ANZAC Day was different

Our world continues to be quite strange - but everyone is adapting, some more easily than others of course. The news around the country continues to be positive with "the curve being very successfully flattened".

ANZAC Day (25th April) in our neighbourhood is usually HUGE with thousands attending the Dawn service just up the road at the Australian War Memorial and more thousands involved in the march down our Anzac Parade later in the morning.

This year for ANZAC Day many of us turned on our balcony lights or lit a candle at 6.00am, for the minute's silence and Last Post segments of the dawn service, which was live streamed by the ABC. Many people, in suburbs all around Australia stood in their driveways with candles and poppies and observed a minute's silence too.Those who could also played the Last Post - on all sorts of instruments apparently!

It certainly brought the country together in a moving and meaningful way this year - and hopefully some of these ways of commemorating ANZAC Day may continue when times are a bit less strange.

 After our dawn start to ANZAC Day yesterday we set out extra early for our weekly walk up Mt Ainslie with our friend David. It was our first foggy morning of the season.

 We're so lucky to be able to do these beautiful walks in the outdoors - even in these strange times. The bush seemed suitably moody for ANZAC Day.

 It was a day of many emotions, as it always is ........ Our dear Dad was born on the day of the ill fated ANZAC landing at Gallipoli in 1915, 105 years ago. But our Dad left us, way too early, on 21 March 1981. We were also thinking of our darling Maxie who left us 5 months ago now on 25th November 2019. We miss them both so much.......

I think this pic of Mum and Dad, Maxie and me may have been taken in 1954 - probably at a family wedding.... a nice memory from a long time ago.

 But on another note ........ we continue to enjoy our much quieter times with the young ones. They've been on school holidays for the last two weeks and enjoying a break from online learning. We've had a few days at our apartment - just a change of scenery for them as we can't do much. They seem very relaxed and happy though. Kids like them are so lucky in these times with their happy calm families and no pressure, although I know there must be a lot of kids out there not so lucky. I would say Ella and Abi are finding a lot to enjoy in these quieter times, although Ella is really missing her friends and can't wait for school to start again.

 Rob taught them to make bread - a very successful exercise.

 Ella made Za'atar bread, Abi made olive bread - both yummy!

It's back to "school" next Tuesday, and the start of term 3. Who knows how long learning at home will continue?

A somewhat weird Easter

This Easter has felt weird - in a year that seems more crazy as each month goes by. Of course we're all following strict social distancing rules and being ordered to #STAYHOME

I've got into designer mask making (sorry about the scary picture) - a sign of the times ..........

 while Rob has got into seasonal baking. There has been a very long break in his bread baking practice (like about 40 years) but it all seems to have come back to him this Easter ........ more yummy Corona - kilos for us!!!

 ..and some rustic olive bread ....... more yum!

  I took this picture on Saturday evening from our laundry window, facing Provan Street and the Greenwich apartments across the road. It was quite a strange sight on an Easter Saturday evening to see virtually every apartment lit up and everyone #STAYINGHOME!

 But luckily, despite Covid-19, some things have stayed the same - a beautiful Easter full moon in the night sky and the first dusting of Autumn colour in the trees outside our north facing windows (on a cool and rainy Good Friday).

 After a windy Saturday, today emerged absolutely Canberra perfect: 17oC and not a cloud in the sky - and with that beautiful crisp, blue toned Autumn light. My walk around the lake this morning (maintaining my social distance at all times) was heart stoppingly beautiful from every angle.

 Ella and Abi have not seen anyone else but Josh and Jody and us for about 3 weeks now - so they are always pretty pleased to see us on our regular visits, Especially today with some Easter treats in the offing (after the customary Easter egg hunt in the back garden)!

 Abi's organic cotton sloth patterned PJs went over well.

 And Ella dipped straight into one of the face mask treatments I'd added to her bag of treats (the girl who least needs a facial of anyone I know - but who enjoys them anyway!)

 See how much younger she looks after that??

The girls have been practising their yoga/gymnastic moves A LOT over the past few weeks - which makes a good distraction from their home school activities I'd say. Anyway, they're both looking pretty fit ......

And Abi is always super aware of nature around her .......

 The girls are actually getting on well - better than we expected given they don't have anyone else's company these days. Both girls are scarily good mimics, and very sassy - and they each have a great sense of humour. Joshie cooked us a beautiful meal tonight  and the girls had us laughing to tears most of the night over dinner. I don't know how Josh and Jody stay in control of this pair (but they do).