Anzac Day 2010

.

You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye,

Who cheer when soldier lads march by,

Sneak home and pray you'll never know,

The hell where youth and laughter go. -Siegfried Sassoon.

Last year I attended the Anzac Day dawn service at McDill Air Force Base. It was a solemn and moving occasion and one which filled me with pride as a multi-national group remembered the fallen Diggers, heroes who bravely fought for our freedom.

General David Petraeus stood 0nly feet away from me at the service. Australian soldiers mingled with others from all over the world. Turkish soldiers were present and one Turkish officer quoted Ataturk who famously said,

.

"Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives; You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country.Therefore rest in peace.There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours.You, the mothers,who sent their sons from far away countries, wipe away your tears;your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well."

Ataturk, 1934

.

I was particularly captivated by an Admiral from Norway. Seriously, he looked like the salty sea dog from the Birdseye Fish Fingers ads. White beard, all neatly trimmed, perfect white uniform. I could not have imagined an Admiral who looked more nautical.

After the service we had mingled together at breakfast, held at the Officers Club. I sat next to a U.S Marine who was telling me how he had sailed on a ship, into Anzac Cove, on the morning of April 25, one particular year. What an experience, one that I would so much like to have for myself one day.

Our small town does not have a dawn service, or a parade of proud diggers, so It was up to me and the Colonel to remember them in our own small way.

I had to work today, horror of horrors, and what a shocking day it was. It seems that on weekends we are always terrifically busy and there are never enough staff. I am forced to run myself ragged around the store, but that, dear reader, is a topic for a whole other blog post. Look for it under labels that include the word 'slavery' among other choice words. *smile*

A highlight of the day was when a couple came in and identified my accent. Most often people think I am English, so it was nice to be recognised as an Aussie. They had spent some time Downunder and even wished me a happy Anzac Day. Bless. What nice people.

I cooked up some lamb chops and smothered them in tomato sauce, (ketchup), then finished my Anzac Day meal with a very lovely piece of Chocolate Ripple Cake. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi Oi Oi!

Thank you to all the Aussie service members, past and present.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

Ode to remembrance-Laurence Binyon

.

Crikey!

.
Oh my word! I have finally discovered why Americans don't eat lamb. It costs a fortune over here, seriously.

I have been craving that delectable meat, so beloved Downunder, and recently went foraging around the local stores looking for some loin chops. I managed to track down 4 tiny chops for the magnificent sum of $14.55 USD. I'm not talking about a crown roast or even a rack of lamb, oh no. Some measly scraps, mostly bone and fat with a little bit of meat on them cost that much!

Lamb was pricey in Tampa but it was not even close to this. I could give up lamb and start eating pork but quite frankly, that would be un-Australian.
.
Despite the 'Get some pork on your fork' slogan, which is very catchy I might add, I just cannot bring myself to eat Pork. It's a shame because here it is cheap and plentiful while my lamb chops, obviously are not.

I am saving my small chops for April 25th, Anzac Day. I will fire up the BBQ and indulge in lamb, smothered generously in tomato sauce, (weirdly, people here find that disgusting), while toasting my heroes, the Anzacs.

On a brighter note, we chanced upon some Kraft Cheddar Cheese Spread at the grocery store. What a find! I've already indulged in dry biscuits with the good stuff lavishly heaped on top. It's amazing how certain foods bring such happy memories of home.

I am awaiting an order placed with an Australian grocery store online for Vegemite. I have been out of it for some time but have reached the point where I can go on without Vegemite no longer. The prices these Aussie groceries charge is downright highway robbery, but what is an Aussie Countess who is such a long way from home to do?

While ordering the marvellous black stuff, I had to throw in some Cadbury blocks, custard powder and Choc Ripple biscuits. I can't wait to make a Chocolate Ripple Cake!
.
To digress from food adventures for just a moment, I am happy that the roads here have dried out, which means no more mud! I love driving up and down the mountain, taking in the amazing views and pretending to be Michael Shumacher tearing up the hill.


The road is so nice now that we have been able to get the Vintage Volvo out of the garage and gad about town. In May there will be a vintage car parade and we are thinking of joining in and entering the Volvo.
.

