United we stand

I want Easter and Anzac day to fall on different weekends.

Not because I need another day off (I’m a student remember), but because I feel that Anzac day has been a little overshadowed this year by the mounds of chocolate eggs that line our shelves.

I’ve been trying to divvy up my time accordingly this past long weekend to make sure I spend an equal amount of time thinking about these two important events on our calendars.  So I go and buy my ridiculously priced Easter eggs, learn more about the story of Easter and go to Sunday mass.  And then I give some thought to Anzac day.

The Auckland Museum didn’t disappoint with its Anzac Day activities and memorial services.  One of these included projecting a 25 minute edited film on the northern facade of the museum.  It showcased women in the war and was compiled by acclaimed filmmaker Gaylene Preston.  See http://www.gaylenepreston.com/films_war.html for info about her moving documentary, War stories our Mothers never told us.  Beautiful love stories from WW2.

Overlooking the city, the museum was an impressive sight.  Glowing red, the museum entrance was projected with swaying poppies, as the film looped on screens eitherside.  We rolled up with a blanket, cushions, popcorn and a hefty supply of early Easter goodies.    Most of the people around us however were content sitting on concrete blocks.  As we left, one Father and his brood nabbed our spot, huddled together and continued watching the changing images on screen.  It felt nice seeing the young ones learning about life in a different time.

A slightly more contemporary version of the poppy was on show at the Titirangi markets on Sunday.  One vendor was selling poppies made out of scallop shells for the garden.  Genius – pretty poppies all year round, rain or shine.

The next poppies we saw were at the Piha RSA, where we spent much of the night cheering on the Breakers in the basketball.  The ladies of the community weren’t fazed by double overtime and were huddled in a corner of the RSA preparing wreathes of poppies for the following days Anzac march.  And at 7pm, the lights went out, the basketball was switched off and the entire crowd in the bar put their pints down.  The Ode of Rememberance was recited by an older gentleman on a microphone with the crowd repeating the lines “We will remember them”.

Anzac Day is a big event out at Piha.  A march from the RSA to Lion Rock generally includes the entire community, complete with the sound of a few bagpipes.  Once at Lion Rock, wreaths are laid and a list of the fallen are read out.

Anzac day evokes a lot of emotion in us kiwis.  Emotional days often call for food.  After a weekend of reflection, I think there’s no better time than now, to make a giant batch of Anzac biscuits.  And therein lies another problem, the combining of Easter weekend and Anzac day has not only effected my thoughts, but also my waistline.

http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/15770/chewy+anzac+biscuits – best ever recipe if you use maple syrup and add some sultanas.

supermarche chic

I want a clothing store attached to our local supermarket.

Countdown Richmond Road does provide me with a hefty amount of food bargains now and then, but the ability to pick up an affordable outfit would just make the food shop that much more enjoyable.

We are missing out New Zealand.  I was introduced to this ingenious idea when living in Toronto.  After hawling myself to the supermarket one day, picking the wiggly wheel trolley and beginning up the escalator, I noticed bright lights, clothes and a big orange sign reading ‘Joe Fresh’.

And that’s where my love affair with the store began.  Who knew it would add a decent 40 minutes onto our already slow food shop?  It’s pretty hard to say no to an outfit on the sale rack for under $10 though, and my deal-hunting boyfriend agreed.

But fast forward to Auckland and no more Joe Fresh.  I thought I was over the whole phenomenon until I realised the brand had a site where loyal followers could post their favourite outfits.

http://joefresh.tumblr.com/

And then there was the Fall 2011 Runway Collection.  How did they manage to get every colour I love at the moment?

So I’ve emailed Countdown and told them what they’re missing out on.  It’s only a matter of a time…

Trontastic

I want to visit Hamilton again.

No jokes.

I got a surprise this weekend from the North Island city affectionately named the ‘Tron’.  And I’ll be brutally honest, maybe it’s because I went in with such low expectations for the place.  The Tron has had to put up with a whole load of criticism over the past few years, and not just from me.  Hamilton is usually just another place that needs to be passed through in order to get to where you’re going.  The only memories I had from these sorts of excursions, were that the main road through the city was lined with industrial looking buildings, a Burger King and a few too many roundabouts.  How misguided I was to think that was the limit to what the Tron had to offer me.

After a relatively short drive out of the busy roads of Auckland, through Huntly and Ngaruawahia, we entered into Hamilton. We hung a right midway through the visual pollution of industrial buildings and passed over the Waikato river to get into beautiful Riverside, close to where our accommodating friends lived.  With an improv sing along to Riverside Mother ****** and a fist pump or two, we arrived at our destination in high spirits.

What followed was the perfect Saturday.  A barbecue on the deck in some hot sunny weather (who knew?!), spontaneous sun shade making out of tarps and rope by a couple of  local proactive Hamiltonians, cold beers and a visit the local Savemart.  Let this be known – the Tron has a few great bargains to be had.  The street below our accommodation also hosted a flea-market on Sunday morning which is where I managed to pick up this ingenius salad spinner.

I’ll be honest again, the real reason we headed for the Tron was not for the markets or the gorgeous riverside area but really for the annual Balloons over Waikato festival.  The hot air balloon nightglow showcase was followed by an impressive fireworks display.  Again the Tron outdid itself.

In the early hours of Sunday morning our lovely guests took us out for more balloon watching but after some low fog settled in, our stomachs decided breakfast was in order and we headed to a local cafe with a retro-vibe.  Then a stroll by the river in the morning sun, serenaded by a little old lady playing some tunes on a recorder ahead of us.

City of the future indeed.