Anzac Day

Most Australians will know the date April 25, 1915. Anzac Day. What does it mean for you? What do you know about the day which inspires the public holiday?  Miss 6 thinks it’s the day we remember the men who went to war and died, and that we lay wreaths on statues to tell them we remember.  Her gorgeous little friend at school knows it as the day that, ‘men had a fight on the beach in Turkey and died.’  I suppose that’s the brunt of it.

Why April 25?

The French and British had many ships damaged in 1914 by the Turkish Army (known as the Ottoman Army back then) whilst using the Dardanelles in an effort to try and capture Constantinople (now known as Istanbul).  It was decided by the allied forces that the only way to gain control of the Dardanelles and re-establish communications with Russia, and the release of wheat and shipping in the Black Sea, was to invade from the shores first and occupy the Gallipoli Peninsula. This would hopefully subdue the Turkish fire and hopefully provide a better outcome.  A lot of men were going to be needed.

So, Andrew Fisher, our then Australian Prime Minister, vowed to defend Great Britain to, ‘our last man and our last shilling.’ It’s appropriate to remember that in 1915 Australians thought themselves more British than not, so loyalty was understandable.

On April 25, 1915, at 1:00am the Anzac men were woken and fed a hot meal, ushered quietly into boats, ready for the now infamous Gallipoli landing. Just before dawn, they arrived. 

For those who haven’t seen pictures of the peninsula, we’re not talking about a beach covered with long stretches of flat, soft sand. No, the troops were met with unforgiving terrain occupied with cliffs that seemed to rise immediately from the water’s edge, and whilst the intended place of landing is still hotly debated amongst historians (it is said that a much more topographically sympathetic landing point was intended), we now know this place as Anzac Cove.

 Today, we commemorate all Australian and New Zealand troops serving across all conflicts, all humanitarian missions and all peace keeping duties. .  

Anzac Day for the modern Australian is largely about giving thanks, remembering past hardship, and for me, about encouraging my children to learn that peace and happiness has come at a price, and should not be taken for granted.  

Their Name Liveth For Evermore

This memorial is dedicated to the South Australian servicemen of the Vietnam War, 58 of whom made the supreme sacrifice, depicted here with a Vietnamese Comrade. On April 25, we remember all conflicts, all contributions, all sacrifices. 

not being up the duff!

Pregnancy is a 40 week commitment with a special surprise at the end. The surprise is that even after you drop the baby, you still look pregnant for a little while after. Mum never told me that. Probably a fitting retaliation for all the years of torment she suffered with me as a teen in her house.

Some other things they don’t tell you? Swelling. Our first pregnancy came with some unwelcome fluid. Actually ‘some’ might be an understatement. Let’s replace that with ‘copious amounts of’. Yes. Much better.  

Other Mother’s will know what I’m talking about when I say you can go up a shoe size or more during pregnancy.  Your slim little ankles with the little blue bird tattoo and feminine chain delicately adorning your bony little talus? Yeah, well they’re now called ‘cankles’, and there is a distinct possibility that your blue bird will grow into a vulture.  Only, for me, it was only one foot. Awkward.  If only I hadn’t have eaten all those salty snacks in the first trimester, maybe the salt wouldn’t have invited the water into my ever ballooning body!  ... but the salt. Oh God how good was the salt!

You will, undoubtedly, spend a small fortune on products you’re sure were designed for overweight men and the elderly and infirm. First its heartburn medications, then its heat packs, padded seat covers and compression tights. Oh, and sexy underwear? It's rare. Think brassieres that could be mistaken for some sort of sunshade, and that’s not even the embarrassing stuff! 

Well, no matter. Sit down and have a glass of wine and chill out with a bit of Brie on a biscuit. HaHA! You can’t! Salmonella and Listeriosis are now your silent enemies.   Best you play it safe and pour a cup of raspberry leaf herbal tea instead. No, wait. That’s going to induce early labour. Best you have dry crackers. If you can keep them down!  

Have I made pregnancy sound terrible?  It’s not. Well, not for most people. The reality is that it's what you make of it. 

It’s such a short time in your life, but yet in that time you trump any other attempt you’ve had at doing the whole ‘homemade’ thing and create a person.  Is that not amazing? Some women manage to turn out perfect little humans in less time than the standard 40 weeks, quicker than a house can be built!  You make a whole little human, and all the nourishment they need for their time in the womb and then the six months thereafter.  Be amazed people! If Houdini could perform such magic we would have knighted him.

So… all the little things like swelling, not eating soft cheese and laying off the wine? Worth it. So, so worth it.