RANDOM MEANDERINGS

Indelibly etched into my psyche for the rest of my life, it is nice to see this catastrophic event remembered in Auckland.  The effects of this earthquake and subsequent ones are far reaching - a few of us that work here have family and friends that have suffered and still are suffering on an emotional level. This commemoration is a more low key one than the first commemoration at the museum and rightfully so, we are moving on and the sharp edges of loss, despair and emotional upheaval are blurring a bit...I said ... a bit.  We still have to remember that w e've lost childhood roots and homes, our families and acquaintances have had their social structures torn out from under them, the rebuild is slow and frustrations still torment. It is important to remember to support those still going through turmoil. Nearly to the hour Christchurch earthquake remembered  Part 2 -There was much footage in this that I hadn't seen before

I saw this photograph for sale by a New Zealand vendor and had to purchase it.  Such a lovely thing and such a shame there is no photographer identification.         I'm theorising that this dapper wee [probably blonde haired and blue eyed] fellow's dad died in World War 1 albeit he looks rather a happy wee chap with his little thumbs tucked into his pockets.  It seems his mother, has made him into his fathers 'mini-me', wearing almost a miniature uniform with a 'kerchief tucked into his breast pocket.   A flower that looks suspiciously like the Oxeye daisy is placed in the left lapel - maybe a favourite of the man whose memory inspired the photo originally?  Or maybe to form a connection between the wee boy and the lost sailor - being that daisies represent innocence, gentleness and purity.   An animal skin appears to be hiding a chair or similar that the boy is standing on and the backdrop gives the feeling of being outdoors.