Thread: Lands of the Southern Cross Board: All Saints / Ship of Fools.


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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Happy New Year to all. I hope this year is a blessing to all..

If any of you have a better titlet, please let me know for consideration by PM. This is not what I had originally thought of and i find it a bit saccharine sweet.

I had thought of something like "Here I stand, under the Southern Cross." It sounded vaguely familiar and on searching, I found it was started by Rod Marsh and David Boon as the anthem for the victorious Aussie cricketers . Not exactly inclusive of those who live downunder or who have some interest down here.

So I changed it a bit.

Happy New Year to you all. Many of us have had a pretty rotten year. World events have definitely not helped. I hope the coming year brings useful change to us all.

Now back to my G&T, a drink made for this weather in Sydney if ever such a drink was made.

[ 31. December 2016, 08:48: Message edited by: Lothlorien ]
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Happies, y'all
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
I wanted to start the thread early by Aussie time to accomodate those in NZ.

I had decided to stay up till midnight, quite a change. However, two hours still to go and I am almost asleep.

A million in Sydney around the harbour and more watching on TV. I guess tomorrow morning may be much quieter than the usual traffic down the main road.
 

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Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Happy New Year under the Southern Cross from down here at the foot of Africa! You're all way ahead of us (just after 2pm here) but it will be a clear starry night for sitting outside.
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
A few odd fireworks popping off early around here...but I am grateful to have seen 2016 through, and am content to face 2017 where God already is.

Happy New Year...though as always it will be a minute by minute endurance run.
 

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Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
Giving thanks for the best of 2016, and looking forward hopefully to whatever awaits us in 2017, because there will surely be blessings to come.

Woke at 1.30 and decided on a drink of hot chocolate. Well, that was one blessing.

Good cheer to all.

GG
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Wishing all of my antipodean chums all the best for 2017.

BTW, why do I keep typing 1017 when I'm trying to type 2017? I know I'm a bit behind the times, but this is ridiculous ...
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
A Happy New Year to all.

Not one of great promise at th moment though, is it?
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Very heavy cloud here, 6:30 am. The fireworks woke me at midnight but I went back to sleep. Then woke at 4:00 and that was it. A nana nap later may be in order.

Happy New Year to all, and yes MaryLouise, the Southern Cross is visible across Southern Hemisphere . Clear night sound good but I did not stay up.
 

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Posted by Rowen (# 1194) on :
 
Happy new year..... At my vacation spot, in Mallacoota, there were 12 of us in my friends' farm.... A great party in itself.

Tired now.
And hot.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Not hot by Oz standards, but 30c here today Georgie-Porgy fat'n'fuffy and I will be happier tomorrow when 17c is forecast.

I think my brain is scrambled. I got to church today at 8.00 am instead of 9.00am, because I misread the time when I was at home and caught the bus a whole hour earlier than usual At least I was able to grab some breakfast at the local mall before the service. I was on duty welcoming at the door. Usually welcoming people need to be early - but not that early.

Huia
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Happy New Year antipodean peoples!
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by MaryLouise:
Happy New Year under the Southern Cross from down here at the foot of Africa! You're all way ahead of us (just after 2pm here) but it will be a clear starry night for sitting outside.

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Always nice to hear from another antipodean, and from another of my favourite spots
 

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Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Happy New Year, Zappa! Yes, when I'm overseas and look up at the summer night skies of the Northern Hemisphere without being able to find the constellations of the Southern Cross, I feel thrown off balance. And I think too of Thomas Hardy's poem about Drummer Hodge dying and being buried out on the veld during the Anglo-Boer war:

His homely Northern breast and brain
Grow to some Southern tree,
And strange-eyed constellations reign
His stars eternally.
 

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Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
January is when local congregations worship in a different church each Sunday, in different combinations. Considering there were four congregations in one church this morning there was not much of a crowd, but then the famous wind was throwing 140 kph gusts – I got to my car between blows and hung on to other parked cars when a big gust came.

GG
 

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Posted by Dal Segno (# 14673) on :
 
Fascinating weather here in NZ to start the New Year. Blowing a gale, cool and cloudy in the middle of summer. The daughter is at the Scout Jamboree in Blenheim, sleeping under canvas. We're assuming that scouts know how to put up a tent that can survive 30 km/h wind.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
If the NZ scouts couldn't do that they would probably never go camping. We breed 'em tough here .

Huia - not a camper
 

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Posted by Clarence (# 9491) on :
 
The idea of breezy NZ weather sounds very appealing after all the heat of the last few days. We've been trying not to use the air conditioning, but the classic Brisbane humidity coupled with 38 degrees has nearly melted us to nothing. The excellent Dyson fans have had a good workout.

..and yet, as I write...thank you God for the cool change that has just this minute arrived with some rain!
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
We went to early church yesterday and then drove straight down the coast to our beach house. Very comfortable yesterday to have the sea breeze in the late afternoon, and then of course we woke this morning to a cool day and showers. It will get back to summer soon and in the meantime we shall enjoy being away from what had been an extremely difficult week of Sydney weather at its hot and muggy worst. Into town this morning to get some fresh fish from the co-op (it may be a public holiday but no-one told the fish), simple dinner, now sitting quietly together.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Clarence:
... with some rain!

