ANZAC Parade

Today is the 100th anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli in the First World War. An event that had wide ranging repercussions and shaped the future development of three countries (Australia, New Zealand and modern Turkey). There are a number of commemorative activities going on here and yesterday we were treated to a parade of restored vintage and reproduction vehicles.

First up was a detachment of mounted cavalry.

Followed by two lads charged with clearing up after the horses!

No parade in New Zealand is complete without a Scottish Pipe Band. This one is from Scots College.

Following on came a procession of motorised transport, mainly from Peter Jackson's collection.

There were a number of machines blowing poppies into the air.

This bus has the mayor and other dignitaries on it.

Two tanks were parked on Taranaki Street. I got quite a shock seeing them as I walked into work in the morning..

Finally a flypast of three biplanes.

There are some more pictures and a video in this news report.

Easter in the Horowhenua

On Saturday we travelled up towards Levin. We called in on an Arts and Craft Show at Trinity Farm.

It was a lovely spot and apart from one heavy, but brief, shower the weather stayed clement.

There was a variety of pottery and mixed media exhibits,

including several figures from Alice in Wonderland,

 

set in a relaxed rustic setting. (No pictures I’m afraid, but the coffee and whisky fruit cake was excellent.)

We met up with Ali, Alan and Sophie for lunch, then revisited Lake Papaitonga that we first saw in the middle of last year

 Thanks for the selfie, Alan.