The Day I Ate the World.

.

Epcot at DisneyWorld is currently holding it's annual Food and Wine festival. Seeking some surprising culinary adventures, I went to Orlando to meet up with Lynnie from Where in the World is Lynnie's blog.

.
We wandered around for hours admiring the sights and sampling the epicurian delights the world has to offer.

.

By the way Lynnie, post that picture of me looking like a dishevelled mess in that red Fez and it's on like Donkey Kong. Not a threat that would hold up in a court of law, just saying. ;)

Soda's of the world, all the free samples one could want. My favourite was the German coke with orange.

Epcot is spectacular, it's like around the world in 80 days, but instead of 80 days, it's more like 80 minutes...............or not.
.
Replica's of some of my favourite places such as Venice, Paris and Bejing make it so much fun. Where is the Australian exhibit Disney?


The Venetian exhibit is particularly stunning. Venice is one of my very favourite places in the world, how pleasant to be in Mini-Venice for a day.

No 10 hour flight to get to this Palazzo Ducale.

.

San Marco, sans pigeons and the abundant pigeon droppings that seem to cover the Piazza. Perhaps Florida is just too hot for the poor little birds. Should I have wings I would fly away from the heat too.


One would almost be convinced one were in Italy looking at this picture. The crowds attired in t-shirts, shorts and sneakers however, reveal that we are indeed a long way from Italy. A very, very long way.

The replica Parisian streets were enchanting.

Escargot anyone?

I have never been to Morocco but the little Moroccan section was super cute. In this warm climate it was so refreshing to find oneself wandering down cool labyrinthe streets echoing a Moroccan bazaar.

What a Habibi!

Rock the Casbah.

This reminds me of a hippies bedroom.

Beijing is a city I have had the privelledge to visit, the replica gates were exquisite with the bright colours. Chinese food is very tasty, especially when it has loads of MSG in it. Don't try ordering Chinese food with extra MSG though it seems to irk the wait staff off, don't know why, that MSG is good eating. mmmm mmmm mmmm.

The Potstickers from the Chinese kiosk were yum.

Epcot hosted an Aussie kiosk for the festival. Aussie fare is the reason we went to be honest. We were both in raptures over the lamb chops. It's very hard to find lamb here in the USA. I had a tiny but pricey lamington which was no where near as good as Safeway lamingtons, but beggars can't be choosers and I happily paid the hefty price for the tinniest piece of cake ever seen.

Baby Lamington.

Lovely lamb chop.


Aussie menu.

After devouring all we possibly could without an alka-seltzer, or a trip to the Emergency Room, we went to Downtown Disney, it was just so much fun and there were many shops brimming with Disney goodies. I was like a child all excited and wide eyed over the fabulous baubles and trinkets.

.

Wall O' Barbies

Fancy Crystal encrusted figures.

One store was full of Christmas decorations. A delight for anyone like myself with a Magpie's eye who just loves a bit of sparkle and whimsy.

Later we found a candy store. They had these large caramel covered apples, pretzels with all kinds of tasty adornments and my favourite, chocolate covered strawberries. These gargantuan berries put my own home made versions to shame. The berries were definately on steroids and were thickly enrobed in chocolate. Fancy way of eating fruit, in fact with all that strawberry one might go so far as to call it health food....or perhaps not.

How do you like them apples?

Some of the spoils from my Disney adventure, peppermint scented soap with little Mickey Mouse heads and Mouse ear Christmas tree ornament.

.


It is possible that other ornaments were purchased but they shall not be revealed just in case they are being sent to Australia for Christmas. (wink to Ms Patrice).

What a fabulous day at Disney World. It really is a magical place.

The day was splendidly capped off with dinner at a Downtown Disney restaurant called Portobello's. I recommend this to anyone in the area and would give it 4 stars out of five.

The food was good, the service was even better and the bartender was an absolute champ. Not only did he know how to make my signature drink, the Grasshopper, but he went and made a frozen Grasshopper as well and bought over a glass for Lynnie and I. Cheers!

.