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quote:

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Originally posted by Clarence:
The idea of breezy NZ weather sounds very appealing

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quote:

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Originally posted by Lothlorien:
... forecast of mid 20s ° C; for here. Then another blast of heat ...

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In my book, the mid-20s° C is a blast of heat.
 

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Posted by Mr Curly (# 5518) on :
 
Happy New Year! I'm relaxing at the cricket with Biggest and Middle and 5 of their friends. Not so much of a father/son thing, but we're all having fun.

Back to work tomorrow!

mr curly
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Did you get to see all those fours from Warner?
 

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Posted by Mr Curly (# 5518) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Lothlorien:
Did you get to see all those fours from Warner?

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Every one. And Renshaw blossoming through the afternoon.

mr curly
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
A good day to be out there.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
A slight, shallow earthquake was felt in Sydney overnight. Apparently some felt it in Sydney too. The last time there was a similar quake in this area was quite a few years earlier,. We went to a small holiday cottage in the Blue Mountains a couple of days after. First task on arrival was to clean fuel stove and kitchen floor of a large amount of soot which had come down chimney.

Nothing much at all in comparison with NZ and other places in the Pacific, but we do get them here.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
I would think the unexpectedness would be a shock in itself.

Meanwhile here in the Shaky Isles I thought I felt the beginning of something nasty, but it was only Georgie-Porgie bracing herself against my chair as she had a wash

I know I have said I like variety in the weather, but that doesn't include this morning's hail storm when I was out in the lightest of summer clothing. I should have looked out the window, before I left home rather than checking with the Met Service, who at that time informed me that rain was expected after dark.

Huia
 

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Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
That's right.
I had a shower and hung my towel out in the sun, went for a walk in the sun, and forgot about my towel until it had been rained on.

It happens all the time.

GG
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Yes and I was congratulating myself on getting the washing out before I went to the shops.

Ah well the cheap shop at the mall sold me a purple umbrella for $7.50, which was heaps cheaper than getting a taxi home, and the umbrella is still intact.

Huia
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
I bought a dome shaped plastic umbrella in Enmore Road Newtown, for a fifteen minute walk home in a sudden downpour. Very inexpensive and it did me for quite a few months.. The only thing I did not like was the noise of the rain on the thick plastic. It had broken by the time I moved here , so it went in bin, but for the price I paid in an emergency, it was good value.
 

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Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
We could do with some rain here. Wildfires on the slopes of mountains around Somerset West in the Cape have destroyed property and evacuations are taking place. Dense clouds of black smoke billowing over the Cape Winelands. As a rule, fires out here aren't as destructive or on a scale comparable with wildfires in Australia (we don't have stands of eucalyptus or other tall trees with volatile oils) but the Cape is very dry from this year's drought.
 

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Posted by Barnabas Aus (# 15869) on :
 
The Cape vignerons would be extremely worried about smoke-taint which may ruin the vintage. We have been lucky here in the Hunter Valley, but in recent years much wine in northeastern Victoria has been lost due to smoke-taint on the fruit from bushfires.
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by MaryLouise:
Happy New Year, Zappa! Yes, when I'm overseas and look up at the summer night skies of the Northern Hemisphere without being able to find the constellations of the Southern Cross, I feel thrown off balance. And I think too of Thomas Hardy's poem about Drummer Hodge dying and being buried out on the veld during the Anglo-Boer war:

His homely Northern breast and brain
Grow to some Southern tree,
And strange-eyed constellations reign
His stars eternally.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
... I was getting dressed half an hour before Dawn ...

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She got dressed a bit later ...

**fetches coat very quickly**

I have to turn my mind upside-down when reading about weather and wind directions on this thread too - to this hyperborealian little piglet, North is always up.
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Piglet:

quote:

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Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
... I was getting dressed half an hour before Dawn ...

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She got dressed a bit later ... ...

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...by which time I was feeling Rosy all over!
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Piglet! Wodders!

Hosts definitely aren't what they used to be!

Huia


 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
You still have me, Huia. They beat me to it this time. Next time perhaps.
 

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Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
I suppose we'll have to wait until they relinquish rosy-fingered Dawn for the wine-dark sea.

Hedonism and the southern hemisphere ...
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Just as well I didn't make a New Year's Resolution to behave myself, isn't it?

Ah well, I reckon I'm far too old to make New Year's Resolutions beyond Having Fun - far more point to that one!
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by MaryLouise:
We could do with some rain here. Wildfires on the slopes of mountains around Somerset West in the Cape have destroyed property and evacuations are taking place. Dense clouds of black smoke billowing over the Cape Winelands. As a rule, fires out here aren't as destructive or on a scale comparable with wildfires in Australia (we don't have stands of eucalyptus or other tall trees with volatile oils) but the Cape is very dry from this year's drought.

