Anzac Day for Australians and New Zealanders is more than just a special day, it has been and remains essential to the understanding of the emotion that sets these two nations apart.
It will always be that way and for perhaps the first time ever, we had Britain focussing on a campaign during The Great War that showed the gallantry in defeat; the understanding between enemies and the pointlessness of war.
It was a campaign which was doomed from the moment it was conceived.
Under British arrogant "leadership" they couldn't even find the correct landing place; couldn't decide on a proper plan of battle; allowed so many young men to die - Australians and New Zealanders alike, even after 100 years we do not blame the Turkish defenders for their losses.
Today there was a commemorative service for The Centenary of the Gallipoli Campaign and Anzac Day at the Cenotaph in London.
LEST WE FORGET
We decided that a day out in London was the order for the day and set about seeing a little more of a city that extends so far
First stop was St Paul's Cathedral
A walk down along Fleet St
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| The Journalists Church |
Across the road we popped into Starbucks for a pick-me-up coffee and found this -free charging for phones - probably not so new,but it was for us
Travelling on the Oyster Card is very easy,so we hopped on a bus down to Trafalgar Square
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| The statue Gift Horse at the square - a wry reference to an equestrian statue to William IV which never came fruition due to a lack of funds |
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| for your next trivia night - Nelson has a coil of rope with him at the top of the column |
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| The was a continued celebration for St.Georges day with food stalls all around. Why isn't there a gazetted public holiday for the patron saint as they do in Ireland and Scotland? |
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| Iconic buses |
We have to agree with Tom (nb Waiorou), the New Zealand consulate is just plain ugly, maybe even fugly
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| Horse guards |
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| Let's never forget the contribution of all |
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| Downing St - the gate known as Plebgate |
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| The Cenotaph |
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| Churchill's who's plan it was to launch an attack at Gallipoli |
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| Boudica or Boudicca and whichever pronunciation you want |
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| Thames and Houses of Parliament |
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| The Eye |
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| Such a wonderful tribute to those brave young men |
Then it was a train back to Trafalgar Square for lunch,but on the way we spotted this advertisement for an Australian breakfast drink.
"Aussies suck" - cannot say that about the Australian Cricket Team
Almost every visit to London finds us having liunch at the St Martins-in-the-Fields Crypt Cafe - it keeps getting busier every time we are here
After lunch we were off on the train to Wandsworth - no not the prison - we had made a booking to view a National Trust property simply called 575 Wandsworth Road.
We found out later that it is usually booked out for months in advance - Diane looked at it yesterday and there apparently were 2 cancellations (which she didn't know until) so she grabbed them.
Only 3 groups of 6 allowed per day - with a personal guided tour and history given - takes about an hour.
The house was purchased by a Kenyan man who was also British - he was a writer, poet and artist who transformed the house with a hand-carved fretwork interior - truly amazing to see the work that was put in - unfortunately there was no photography allowed - just the outside of the house.
Before we viewed the property we saw this guy "motoring" along on a uni-ped cycle - gotta get me one of these
We opted for the bus for our journey back - just a 5 minute wait outside this property; seat upstairs at the front - a great view and able to see plenty plus able to take some decent photos as well
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| Chelsea Bridge |
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| Sloane Square |
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| Royal Albert Hall |
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| The Abert Memorial |
Got back to the boat to find that there was a wide-beam hovering around seemingly looking for a place to moor up - rules along here are two narrowboats breasted up or just one wide-beam, otherwise it makes the canal too narrow to get boats past - especially wide-beams.
The young couple asked if they could breast up and we "said no and explained the rules; they went off - not away but off their tree.
Said things like: It is London and everyone does it; Never seen people like you before; You must have no friends.
And then despite our rejection they then proceeded to moor up alongside.
They were saying that they were here for the Cavalcade next week (the IWA Cavalcade).
We continued to try to explain to them that they couldn't but because it wasn't what they wanted to hear they ignored us.
The female simply walked across the stern of Ferndale to tie up to the mooring ring - when we asked did she not hear what we were saying, the classic line "I feel threatened by you so I am not talking to you" - that is the now usual reply and excuse for ignoring people.
We were having none of it and explained to them that they were simply ignoring any opinion that we had because it wasn't what they wanted to do.
The guy was starting to speak in more reasonable terms but little miss was showing her true side when she came up against anyone who dared to say "No"to her.
Bet Daddy had never said no to her either and she has gone through life getting everything that she has wanted and done whatever she has wanted to do.
Loved telling her to be quiet and go below and keep out of the way - that got her going.
Diane went along our gunwhale to take a photo of their license - so that we could report them - this all got her going - "Don't you step on our boat (Diane wasn't); Don't you touch our boat (she wasn't)"
"Who are you reporting us to?"
"To IWA"
"Who is that?" little miss asked.
She didn't even know which organisation was arranging the Cavalcade, didn't have a permit for the Cavalcade and if you look at the picture of their license below there is a whited-out boat name.
I suspect that it is actually someone else's license.
Little miss then made a huge mistake - she dropped the word - grounds for harassment and for what can be legally used as threatening behaviour
Eventually, as we kept the pressure on them, the guy thought (and knew) that this wasn't worth it and with Little Miss still going off - at us and at him - he untied and they moved back three boats where they found someone to ignore the rules and was prepared to put up with them.
As it seems now, they have locked the boat and disappeared.
There was such an arrogance about them that we have seen elsewhere in London - or is it just a southern thing as opposed to the hospitality of those further north than here
WANTED FOR BEING AN ARROGANT ARSE
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| Little Miss with the foul mouth |
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| this indicates that they are not properly licensed - no boat name |
No travel
