Lancefield Show

Today was the Annual Lancefield Show, and we went along with Emma for a look around.  Much fun was had by all, and here are some highlights.  

Above, the aerial signal for all great oudoor events, the escaped helium balloon (crying child not pictured).

Bev and Emma discuss the finer points of sheep.

Fine cows, near and far.

Champion.  And don't you forget it.

'Snowball, The Killer' was his name.  (OK, I made that up.)

Much stunting on trailbikes.

Taking a moment from heading sheep.

Duck herding - apparently an effective way of training up sheepdogs, we've now been told.

Haircuts were available.

Though the tools and technique seemed based more on amount removed and speed, than the final 'look'.

 But the kids like to play with the wool.

Onto the crafts, not to be missed.  'Baby Jesus' & Team!  Rocking knitted beards, guys.

Under 5 vegitable monster contestant.  My 'simple, yet effective' awardee.

After a few too many of the wrong drinks, you've felt like that, right?

But don't worry, there's a cake from a young girl (12 and under) with a rainbow to make it all better!

"Look, mum, it's Teddybears on the beach!  And those Teddies are in the water!"  Ahhh.

Meanwhile, over on Easter Island, Maddyson (8) makes a break for freedom.

Now for the serious stuff.  The trees may be short, but the chopping was swift.

BIG chips flying...

Last blow.

Other boys (and girls) went over to the tractor pull...  Above is an Australian made Chamberlain Champion.  It were, too.

Everyone had a go.

The sliding water tank was a neat item.

Might need some work (or even paint).

Back to the woodchoppers, this was the start of the two-man relay.

And this was the second stage.  We had a great time, but tea was calling...

Pics by Bev & James, text by James.

The Letter for Today is...

... 'A'.

As modelled by Bev and Rita in Outside Auckland.

Well...

...it's been a busy month and a bit, with plenty to blog about, but little chance so far.

It'll be fun to catch up as we go through the photos, reminders and ideas, so stay with us!

The shells seen here were collected from the shore of Endeavour Inlet, South Island, New Zealand, but not brought home. Both Australia and New Zealand are now (rightly) ultra-hot on biohazards, and moving sych things from one country to the other is a big no-no, now.

Still the picture (by Bev) tells a story. We still collect shells on holiday.

Reflections, light and water in Wellington

I don't think this café was always a café, you know. And how 'HB' can be the initial letters for 'Clothing Factory' beats me.

Mermaid in the Museum of Wellington City & Sea

Keep right in the cablecar.

Blue skies and the observatory

Maori carvings awaiting erection

I think the market will crash soon.

...

Pretentious architecture and blue lights.

Cause sunbathing later

Restaurant & fishing boat

Hooked on Scotland.

The light in the old cathedral.

And the words on the University Bookshop.

amam Wag.

Wake.

Beached boat.

Beached whale?

Protected stream.

Gordian knot.

And more on the wonders of windy Wellington soon.

James

Seventy Years of 'Dunkirk Spirit'

Bombed on the beaches, British soldiers use Lee Enfield rifles to fire back at the German Luftwaffe. (BBC.)

It's 70 years since the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was rescued from the beaches of Dunkirk from the temporarily-halted German forces between 26 May and June 4. It was officially 'Operation Dynamo' As is well known, much of the rescue work, coordinated and supported by the Royal Navy, was by the 'little ships' resulting in one of the rarest, and most cherished yacht badges seen since. (The St George's Cross flown from the jack staff is known as the 'Dunkirk jack' and is only flown by civilian ships and boats of all sizes that took part in the Dunkirk rescue operation in 1940. The only other ships permitted to fly this flag at the bow are those with an Admiral of the Fleet on board.)

Those fishing boats, ferries, yachts and dinghies ferried the soldiers from the beaches to the larger Royal Navy ships that could get no closer, and sometimes they took them all the way back - when the Channel must have seemed its widest.

This year 50 ships, many original survivors, set out to recreate that remarkably flotilla's incredible achievement.

In the middle of a war being lost, it was not a simple task, or one that was all good, nor as black and white as often portrayed. Herman Goering convinced Hitler that his Luftwaffe could finish off the soldiers on the beaches. The Royal Air Force (RAF) did their best, at significant cost, to stop them, but back and away from the beaches - a job often not appreciated by the soldiers bombed by those German bombers who got through. Time was bought by rearguard actions, particularly the 'last hope' garrison at Calais, dropped water and ammunition (but without hope of rescue or other relief) by a scratch force of RAF Westland Lysanders and outdated Hawker Hectors - two aircraft types named for military heroes of yore. Some French soldiers were rescued, others turned away - and later those rescued were mostly repatriated to France, after the French surrender.

"Wars are not won by evacuations" Churchill reminded a relieved Britain, but though denuded of their arms, those soldiers were going to be the last line of defence for European democracy - after the Royal Navy and the force tested next - the RAF, soon to come though victorious by a narrow margin in the Battle of Britain, and the high water mark of fascist fortune.

Here in the Imperial War Museum, London, is one of the little ships of Dunkirk- in fact the littlest, Tamzine - sailed by amateur or professional civilian sailors that brought the soldiers off the beaches. Author.

Since then the Dunkirk Spirit has rightly been an iconic symbol in British culture.

The BBC report on the flotilla here. The BBC also present an audio-slideshow, including original accounts recorded in 1990, here.

Interestingly, the event has been a popular topic for children's authors. [Edited to add I've done a review of a pre-eminent example here.]

James