Saturday

Weather is generally fine and no rain forecast so that's great news for this afternoon's memorial service. We head up to Tulip Top gardens which well and truly exceeded my expectations. Something like 80,000 bulbs on the grounds and nearly all in flower. Just magnificent. My group loved it. Then we headed to Forrest to the hotel most of our SA riders were staying at where we were the special guests at a bbq they put on for all the riders. We had about an hour to kill so our group then had a wander around Manuka shops until we were back on the coach to head to the national Police Memorial site fir the Wall to Wall service. Once again we were treated like royalty as seating was provided for us right at the front of the memorial. No one else had seats so we soon found ourselves in prime position with more that 2000 people standing around us! The service was very moving and two of our group were invited to lay the memorial wreath during the service. What an honour and the two ladies were both thrilled and humbled to be asked to do this. Once that main service was over, any others who had tributes were asked to come forward. I had arranged another wreath specifically for SA Police Legacy so at that stage I got all our group to come forward and lay our wreath. Caught up with lots of people and many wanted to find out exactly who we were and what we do, so a great opportunity to brag about our role. Then back on the coach and back to our hotel prior to dinner. A lovely day that I'm sure we will all remember for a long time. Only black spot on our holiday though is that a number of us have caught Frugal's cold and I'm feeling quite poorly but haven't got time to be sick! Little M who did the runner at the War Memorial, clearly has the direction skills of a plank of wood because she keeps trying to come into my room as we are near each other. Four times Over three days now I've had to go to my door after hearing someone repeatedly trying to open my door and every time I catch her looking like a deer caught in the headlights. this is absolute the last trip I do with her as she really needs a full time career with her, and make no mistake about it, that won't be me!!!