And so to Canberra

The journey to Canberra was very nice - I was inside the train and it was murky and damp outside. I saw quite a few kangaroos bounding about, seemingly worried that the train was going to chase them. Got the little-advertised bus into town, about a minute round the corner from the YHA. And another very good hostel it is. Strangely, like Sydney Central it also has a swimming pool that is too small and too shallow for swimming. Fine for children to splash about but you don't get that many children in hostels most of the time. However, there is a sauna and that is great! Had it all to myself.

I'm not a great one for commemorating war but I went to the Australian War Memorial. It was incredibly moving and beautiful. There is a Roll of Honour, listing the names of over 102,000 fallen Australian servicemen and women. This series of bronze paques is decorated with many poppies, adding colour to a dark scene. My emotion at places like this is always why can we never learn from war? Those who lived through the Great War were led to believe that it was the war to end all wars but really, it has only got worse. Also at the War Memorial is an extensive museum of Australia at war as well as its involvement in peacekeeping actvities in more recent times. There was some surprising honesty at times, publicly questioning activities in the closing days of WWII, for example.

As I left there was a small group of people at the entrance, carrying flowers. I asked a lady what was going on and she said that every day there was a service to remember a dead soldier. Later research shows this to be a new 'tradition', which started only last year. Every day, at 16.55, there is a Last Post Ceremony which includes the story of an individual who died. Each person is nominated and there is already a waiting list. Anyone can lay a wreath at the daily ceremony but pride of place goes to the family or friends of the subject of the day's story. What a wonderful idea.

In the evening, I went to see "The fault in our stars" which was very good. But if you go, do take some tissues.

Sunday, I did more wandering about, taking in the Canberra Museum and Gallery and the National Museum of Australia. I thought the former was rather thin and I wasn't that impressed. Two bits I really liked - a retrospective of Bob Graham who wrote and illustrated children's books and, Growing Up in Downer which was the story of a family living through the early days of Canberra. 

The National Museum of Australia is in a modern building which had been designed for the purpose but, I suspect not by someone who has since tried to navigate the place. Yes, I like the idea of innovative architecture but fitness for purpose should play a part in the finished product. There's a lot of good things in this museum and I didn't have enough time left to do it justice.

Somewhere along the way I also managed to watch Australia lose against Chile and England do the same with Italy. Both matches were at 08.00 here. The next matches are not so kindly timed, I think they'll be at 02.00. I suppose I should really be supporting South Korea as my third team....their first match is at 08.00 on Wednesday morning when I shall be in transit to Melbourne, sorry neighbours.