed bands after the individual bands had all completed.  By that stage I had had enough of pipes, so I told Mike I was going to sit in the park in the shade and come get me when he finished.  I had a lovely chat to my bestie on the phone and just chilled listening to the pipes sounds floating across from the banks of the lake.

All in all a win-win.  Mike played at the festival, I got my run in, I got to support him and we got to spend the day together.  Yay for the moons aligning.