Historic Occasions

By Kat Macintosh

Battlefields are places of great history and great drama, World Reviewer looks back into the past while visiting a battlefield.

Too pragmatic to try fortune telling, I look to the past to find out about myself and my family. Maybe in the lives of the people who had my name before me will I find clues to how and why I came to be here. For that reason I trawl compulsively though microfish files, service lists and imposing memorials looking for my Dad’s great uncle’s name amongst those who served in World War One.

Almost a figure of lore, in my head Albert (Bert) was like Mark Lee in the film Gallipoli, young and lively, raring to go. But that is just how he has been described to me, as were, I imagine, so many others who were cut down in their prime, last seen by families leaving the Sydney docks bound for the fighting in Europe. Passing down through the generations a hero, I imagine Bert to be not dissimilar to me at 20, over confident, excited about the possibilities of the future and not really sure what he’s doing with his life. The story goes that he joined up with three of the boys who grew up on the same street as him after finishing school two years earlier and going to work on a banana farm up the coast - which he didn’t enjoy - and which is probably why he joined up. Next thing you know he’s trained up and on a boat for Egypt then Gallipoli.

Lots of men died in the campaign for the Dardanelles, but there is still something quite special to an Australian about having a relative at Gallipoli. It’s supposedly the battle that proved our national mettle and is spoken about annually in hushed tones, a story to sum up all the other stories of the first and second world wars. Even if you’ve had no family blood mixed into the soil of the Turkish peninsular it’s still a place for a young Australian to pilgrimage, but for me visiting the site was somehow a way of honouring Bert and his story. It’s virtually impossible to find out anything about particular soldiers unless they were mentioned in dispatches but you can find out a lot about what it was like on those narrow beaches and on those cliffs from the Australian War Memorial; and I did, but it wasn’t until I stood on those cliffs looking over the ocean in the bright sunshine in a huge Commonwealth War Cemetery that I really considered what it may have been like for him to die there.

Travel is about expanding my horizons and getting some perspective on the world, and this trip opened my eyes to an experience almost impossible to imagine these days. It’s easy to accept the story of war when you’re sitting in a classroom, but the reality is a little bit more difficult to swallow until you put yourself on the spot, in one of these cemeteries next to a gravesite bearing the same name as your own.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

About the Author

World Reviewer is a place to get inspired about travel by reading the reviews of people who’ve been there and done that.  For more information about Battlefield travel check out the list of The World’s Great Battlefields.

by Manbeer Singh

Catering companies have helped businesses and people organize events and parties for decades. With the number of organized events on the rise, catering companies have started playing an increasingly important role in helping people enjoy events they organize without worrying about last minute glitches and problems. If you are planning an event, here are a few tips to help you choose a catering company:

Planning is vital Don’t expect catering companies to work miracles. There is no denying that a catering company can organize an event on the spur of the moment, but if you want your party or event to be truly special make sure you give your catering company sufficient time to plan the event. It is always a good idea to have a brainstorming session with the caterer and discuss the type of food and the variety of alcohol that will be served. If you are looking for something exotic in terms of food and alcohol, you should plan ahead and allow your caterer sufficient time to make the necessary arrangements.

A vital aspect of planning is determining your budget. Before you start looking for caterers, have a rough idea of what you can afford to spend on the party. It is important to allow a little more than your budget, as there might be last minute costs involved. For example, if you have a budget of $3000, keep $500 as a reserve and look for a catering company that organize the event for close to $2500.

Shortlist caterers Instead of using the service of the first catering company that meets your requirements, shop around for a good deal. Make sure you shortlist at least 2-3 caterers before finalising a caterer. Speak to all the caterers you have shortlisted and then select the one that meets your specific requirements. Once you receive quotes from different companies you will also get a better idea of how much your event will cost you in terms of catering. Don’t go by advertising and marketing Just because a catering company has a full page ad in the yellow pages does not make it a great catering service.

The catering business is all about quality food and service, and it is important that you keep the caterer’s reputation in mind and not the amount of money they are spending on advertising. In fact, smaller catering companies are constantly striving to get new business and they ensure that their services are of the highest quality. Look at the catering company’s portfolio Most catering companies have a website that showcases the services they offer, there is also a portfolio section that mentions the events they have organized and catered. It is always a good idea to take a look at photographs of events organized, and you should also request a food sample to ascertain the quality of the food provided.

Remember, it is always a good idea to discuss the quality of services and your requirements before signing any contracts. Ask for referrals If you are planning a major social event, the best way to make sure that the caterer is capable of living up to his claims is to ask for referrals. Once you receive a few referrals don’t hesitate in speaking to the referral and getting feedback on previously organized events. In fact, it is always a good idea to speak to friends, colleagues, and family members to get references.

If this is the first time you are going to use a caterer, don’t hesitate to ask a friend to accompany you when you go to meet the caterers (there might be various aspects of catering that you might not be aware of at all). Remember , a caterer that has trouble in providing you references is not worth your time or money.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

Welcome to Historic Occasions.  We’re a unique special event consulting firm located in Richmond, Virginia.  This is our new web home.  We’re building daily, so do come back.