Lest We Forget

…April 25…

 

When you think about that date you think about Anzac Day, Gallipoli, Anzac Cove, Red Poppies or Anzac Biscuits.

What is Anzac Day?
Anzac Day is the anniversary of the landing of the ANZACs, it is the day that we remember the soldiers who served and died in WWI, but more specifically we remember the ANZACs who landed at Gallipoli.

Who were the ANZACs?
The ANZACs were the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps

Why did the ANZACs land and fight at Gallipoli?
The ANZACs landed at Gallipoli to fight the Turks. Supplies needed to be sent to Russia and the way that the British went about this was to send the supplies through Gallipoli. But before the supplies could be sent they needed to capture the southern peninsula of Gallipoli.

Where did the ANZACs land?
The ANZACs landed Ari Burnu, which was later renamed Anzac Cove.

Were the ANZACs successful?
Unfortunately, no.
The Turks had feared such an attack and they were well prepared for anything that might come. The ANZACs however, didn’t know this, so they went right into a well-armed battle field.

How many ANZACs were killed?
7,162 were killed and over 33,111 were wounded at Gallipoli.
Also the Turkish and German lost 251,000 soldiers.

When was the first “Anzac Day “?
The first Anzac Day took place on 25 April 1916. As time went on, the ceremony of remembrance was extended to the soldiers of the Second World War. It now honors all New Zealanders and Australians who have served in a military campaign.

What is Poppy Day?
Poppy Day is held on the Friday before Anzac Day. On that day people sell artificial red poppies.

What is the red poppy?
The red poppy – or Flanders poppy – is an international symbol of remembrance for those killed on the battlefield. Its symbolism dates back to Napoleonic times, but its association with WWI and WWII is mainly due to the poem
“In Flanders Fields”

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae

Why are the poppies sold?
Because poppies grow in the field of Flanders where tens of thousands young British troops and ANZACs lost their lives.
The proceeds from the poppies go to the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association (RSA) to support returned servicemen and women and their dependents.
Wearing a red poppy is a way to show your respect for those that died in the war.

When was the first Poppy Day held?
The first New Zealand Poppy Day was held in 1922. The ship carrying the poppies from France arrived in New Zealand too late for Armistice Day in November, when Poppy Day is celebrated by the rest of the world. So, New Zealand held Poppy Day prior to Anzac Day instead. It has been celebrated on that day ever since.

What are Anzac biscuits?
Anzac biscuits (cookies for American readers) are a snack food most commonly made from the primary ingredients of rolled oats, coconut, and golden syrup.

Where did the term Anzac biscuit originate from?
One story is that the biscuits were made by Australian and New Zealand women for the ANZAC soldiers during World War I, that they were reputedly first called “Soldiers’ Biscuits” then renamed “ANZAC Biscuits” after the Gallipoli landing.

 

Bravo Anzacs
Rings the world with the fame
And glory of Australia’s name
Valiant sons of Britain true
Our great empire praises you

And to history shall go down
New Zealand’s loyal and brave renown
Zeal in every noble heart
Answering plays a hero’s part
Closer binds our empire’s tracks
Sons of Britain, Brave Anzacs

Happy Birthday To…

…T4, that’s right, 4

A few weeks before T‘s birthday she was asked how old she was, T said, displaying four fingers, “That many… when it’s my birfday.”

Here are some photos from previous years, (thanks Mum!).

This year T4 requested a zoo cake.
The end result:

What’s more, there was treasure in the cake that T4 got to dig for….what fun!

Resurrection Sunday

Luke 24

Jesus Has Risen

¹ On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. ² They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³ but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴ While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. ⁵ In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ⁷ ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” ⁸ Then they remembered his words.

⁹ When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. ¹⁰ It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. ¹¹ But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. ¹² Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

On the Road to Emmaus

¹³ Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. ¹⁴ They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. ¹⁵ As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; ¹⁶ but they were kept from recognizing him.

¹⁷ He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. ¹⁸ One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

¹⁹ “What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. ²⁰ The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; ²¹ but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. ²² In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning ²³ but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. ²⁴ Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”

²⁵ He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” ²⁷ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

²⁸ As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. ²⁹ But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

³⁰ When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. ³² They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

³³ They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together ³⁴ and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” ³⁵ Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

³⁶ While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

³⁷ They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. ³⁸ He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? ³⁹ Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

⁴⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. ⁴¹ And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate it in their presence.

⁴⁴ He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶ He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷ and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

The Ascension of Jesus

⁵⁰ When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. ⁵¹And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God. ⁵² Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.

⁵³ While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.

party time again….

It’s a year since we had our first week-long blog party.
And what a lot of fun we had.
Since then we (that would be eight children ages 1-13) have continued to record our inventions and adventures (though it’s mostly the older kids who write 😉 ) throughout the year Down Here in New Zealand. Please feel free to come on and in and see a snippet or two of our lives. If you come back tomorrow you’ll be able to see the costume we have designed and are making.

Happy Blogiversary!

I hope you’ll continue to write for many more years.

Lotsa luff,
Mama xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Summer….

