It's All in The Flag

Everyone knows the flag of New Zealand. Or does everyone? Apparently not if you live in Australia. At least that was the rumour that went through New Zealand when the pressure group Ausflag took out an advertisement in the the New Zealand Herald trying to persuade Kiwis to change their flag in the March referendum. The rumour? That Aussies wanted the New Zealand flag changed because half the Aussies didn't know which was which and having only one flag with the Union Flag and stars would eliminate confusion. 

The New Zealand Herald ran a story on the advert here.

For some years the current Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key, has made it known that he wished the flag of New Zealand to change. It was decided to hold referendums. I won't bore you with all the details but of you would like the background it can be found here.

In the final part of the referendum there was a choice of two flags: the current flag and a proposed flag which had been agreed after a complicated first referendum:

The country voted to keep the existing flag 56.73 to 43.27%.

So which flag triumphed?

A Sense of Humour

or a political statement?  It could, of course, be both.  Either way I'm waiting to see where the next one will pop up.

Exmouth

This morning I went for a run (in the Nighthawk - I haven't suddenly taken to physical exercise!) to Otterton Mill (where the wedding reception is to be held and where I bumped into CJ and family and had coffee)) and then to Budleigh Salterton and Exmouth.  It was a rather dull and uninspiring morning for photography but when I arrived in Exmouth I was reminded of the close bond between the two countries in which I am fortunate enough to live at the moment (sorry, Scotland, but I'm pretending the UK is a country for this purpose) by this:

I've never been one for nationalism in fact quite the contrary but this sent quite a little shiver down my spine: