ANZAC Day 2024

The Ode

The Ode of Remembrance is a poem that is commonly recited at Anzac Day services to commemorate wartime sacrifice.

They shall grow not 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 Ode comes from For the Fallen, a poem by English poet and writer Laurence Binyon. The poem was first published in The Times on 21 September 1914. It was later published in the Winnowing Fan - Poems of the Great War.

By mid-September 1914, less than seven weeks after the outbreak of war, the British Expeditionary Force in France had already suffered severe casualties. Long lists of the dead and wounded appeared in British newspapers. It was against this background that Binyon wrote For the Fallen.

The Ode is the fourth stanza of the poem. The verse, which became the League Ode, was already used in association with Anzac Day commemoration services in Australia in 1921.

For the Fallen

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children 
England mourns for her dead across the sea, 
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit, 
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal 
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres, 
There is music in the midst of desolation 
And glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young, 
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow, 
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted, 
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not 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.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again, 
They sit no more at familiar tables of home, 
They have no lot in our labour of the daytime, 
They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires and hopes profound, 
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight, 
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known 
As the stars are known to the night.

As the stars shall be bright when we are dust, 
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain, 
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness, 
To the end, to the end, they remain.

- Written by Robert Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)

LEST WE FORGET 

A tale of three lounges

My friend who has back and hip issues like me was visiting her son’s home in Perth. 

She said that while sitting on  his lounge she never got any pain. 

Once she got home she purchased the exact same lounge 

Hubby and I were talking about replacing our lounge as it had no support left and was causing us both lots of pain. 

When my friend told me about her new lounge we visited to check it out. 

It was so nice to sit in, was higher than ours  and so very  supportive 

So off the three of us went to buy one for our home 

It arrived today and it’s all set up 

I now need to work out how to get rid of the indents in the carpet 

It even has the seal of approval from the princess 



Word of mouth. Is the best advertising 

And we all hope we have much less pain now 

Gorilla gardening

The sun came out in the afternoon and I was sick of being inside so I went out to water the veggies and check on their progress. 

The fig tree was damaged in the big winds a few months ago and I had been waiting for it to drop its leaves so we could transplant it into the ground 

Unfortunately it was very very heavy. 

So hubby got his machine to help do the job. As luck would have it. Wonderson was at the workshop servicing his lovely wife’s car. So he helped 

First the sling had to be placed around the pot 

And then slowly it was lifted into the air 





A final bit of help getting all branches over the fence and the job was done 



Hubby then trimmed it back and planted it into the ground. 

If it lives great. If not. I’ve got a few cuttings that have taken to plant out. 

A much  better way to move heavy pots don’t you think?

It’s washing day today so I’m off to hang out the bedding. 

Enjoy your day 

Weekend

Friday as usual was ana day and she arrived looking a little tired.  

We had cuddles on the couch and when she wokenu0 proper we had breakfast. 

Toast, with peanut butter and some apple. 

But by eleven she wanted a sleep. So by the time she woke up her grandfather was here and she was a happy little Lady 

Grandpa is the favourite. Grandma is second best lol 

I finished off my hexi cardigan and it’s very warm indeed. 

I might add to the band around it. It’s curling so I think a couple of more rows should fix that. I have plenty of yarn left 

Yesterday was art day and we started a new paining.  Its always exciting and a little daunting when we start something new 

And we never make it easy on ourselves. We’ve picked a picture, from the internet, of the giants causeway 

I’ve got a few pics of my visit. But as the day was grey and misty we decided to use a picture that has a beautiful sunset sky. 

I’ve started a top down jumper for hubby. I’m kinda winging it. 

I started using a pattern. But it got complicated. I’m a see and do person.  Not a read and follow   

So I found a YouTube and I’m using that as a guide. 

I’ll definitely show you how it progressing in a few days. 

Out to dinner last night for a friends birthday. A lovely little Italian restaurant In Montrose 

It reminded me of one my sister in law and I went to in Rome   The food was fabulous 

We had a set menu for $50 a head and I got to say I was so full that by the time the endless pizza part arrived I just couldn’t eat another bite

So today is a rest day for both hubby and me. 

He’s lit the fire, it’s looking very grey out there. 

I’ll continue working on his jumper while he watches sports and car racing on the television 

Yes we are a boring old couple now. 

And that’s how we like it. 

Enjoy the rest of the weekend. 

Getting stuff done

Yesterday I planted some of the bulbs in these two pots. They already have some growing and others just pushing through. My aim is to try and have something flowering all throughout the year 

The rest of the bulbs went into the garden in front of the window I can see while sitting inside. 

After the sun started to go down. But before dark. I planted out the vegetables 

There’s rainbow chard, I call it silver beet. Kale broccolini and mini cabbages. 



And in here we have sugar beets   I think they’ll make a nice change to toasted potatoes 

This morning I pined the quilt so it’s now ready for sewing. 

Won’t be today. It’s hard work with a very bad back so I’ll give it a few days before I start. Unless I feel ok 




And now it’s back to this. I had put aside my hexi cardigan as I was waiting on yarn from Denmark. 

That’s when I started the blanket. It kind of took over for a while. 




So apart of going to the doctors today. To get my scripts. I’ll be working in this. 

Oh and I need to work out what we will be doing for dinner. 

Any suggestions? 

Mercury retrograde

What a day. Mercury’s retrograde is definitely making itself know. 

Mercury governs all communications. And today there have been internet breakdowns, computer problems and just general chaos 

I had to ring and make an appointment for a colonoscopy and gastroscopy 

First the phone didn’t go through. 

Then I tried doing an online booking. 

Nope 

Pulled my hair out had a sit tried again to book online 

Nope 

Tried the phones and success 

And I was only number six in the queue yeahhh 

Having done that it was advised I come in to fill in paperwork as they didn’t know how long before their computers were up and running again 

I’ve just got back. Seriously. What a pain the the posterior 

And I’ve still got the actual appointment to go! 

This is after going into town to meet the girls for coffee 

Did a quick shop then headed to Bunnings for veggie seedlings 

And I may have purchased a few bulbs oops lol 

I’ve planted the bulbs 

I’m having a little rest before I go out to plant up the seedlings 

And last night I finished the Weasley inspired blanket 

I like how it turned out.
It’s heavy and very very warm 



Once the machinery shed is built. Part of it will be turned into a living space. With wood stove and couches that turn into beds 

I’m going to need blankets for those 

Now I’ll just have to decide what pattern I’m going to attempt next 

Progress report

The quilt is on the table and waiting on the pinning 

All squares are done it’s a large blanket so definitely a double bed size at least 



 Crocheting them together. It’s a much quicker process than stitching. I like the effect of the burgundy lines 

Should have it finished in a few days 




And even though her  birthday isn’t until the 15th. We had her birthday party yesterday. 

The first party was at a play centre which we didn’t attend. 

The second was at home which grandparents attended. 

Ana looked like she had a wonderful day and she got lots of lovely gifts. 

She still has her birthday celebration at day care to look forward too 

I’m so very glad that part of my life is over. It’s so much easier bring the grandma and just showing up