Hi there PAUL1405...

Notwithstanding anybody's political proclivities, you'd need to be a very hard, entrenched individual indeed, not to be moved by the evocative sentiment of the Dawn Service, as you and your partner were. Her joining in of a rendition of the NZ National Anthem in Maori, would've been very moving I reckon ! Actually I believe I've heard a male Maori Choir sing it in it's entirety, and it was truly beautiful with their deep resonant voices.

Paul, I'm sick to death of all these bloody politicians, being sent to Gallipoli, and other important national events at tax payers expense ! Only the respective PM's from both our countries need attend at Gallipoli as an example. Not all the 'hanger's on' and other political parasites !

Therefore I couldn't agree with you more. If they wish to attend a particular event, let them pay their own way, like everybody else. Instead of forever cadging on the public purse as they invariably do ? It's no wonder they're all held in such low esteem by society, these blatant, audacious 'freeloaders and scroungers'! Politicians are like water on a leaky roof, the water gets in everywhere that it's not wanted !

Paul, if I had my time again - I'd like to be detective I/C of a special political squad with the express remit of investigating ALL politicians at all strata. Federal, State and Local Governments. Anyone who's engaged in any manner of malfeasance and other crimes of fraud, corruption, perjury, chicanery, deceptive conduct, artifice, treachery, unconscionable conduct, even being badly attired while in parliament ? Well, perhaps that's taking things too far ?

Nevertheless Paul, please forgive me my moment of 'reverie' - I am an old man, a veteran, and it is ANZAC Day ?

o sung wu,

That's great that you wore his medals; and you've made my day, mate.

Hi o sung wo,

Got to say those Turks are an understanding lot, with all those tourists, polys, media, etc trampling in to commemorate ANZAC Day at Gallipoli, and what was an invasion of their country. Then again the tourist dollar, or in this case the Turkish lira, is worth having and a big draw card. I wounder how we would feel if the boot was on the other foot and 1000's of Turks turned up at Bondi to commemorate Mustafa Kemal Atatürk birthday or some such thing. The Turks I have met over the years are generally a good bunch of people. Very pragmatic, I worked with several Turks, many with children celebrated Xmas, as one said to me; "We are in Australia and my kids are not going to miss out." Another Turk at a social function we attended was having a scotch, when I asked "drinking scotch"? His reply; "What Allah can't see wont hurt him," I though that was funny.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-25/anzac-day-2015-live-blog/6418912

Dear Paul,

I found out that "Army biscuits, known as
Anzac wafers or tiles, were a hard biscuit
eaten by soldiers as bread substitute. They
were often ground up and eaten as porridge".

"The Anzac biscuit we are familiar with today
was developed by the wives and girlfriends
of our soldiers. A sweet biscuit made of rolled
oats and bound with golden syrup or treacle
(eggs were scarce during the war) were sent to
the frontline by ships of the Merchant Navy."

ANZAC BISCUITS

Ingredients

* 1 cup each of plain flour, sugar,
rolled oats and coconut

* 4 ounces butter (115g)

* 1 tablespoon treacle (golden syrup)

* 2 tablespoons boiling water (add a little
more water if mixture is too dry)

* 1 teaspoon bi-carbonate soda

Method

1. Grease tray and pre-heat oven to 180C
2. Combine dry ingredients
3. Melt together butter and golden syrup
Combine water and bi-carbonate soda -
add to butter mixture.
4. Mix butter mixture and dry ingredients
5. Drop teaspoon of mixture onto tray
6. Bake for 10 - 15 minutes or until golden
Allow to cool on tray for a few minutes
before transferring to cooling racks.

Makes approximately 35 biscuits.

(From an original recipe provided by Mr Bob Lawson
an ANZAC present at the Gallipoli landing).

Paul,

I remember sitting in a tent with an Indian Army officer, who was a Muslim, and when he picked up his glass of whisky he said, "If it be sinful to drink this may Allah strike it from my hand", a slight pause then he took an appreciative sip.

Hi there FOXY & PAUL1405...

FOXY...

I did heed the advice from IS MISE, and wore my Grandfather's medals, and I'm very glad I did so. You see, I value much of what IS MISE says. He's a very shrewd educated, and travelled individual. Moreover his knowledge of both the military and military small arms is immense. And as a Korean War veteran, he must be heard - why ? Because, the Korean War is known as the forgotten war, and it must never be forgotten, nor should the brave Australians who fought there, be forgotten ! As I said, I do greatly value his opinion.

Thank you for relating the recipe for ANZAC biscuits too, personally I love 'em ! The old teeth do have a bit of a trial trying to chew them, nevertheless they taste pretty good in my opinion ? Though as a bread substitute back in those dark days, perhaps I'd not be quite so enamoured with them ?

PAUL1405...

What an interesting proposition eh ? I often wonder myself what those in the Turkish Government think behind closed doors, about all those Aussies making this huge pilgrimage to their shores once yearly to celebrate a 'defeat' ? No doubt, they earn a big quid from it all, both before and after the 25 April each and every year, so why should they complain ?

Still their history books would be full of data, detailing specifics of the immense battles and the number of Turkish souls lost, over the eight months of the campaign. Win, lose or draw, they lost many more than the Allies combined, according to what I've read and heard ? Still as you say, I wonder what we'd think, if thousands of Turks, or Germans even Japanese arrived on Bondi beach each year to celebrate a defeat ? A very interesting question indeed ?