Day 11 Tuesday 11 April 2017

Sitting in the bar at the Novotel in Ypres preparing today's update for your amusement and edification.

Two things came to mind as I was driving from Amiens to Ypres, the first it is hunting season in Northern France and any hare or pheasant would be fair game.  I have seen a few hares hopping around and by crikey they are big buggers.  The sound of shotguns can be a trifle disconcerting whilst walking around the battlefields.

The second thing was the number of wind turbines, there are turbines everywhere.  I was wondering if they are so popular and so common here why don't we see them everywhere in Australia.  Then this morning as I was driving out of Amiens it was very calm and not a turbine was turning.  Although there was no wind the lights nd things were still working in the hotel, so it is reasonable to assume that the power was coming from somewhere, possibly a dirty ol coal fired plant or heaven forbid a nuclear power plant.  Maybe the wind turbines aren't such a great idea after all!

On the drive to Ypres I diverted to Fromelles to have a look at the new interpretive centre (that is a new word for museum) at the Pheasant Wood cemetery. It is very nicely done and has a number of audio visual presentations.  Reminded me a bit of the Galleries of Remembrance at the Shrine, on a much smaller scale and with more weapons.

I arrived in Ypres at 2.30pm, checked into the Novotel and was having my first beer (Passchendaele) in the market square at 2.55pm, close to a record, even for me.

There are Canadians everywhere here (are there any Canadians left in Canadia?t ).  The Last Post ceremony tonight at the Menin Gate is deicated to the Canadians.  I walked past at 4.00pm and chatted to a Canadian lady who was saving her possie there for the service at 8.00pm.

I will be keeping clear of the service tonight but will attend either tomorrow or Thursday when things are a bit quieter.

I noticed that they are getting things ready for the return of the Amiens Lions, here is some history for ya.  Before TGW two stone lions stood at the Menin Gate to the old city of Ypres.  After the war in recognition of the service and sacrifice of the Australians in defending the city they donated the lions to the people of Australia and since then they have stood at the entrance to the Australian War Memorial (AWM) in Canberra.  Anyway, the AWM has lent the lions back to the city of Ypres and today I saw where they are going to stand, back at the Menin Gate.  I understand that they are on loan from the AWM and are to be returned in due course.

I reckon these plinths might be for the lions

I have to do some homework now, tomorrow I intend to follow the 40th battalion's advance through Ploegsteert wood and their attack in the battle of Messines.  I will have plenty of interesting stuff about that later.