Today I (J13) was thinking about what has “made” summer for me and my brothers and sisters, so far, this year. Here is what I came up with;

Firstly, our SUNFLOWERS. One of our sunflowers would be almost 4 meters tall the other ones, (we have about 15) are between 2 and 3 meters!!! Here is a little poem I made about the sunflowers;

The Sunflower

Once a seed,
Then a sprout,
Growing tall,
Now leaves grow out,
Slowly opening by the hour,
Out comes a sunflower.

The TEMPERATURE. These last few weeks the weather has been pretty much the same every day; hardly any clouds, lots and lots of sun and the temperature which has ranged from 20-25°C and sometimes even 28°C +.

Because of all the sunshine the blueberries on my blueberry bushes have ripened. This year I had so many berries that I decided to make blueberry jam. The jam set really well!! Here is the recipe that I used:
3 C blueberries
3 apples peeled, cored and finely chopped (I grated them, it makes the job easier)
¼ C lemon juice
Boil all these ingredients together until fruit is soft.
Add 3 C sugar to the boiling jam, stirring until sugar has dissolved.
Boil jam until setting point is reached.
Pour jam into warmed preserving jars and cap.

Because it has been so hot we have been going in our pool almost every day. The temperature in the pool has been sitting on a steady 27°C!! Very refreshing!!

Just lately we have been constructing a mud house down behind the garden. That means lots and lots of digging! The dirt that is dug is mixed, with a spade, in the wheelbarrow with water, grass clippings, a few rocks and more dirt, then that mud is used to form the walls. We are putting sticks and brush in the walls and plastering them with mud. At the end of this all we are all muddy and hot! We will put a picture up once the house has a better outline (at the moment it is not very clear where the walls are).

Dad being on holiday. While he has already gone back to work that is one of the things that made summer.

Eating outside, every day.

Going to the beach.

That is all that I can think of at the moment, but they are the things that are SUMMER.

Happy birthday to you…

By J13 and J12

Today is J12′s birthday. We had his cake a couple of months ago because J12 was (and still is!)  getting a quilt for his birthday and he wanted to help make it. Also his birthday is four days before Christmas and he didn’t really want to have a cake so close to Christmas.

This is my breakfast “caramel self-saucing pudding with ice cream and cream”.
I think you will remember the photo:) (Because actually the photo is K10’s one, but we had exactly the same breakfast this morning)

We will post a picture of the quilt when it is finished.

Today was made extra-special by the Es coming to visit. We had such a wonderful time eating and swimming and riding Grandpa’s recumbant bike (even the mothers took it for a spin to the top of the driveway – GO MUMS!). I made it in one minute, which wasn’t too much more than it took the adults.

The other special thing (even though pressies aren’t everything) was that I got a yummy packet of chocolates, an amazing bum bag from Grandpa (there are so many pockets you could get lost in it!!!) and Dadda and Mama surprised me enormously by giving me a watch (as well as the quilt). It has a compass that you can plot your course on the map with…….a thermometer………the face changes colours (I’m trying to work out why – I think it’s to do with heat)……..the face flips over and is two-sided (very cool)…….and it has the Royal Hong Kong Police insignia on it. What a watch!

Last day at work

I (j11) am writing from dads work. The three big kids have biked for nine km to help dad pack up his stuff at work because it is his last day at work, then he will be of work till the end of January. YAY.

Christmas Cake

This is our favourite Christmas cake recipe; it is very moist and fruity.

2007 edition

Here is how to make it;

Day one:

1 ¾C orange juice

¾C dark rum or brandy

2T orange rind, grated

                        Bring to the boil. Remove from heat.

500g currants

500g raisins

2C sultanas

2C dates, chopped

150g crystallised ginger, chopped

150g mixed peel

150g glace cherries, halved

                        Add to above and leave to soak overnight.

Day two:

½t vanilla essence

¼t almond essence

2t lemon rind, grated

1C blanched almonds

                        Add to above and mix well.

2 ½C high grade flour

½t baking soda

1t cinnamon

½t ground nutmeg

                      Sift into a bowl.

250g butter

1 ½C brown sugar

2T treacle

                      Cream until light and fluffy.

5 eggs

                       Add, beating well after each addition.

                      Fold in sifted ingredients alternately with

                     fruit mixture.

Line a deep, square 23cm tin with two layers of brown paper followed by one layer of baking paper. Spoon mixture into tin. Bake at 150°C for 4 hours or until inserted skewer comes out clean. Leave in tin until cold. Wrap in foil or ice cake and store in a cool place.

Festive Food

J11 carefully sculpted Mary and Baby Jesus out of almond icing to go on top of a mini Christmas cake. It is quite hard to create somthing out of icing and then get it to stand up and dry without the head or an arm falling off!!! But the end results can be rewarding.

Most of us are icing cakes….while M5 uses the Christmas-cookie-cutters to make biscuits.

J13 and J11 sculpted Joesph, Mary and Baby Jesus. We made them stand up using   tooth-picks.

Here we are mixing fruit mince. Even E-R18m can mix!!! Isn’t she soooo cute!!!

Here are two of last year’s photos; a fruit mince pie and the cake. 

 

We’ve got this year’s cake made and iced, but not photographed yet. And we’ve made the pastry and fruit mince, but haven’t put them together yet. At least they won’t all be eaten by Christmas-Day!