Anzac Memoirs

My son has been practicing the Last Post for Anzac Day at school He's been practicing everyday for the last 3 months and I know he's got it sounding good because last week I even found myself humming it.

Our neighbours will probably welcome a break from it, with the trumpet ringing out with that emotional tune around 8am everyday, but it's been a good chance for him to practice some persistence and to think of people other than himself.

When I think of those soldiers in the fields of Flanders, or hanging to the cliffs of Gallipoli, I think persistence is a good word to describe their strength of character. Particularly in World War 1 when so many young people signed up for adventure and instead got horror, I think their willingness to finish the task against all common sense and in the most trying of conditions, shows great character.

I'm hopeful than none of my children will have to go to war, and I'm thankful that a modern war would not be like that anyway, but I think we all owe it to those men and women to be thankful for the life we have, however ordinary that might seem.

Handbag Adventures

I heard a couple of guys talking on the radio yesterday about the Queen and how she always has a different handbag. They said they'd love to know what she actually had in her handbag. That got me thinking, what would she have?

A photo of the corgis and the grand kids?
Some tissues and a bit of lippy?
After all, I can't imagine that she needs any money, keys or even a driver's licence. That's what all those servants are for, isn't it?

Then I had a think about what my handbag says about me. Hmmm, well apart from the usual things like keys and a wallet, there's a scrunched up Woolies docket, a packet of Bandaids and Panadol, some tissues and a lip gloss.

Then I thought I'd have a good old clean out and this is what I found: three plastic army men (you can never have enough of them can you?); a bead necklace made with love and care; a squished Mintie someone through in there at a party the other day; these earrings I've been looking for, and; a $30 Target exchange coupon that expires in four days time.

As you can see, it was quite a good find. So what does this say about me? Clearly it says 'MUM'. I was hoping it says beautiful, sophisticated and successful, but I think it just says daggy, struggling-with-all-those-interest-rate-rises but loved. That that's wehn I threw it all back in and made myself a cup of tea. After all, what could be more valuable that being loved?