I was, as usual disappointed by the birthday celebrations and found myself harking back to the good old days of proper diplomats in big black cars, bodyguards with guns and of course, political protest. I remember police shooters on top of the theatre, fears of action by the IRA and perhaps the best time of all, when I got arrested for protesting about the presence of the Ambassador from South Africa (Mandela was in prison and the apartheid regime was in full rage). I tore down the flag and was fined £92 for disturbing the peace. Aaaa, those were the days.

I gave up going a few years back in order to avoid dissapointment in advance.

Hone Heke would have liked you. He kept chopping the flagpole bearing the British flag. In fact he did so 3 times. Why? Well, funnily enough he had doubts about signing the Treaty of Waitangi. - Thought they were going to be 'had'.
He was protesting, just like people today do when they are not at peace about something.