Went and enjoyed myself for Australia Day yesterday - well, for half the day at least, until I got hot and bothered and sunburnt and decided to retreat home. Also, South Bank was far too packed to get any food, take away or otherwise, and headed over to the city to recharge my batteries.
On the train in, was sitting near three kids and their uncle, of Lebanese or Arab descent. The kids were so excited about being on a train - obviously they don't do it much - and I thought back to my childhood in Upper Hutt, where a trip into the Big Smoke of Wellington was met with much awe and wonder. To go back to those more simple times would sometimes be nice.
It was nice to see excited children - I think they were going into one of the Australia Day things - and they and their uncle had the usual broad Australian accents, but still, one of the kids asked whether they were Australian. The uncle replied, of course, you have Australian citizenship. But they weren't of the stereotypical white northern European mold, but it was nice to see them excited about the national day nonetheless.
Of course, flowed into my thoughts of being an uncle taking the kid or kids out for a nice day out - my brother's current girlfriend is pregnant, due sometime in September apparently. Which will make an addition to his daughter, coming up two years old next month, who is with his ex in Hamilton, back home. Brother and current girlfriend are going over for the kid's birthday, and it would be interesting being a fly on the wall with a couple of the conversations there.
Anyways, back to yesterday. Started off by going to Roma Street Parklands, where the 'official' Australia Day events were staged. The army and air force marching, to an artillery band, the band dressed in white with those peaked colonial hats from the 19th century. Speeches by indigenous leaders, both from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, more speeches by the Lord Mayor, in full regalia, the Premier, the Governor, who inspected the troops as well.
The heat was intense, it says it was 30 degrees from the weather bureau information, but I am sure it was hotter than that, sweat was streaming off me in short sleeved shirt and shorts, goodness knows what it would have felt like for the troops in full uniform. One of the girls must have collapsed or something, because she was led away by a medic quick smart. They were out in the sun for at least three quarters of an hour, just before midday.
A 21 gun salute, with artillery pieces instead of just rifles, was very impressive, as well as an F-111 flyover. And then it was over, the troops marched off, and were invited back to the VIP tent to sup with the Governor and assorted others - the Premier and Mayor had gone by that stage. Saw on the news last night that in City Hall they did a citizenship ceremony with 650 people. Hmm, with those types of numbers, makes it sound like one of those mass Korean weddings.
Stuck around for a short bit, was thinking of wandering around the gardens, but it was just too damned hot. Saw people, families and friends just relaxing picnicking, and caught a moment where one of the soldiers came over to the rope - which had kept the general public out - beer in hand, and have some time with his family and probable girlfriend. I'm sure they were very proud of how he had marched, and it was a sweet moment to observe basically.
Hadn't managed to convince my family to come out with me, they observing the holiday by going to the local home hardware store instead, but yeah, would have liked to have just had some people to share a picnic with or something, Roma Street was nice and quiet and relaxed.
As opposed to South Bank, which was busy and noisy and packed. By the stage, I had the first inklings that I was sunburnt, so my humour was starting to fade anyways. Tried to get some sunscreen on at one of the info booths, but it wasn't giving me any, and I wasn't about to stand around to ask anyone, as it seemed that if you even looked an assistant's way, you were plastered with fake tattoos of the flag. If you read what I wrote yesterday, you will know how I feel about hyper patriotism.
Wandered around for a bit, there was a good school band at the piazza, from Ferny Grove State High School I think, very nice mood piece of music, wouldn't be out of place on Kid A or Amnesiac, and then they did a piece with boomboom click clack boom on the drums - full of energy, was very enjoyable.
All the cafes and takeaway places were packed to the rafters, and it was hot hot hot, and all the shade was taken, so after observing a few more picnickers and people kicking soccer balls around, playing cricket and using the barbeques - yum, sausages on the barbie, what a divine smell - I hopped on the Citycat that had just pulled up and went over to the city.
Hungry Jack's for lunch, the whole top floor almost entirely taken up with people speaking Chinese, and JB's for a bit of a shop later, I was on the bus home. I had thought of taking in the fireworks at 7.30 but with the heat and sunburn and all, I had left town at 3 instead.
