Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing.
Animals really are incredible
Last night as as I was driving home I approached a zebra crossing and had to take a double take. On the pavement to the left, sat a cat, looking to the other side of the crossing. I stopped and the cat looked at my car and then ran across. I spent the rest of my short drive home wondering if what I had encountered had actually happened.
Then, today I read about an escaped racehorse in Australia, that ended up at a train platform – even standing behind the yellow line, as safety dicates.
“Footage shared by Transport for NSW shows shocked commuters stepping back as the horse made its way past just before midnight on 5 April. The transport authority saw the funny side as they shared an update about the incident on Facebook. In a post about a ‘missing individual’, they wrote: “‘He was reported to be wearing only a rug and demonstrating a bit of horseplay.'”
This is my favourite bit: ‘He appeared to pursue an informant along the platform before unsuccessfully attempting to board a train service,’ they continued.” (Source: “Escaped racehorse joins commuters at train station – and stands behind yellow line,” 11th April, www.news.sky.com).
After a heck of an adventure the horse was returned to its stables, none the worse for wear.
5 stars – with so much mayhem caused by our species all over the globe, it’s sobering to remember how fantastic our animal pals are.
Tragedy in Sydney
I have a very big soft spot for Sydney, my brother lives there and I always love to visit. It’s a wonderful place and I was saddened to learn yesterday of the murders in a mall at Bondi Junction. There’s few words to say that can capture the abject heartbreak family members of victims are feeling right now. It’s unthinkable.
Yet in the worst of circumstances, some stand up, and do what they can to protect others. Notably amongst those is the senior police inspector who rushed into danger and nullified the perpetrator’s killing spree by shooting him dead. As I said last week, we never really give our police the credit they fully deserve – rushing in to danger as almost everyone else runs from it.
Kudos too to the gentleman warding the killer off with a bollard at the top of an escalator. I’m sure we all imagine what we would hope we may do in the face of the unthinkable, doing it is another thing entirely.
5 stars – putting your life on the line to protect others. Amazing.
ANZAC day is more than just a day off
With ANZAC Day less than two weeks away, and the last public holiday before we celebrate the birthday of King Charles, I am ashamed to say that I have never been to a dawn parade. That’s not entirely true. I have been to one in Australia – but not here.
My great-grandfather was blown to bits in the killing of fields of northern France in 1915 and I have yet to truly honour the sacrifice that he, and so many millions made in that war. As we know, Anzac Day honours the New Zealand dead of all wars.
One aspect of ANZAC Day I found notable in Australia was young adults and kids wearing the medals of their grandparents – or great grandparents. I noticed this in Sydney on Anzac day there, going to a few pubs. it seemed every third person had either medals or ribbons on their chest. It was a wonderful homage to family who had served, and perhaps died in battle. I know this happens here too but I haven’t seen it to the same degree.
Hopefully this year I can end a bad trend at attend a dawn parade in New Zealand.
5 stars – honouring our war dead is the least we can do.
