For some time now, there has been a variety of national, and other flags, flown from properties at the south end of the cricket and football ground just south of Wall Place, Linden. On Sunday, 22 February 2009, both places were flying the Australian flag at half-mast, being Australia's National Day of Mourning, following the bushfires in Victoria.

These flagpoles have become a constant icon now in the northern Tawa area and it is always interesting to try and identify them as one travels along the road.

- photo and text supplied by Peter Ford

The above two flags were being flown today, Monday, 23 February 2009.

I asked the householder flying the flag at left whether there was any significance in that flag being flown today. There wasn't. Her flags are flown on certain national days and for other significant events. Sometimes friends or total strangers request a particular flag to be flown. Otherwise she flies whichever of her 25 national flags or 20 'fun' flags that she chooses at the time.

She commented that people sometimes offer to get a flag for her if they're travelling overseas, such as a recent offer to obtain a flag from Egypt. She added that "the flags provide a talking point, people are interested in them, and they let you know what way the wind is blowing."

The other flag is apparently that of a certain English football club - "You'll never walk alone." [The householder wasn't home when I knocked on the door.]

- Malcolm Sparrow