Came home to see Australia batting already in the one dayer against England, a day nighter where they didn't even need to turn the lights on - what a pummelling. Poor England.
Paul
On the train in, was sitting near three kids and their uncle, of Lebanese or Arab descent. The kids were so excited about being on a train - obviously they don't do it much - and I thought back to my childhood in Upper Hutt, where a trip into the Big Smoke of Wellington was met with much awe and wonder. To go back to those more simple times would sometimes be nice.
It was nice to see excited children - I think they were going into one of the Australia Day things - and they and their uncle had the usual broad Australian accents, but still, one of the kids asked whether they were Australian. The uncle replied, of course, you have Australian citizenship. But they weren't of the stereotypical white northern European mold, but it was nice to see them excited about the national day nonetheless.
Of course, flowed into my thoughts of being an uncle taking the kid or kids out for a nice day out - my brother's current girlfriend is pregnant, due sometime in September apparently. Which will make an addition to his daughter, coming up two years old next month, who is with his ex in Hamilton, back home. Brother and current girlfriend are going over for the kid's birthday, and it would be interesting being a fly on the wall with a couple of the conversations there.
Anyways, back to yesterday. Started off by going to Roma Street Parklands, where the 'official' Australia Day events were staged. The army and air force marching, to an artillery band, the band dressed in white with those peaked colonial hats from the 19th century. Speeches by indigenous leaders, both from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, more speeches by the Lord Mayor, in full regalia, the Premier, the Governor, who inspected the troops as well.
The heat was intense, it says it was 30 degrees from the weather bureau information, but I am sure it was hotter than that, sweat was streaming off me in short sleeved shirt and shorts, goodness knows what it would have felt like for the troops in full uniform. One of the girls must have collapsed or something, because she was led away by a medic quick smart. They were out in the sun for at least three quarters of an hour, just before midday.
A 21 gun salute, with artillery pieces instead of just rifles, was very impressive, as well as an F-111 flyover. And then it was over, the troops marched off, and were invited back to the VIP tent to sup with the Governor and assorted others - the Premier and Mayor had gone by that stage. Saw on the news last night that in City Hall they did a citizenship ceremony with 650 people. Hmm, with those types of numbers, makes it sound like one of those mass Korean weddings.
Stuck around for a short bit, was thinking of wandering around the gardens, but it was just too damned hot. Saw people, families and friends just relaxing picnicking, and caught a moment where one of the soldiers came over to the rope - which had kept the general public out - beer in hand, and have some time with his family and probable girlfriend. I'm sure they were very proud of how he had marched, and it was a sweet moment to observe basically.
Hadn't managed to convince my family to come out with me, they observing the holiday by going to the local home hardware store instead, but yeah, would have liked to have just had some people to share a picnic with or something, Roma Street was nice and quiet and relaxed.
As opposed to South Bank, which was busy and noisy and packed. By the stage, I had the first inklings that I was sunburnt, so my humour was starting to fade anyways. Tried to get some sunscreen on at one of the info booths, but it wasn't giving me any, and I wasn't about to stand around to ask anyone, as it seemed that if you even looked an assistant's way, you were plastered with fake tattoos of the flag. If you read what I wrote yesterday, you will know how I feel about hyper patriotism.
Wandered around for a bit, there was a good school band at the piazza, from Ferny Grove State High School I think, very nice mood piece of music, wouldn't be out of place on Kid A or Amnesiac, and then they did a piece with boomboom click clack boom on the drums - full of energy, was very enjoyable.
All the cafes and takeaway places were packed to the rafters, and it was hot hot hot, and all the shade was taken, so after observing a few more picnickers and people kicking soccer balls around, playing cricket and using the barbeques - yum, sausages on the barbie, what a divine smell - I hopped on the Citycat that had just pulled up and went over to the city.
Hungry Jack's for lunch, the whole top floor almost entirely taken up with people speaking Chinese, and JB's for a bit of a shop later, I was on the bus home. I had thought of taking in the fireworks at 7.30 but with the heat and sunburn and all, I had left town at 3 instead.
Came home to see Australia batting already in the one dayer against England, a day nighter where they didn't even need to turn the lights on - what a pummelling. Poor England.
Paul
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