Lest we forget

Metthew Herbert Prideaux

The ANZAC Day ceremony was quite an event. The Mayor was there – along with the Australian Consul-General in Chicago. People said things – a trumpeter from the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra played the Last Post and I recited the Ode.

We met Australians who have been here for 25 years. Suffering Succotash.

There was no Australian food because the catering was done by the University of Indianapolis – but there was lovely Australian wine.

They did an AV display and I provided a photo of my uncle – after whom I was named – who was killed in the Somme in 1916 at age 20.  I gave them a photo of Cate’s father who served from 1940 to 1945 in Libya, Lebanon, Egypt, Palestine, the Philippines and New Guinea.

He survived the war – but like very many veterans – was never quite the same again. He used to have nightmares about being chased through the jungle by the Japanese.

I missed out on my ANZAC day blog so here is the Ode and a photo.

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.

It sure is quiet around here

I have seen many amazing sights over the last few weeks. Some of them have boggled the mind. My grandson eating spaghetti for example.

Hansel also likes buttons and pushes every one he sees. This is not always useful and Boris is coming today to fix the sound system and the upstairs TV – both of which no longer work.

Kezza found Hansel changing the IP addresses in the TV control center to ‘even up the numbers’. This is of course a logical thing to do – and if I was small I would have done the same because I hate untidiness - but it does tend to throw the TV off the signal which is flapping about the room trying to find a way in.

I remember many, many years ago when I was about Hansel’s age I fiddled with my uncle’s radio. It was one of those ancient things with a half moon dial and he had it tuned to a particular station.

I think I moved the thingy to the center of the dial because it looked tidier there. He was really unhappy because he could not listen to his favorite station without moving the dial back. This was for him apparently a major event and he carried on like a pork chop for days.

I mean it would have taken him maybe two seconds to fix it – he did not have to climb mount Everest without oxygen – but he was a world class curmudgeon. He was not even really my uncle. I bet he was unkind to animals too.

Hansel is also endlessly fascinated by escalators, elevators and moving walkways. When he sees one he gets on or in it – depending upon what it does – and no matter where it is going. We often saw him disappearing into the distance – going the way in which we were not.

But he is of course a small boy and this is what small boys do. I can only hope that his children and grandchildren are just like him.

I think they had a good time. Kezza certainly did – which is the main thing.

I will miss them all of course – but it sure is quiet around here.  

There may be Lamingtons

Back in Indianapolis we have done almost everything Indianapolis has to offer. We have visited Costco and Whole Foods, Kezza loved both of these.

We went to the Zoo which has Lorikeets and Budgerigars. I felt quite at home when a Lorikeet perched on my shoulder and pecked at my ear.  

And in May they are getting a Koala which will stay until September. I will hang out and chew some gum leaves with it.

Kezza and Hansel and Gretel left today to go home via Houston and Los Angeles. Silence has fallen upon the house and Robbie is out and about doing his thing.

Now that I have fulfilled my grandfatherly duties I can start doing the immense pile of stuff I have to do around the house and garden.

Saturday is ANZAC day and there is a formal function being hosted for Aussies and Kiwis by Indiana University. I had no idea why this was happening until I found out that the President of IU is an Australian – and incidentally knows Cate’s brother.

Did I tell you that we also found out that we have relatives living a few blocks from us? Weird.

Anyway we have rounded up all the Aussies and Kiwis – there are about thirty of us – and will have our ceremony along with some honorary Aussies and Kiwis. After that there may be Lamingtons, Anzac biscuits and Billy tea.