November 11 is Remembrance Day here in the UK: a time of red poppies on lapels and remembering those who have died serving their countries. It thus seems appropriate for today’s entry to be about the New Zealand War Memorial, which was dedicated on November 11 2006 and stands in Hyde Park Corner here in London.

From a distance, the memorial looks like 16 large metal poles, rising from a grassy hill. But as you get closer, you notice the angled crosses on the top of each one. And as you get closer still, you notice that each of the poles are quite different: some with embossed Maori carvings, others decorated with ferns and fauna.

And, with the accents of other New Zealand visitors around and London traffic in the background, it was a good place to stop awhile and think about other New Zealanders who travelled before us. And those who didn’t come home. And to remember them.

Tash