Monday, December 1, 2014
Remembrance Day
This was written a few weeks back. Took me awhile to feel okay to publish it.
Today is the 11th of November which is Remembrance Day. It is also one year to the day that my father died and it was also my parent's wedding anniversary. Funny, I can't remember whether they married in 1948 or 1949.
According to wikipedia, Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth of Nations member states since the end of the First World War to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November to recall the end of hostilities of World War I on that date in 1918. Hostilities formally ended "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month", in accordance with the armistice signed by representatives of Germany and the Entente between 5:12 and 5:20 that morning. ("At the 11th hour" refers to the passing of the 11th hour, or 11:00 am.) The First World War officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on 28 June 1919. The Treaty of Versailles was a shaming, punitive document and the effects of which largely contributed to the growth of fascism in Germany and the second world war. Nevertheless, we mark the 11th of the 11th of the 11th as a day in which the fallen are remembered in war, not the insanity behind the war.
The red remembrance poppy has become a familiar emblem of Remembrance Day due to the poem In Flanders Fields. These poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I, their brilliant red colour became a symbol for the blood spilled in the war.
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place, and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard among the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe;
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
- John McRae
In the Shrine of Remembrance Melbourne you can find the Stone of Remembrance with the biblical inscription GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN.
At 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month, the sunlight shines on the word 'Love' on the stone. I think that's really pretty special.
RIP Dad, I can't believe it's really one year since you've departed this life. I see bits of you everywhere, from the crystal duck wine decantor present you gave me, to the books you wrote on your life, and the cards you sent to us unfailingly every birthday.
Today is the 11th of November which is Remembrance Day. It is also one year to the day that my father died and it was also my parent's wedding anniversary. Funny, I can't remember whether they married in 1948 or 1949.
According to wikipedia, Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth of Nations member states since the end of the First World War to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November to recall the end of hostilities of World War I on that date in 1918. Hostilities formally ended "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month", in accordance with the armistice signed by representatives of Germany and the Entente between 5:12 and 5:20 that morning. ("At the 11th hour" refers to the passing of the 11th hour, or 11:00 am.) The First World War officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on 28 June 1919. The Treaty of Versailles was a shaming, punitive document and the effects of which largely contributed to the growth of fascism in Germany and the second world war. Nevertheless, we mark the 11th of the 11th of the 11th as a day in which the fallen are remembered in war, not the insanity behind the war.
The red remembrance poppy has become a familiar emblem of Remembrance Day due to the poem In Flanders Fields. These poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I, their brilliant red colour became a symbol for the blood spilled in the war.
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place, and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard among the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe;
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
- John McRae
In the Shrine of Remembrance Melbourne you can find the Stone of Remembrance with the biblical inscription GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN.
At 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month, the sunlight shines on the word 'Love' on the stone. I think that's really pretty special.
RIP Dad, I can't believe it's really one year since you've departed this life. I see bits of you everywhere, from the crystal duck wine decantor present you gave me, to the books you wrote on your life, and the cards you sent to us unfailingly every birthday.
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Children Without Technology
Shock! Horror! Gasp!
Who would have thought in this day and age it would be possible for youngsters to not be screaming 'I'm bored' the minute there is no access to technology. But here is the evidence that it IS POSSIBLE.
Here are an assortment of young people playing a board game.
I believe they may have been in conversation (although most likely about computer games).
Oh my goodness, is that a BUTTERFLY NET and a frisbee?
Some sort of card game?
Just soaking up some rays.
Happy Birthday Conor and Shane.
Who would have thought in this day and age it would be possible for youngsters to not be screaming 'I'm bored' the minute there is no access to technology. But here is the evidence that it IS POSSIBLE.
Some sort of card game?
SoHappy Birthday Conor and Shane.
Friday, October 3, 2014
Monolithic Signal
Last night we were disturbed by a high pitch signal which
turned out to be emanating from our newly installed sewerage system. I always assumed that sewerage systems
consisted a basic structure of pipes and poo, and the concept that there was something
high tech lurking below had never really occurred. The high pitched squeal went on long enough
to disturb the neighbours until the water company told us how to switch it off
at the electricity mains.
A later disturbing development was when water company
personnel turned up at 10.30pm. They
told us that signals had been set off in a number of systems in the area simultaneously
and they had NO IDEA WHY!
Could our poo pipes be trying to contact aliens?
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Horizons
Another Shot at the Wonderful World of Blogging!!
In an attempt to see if I can coherently coordinate some thoughts and images around life, books, film, birdwatching, psychology, social issues and anything else that randomly seems interesting at the time, I have decided to resurrect this blog because, you know, I think the name is pretty awesome and what a waste if I never do anything with it.
.
Horizons are important. We spend a lot of our lives looking at a very close view of the world, increasingly so as we increase our use of screens for entertainment, information, relaxation, education. I know from visit to an optometrist that you need to change focus for your eye health, to prevent strain and damage.
Psychologically, it's important to 'zoom out' and get a larger view of life, to get a sense of distances and being a smaller part of something larger. Living where I do, it's often hard to see horizons. I can't see the forest for the trees, if you'll forgive me for the truism. Sometimes, it's even hard to see the sky in more than a few patches between leaves and branches.
Lastly, the pineal gland is stimulated by sunsets and sunrises to produce melatonin - a hormone that helps regulate our circadian rhythm as well as being an immune system booster.
So gazing at a horizon, especially at sunset and sunrise should not just be for the lovers and poets, but for the lover and poet in all of us.
In an attempt to see if I can coherently coordinate some thoughts and images around life, books, film, birdwatching, psychology, social issues and anything else that randomly seems interesting at the time, I have decided to resurrect this blog because, you know, I think the name is pretty awesome and what a waste if I never do anything with it.
.
Psychologically, it's important to 'zoom out' and get a larger view of life, to get a sense of distances and being a smaller part of something larger. Living where I do, it's often hard to see horizons. I can't see the forest for the trees, if you'll forgive me for the truism. Sometimes, it's even hard to see the sky in more than a few patches between leaves and branches.
Lastly, the pineal gland is stimulated by sunsets and sunrises to produce melatonin - a hormone that helps regulate our circadian rhythm as well as being an immune system booster.
So gazing at a horizon, especially at sunset and sunrise should not just be for the lovers and poets, but for the lover and poet in all of us.
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