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When I was in Cape Town about 18 months ago fires had just swept through the Silvermine / Muizenberg region
 

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Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Zappa, that was a devastating fire. The great thing about Cape mountain fynbos though is how it regenerates after fire -- so many seeds are smoke-germinated or resprout from underground root stock. I saw a recent pic of that Silvermine area with new spring flowering, proteas and leucadendrons making a comeback. What is always sad with these wildfires is the loss of small wildlife, klipspringer buck, the Cape mongoose and geometric tortoise, rare frog species etc.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
WW I think I'll copy your New Years resolution - it's the best I've heard yet.

MaryLouise I wish I could send you some of the rain we've been having. Georgie-Porgy fat'n'fluffy has come in so wet she looks several sizes smaller (I wish it had the same effect on me).

Yesterday we had thunder and lightening - which is more exciting if you're watching it from inside instead of being out and about in summery clothes. And no, I didn't learn from last time, neither did I have my new purple umbrella with me.

Huia
 

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Posted by Arabella Purity Winterbottom (# 3434) on :
 
I'm starting the new year with a bang and resigning from my job on Monday, a decision made on New Year's Day (admittedly after some thought prior). Not sure what comes next, but I'm going to take a few months to decompress and work it out.

We had our housewarming today, and a good friend was talking about what happens when you give up a vocation. He was talking about singing, but it occurred to me that my 9 years in a really challenging social work role were displacement activity from not being able to follow my vocation. I think I've proved to myself that I can hack the tough stuff! Watch this space.
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
May you be blessed as you follow through on this resolution, Arabella. May the road ahead open before you with exciting vistas and the help you need to navigate it well.

My New Year's Resolution is just to keep finding the Joyful things in each day and to become more tuned in to what is right under my nose.

Less grim thoughts and more gratitude! Giving up watching the news might help there....
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Best of luck with whatever you decide to do next, APW.

[ 08. January 2017, 01:01: Message edited by: Piglet ]
 

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Posted by Dennis the Menace (# 11833) on :
 
Aside form profiteering, why has petrol increased from $1.19 to $1.449 a litre overnight at the same servo??
 

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Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Good luck, Arabella!

This time of year I wait with bated breath for price increases on everything from petrol to basic food stuffs to electricity and water. Ugh.
 

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Posted by Arabella Purity Winterbottom (# 3434) on :
 
Thanks.

I told my boss today. He was great.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Our petrol prices took a bit of a hike just after Christmas as well; I suppose it must have been to pay for the oil company executives' Christmas lunches ...

Of course, when the price of petrol goes up, so does the price of everything else, as everything has to be transported from A to B, but does it happen in reverse? Not bleedin' likely!
 

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Posted by Mr Curly (# 5518) on :
 
Biggest and Middle have just met our good friend Jugular at the Uniting Church National Yoof Conference. There is evidence on Facebook in the form of a selfie.

Biggest and Middle are both performing music at various times, Jugs is corrupting the young people doing his comedy.

mr curly
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Piglet:
Our petrol prices took a bit of a hike just after Christmas as well; I suppose it must have been to pay for the oil company executives' Christmas lunches ...

Of course, when the price of petrol goes up, so does the price of everything else, as everything has to be transported from A to B, but does it happen in reverse? Not bleedin' likely!

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I have a snaking suspicion that our grocery prices have gone up since the earthquake in November knocked out part of State Highway 1 necessitating an extra 4 hours drive to reach Christchurch. I only just twigged this week I was wondering why my bill at the supermarket was higher than usual.

Huia

[ 09. January 2017, 08:28: Message edited by: Huia ]
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
That was a sneaking suspicion. NZ may have earthquakes, but we don't have snakes
 

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Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
Our petrol prices have jumped too – in the metropolitan areas. Go up country for a cheap fill. I know if I'm heading for Matarangi I fill up at Tirau (and try to time my trip for a good midday meal there at Bugger), but nearer the city Levin/Otaki can be have good prices.

Hi, MaryLouise, great to have you in our Southern Hemisphere midst.

GG
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Galloping Granny:
... Go up country for a cheap fill ...

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That's interesting - here the prices tend to be higher out in the country than in the bigger centres, although in Newfoundland there's a dormitory-town outside St. John's where they keep the petrol prices deliberately a few cents below the city prices, presumably to encourage people to fill up there.

eta: or maybe to encourage people to live out there, so that they're spending more on petrol to commute into town ...

[ 09. January 2017, 22:47: Message edited by: Piglet ]
 

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Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Thanks for the welcome, Galloping Granny.

The other source of financial stress at the outset of a new year is waiting to see foreign exchange currency fluctuations as the South African Rand rises a little, dips and falls against British sterling, the Euro and the US dollar. Yo-yo season...
 

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Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Piglet:

quote:

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Originally posted by Galloping Granny:
... Go up country for a cheap fill ...

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That's interesting - here the prices tend to be higher out in the country than in the bigger centres, although in Newfoundland there's a dormitory-town outside St. John's where they keep the petrol prices deliberately a few cents below the city prices, presumably to encourage people to fill up there.

eta: or maybe to encourage people to live out there, so that they're spending more on petrol to commute into town ...

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quote:

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Originally posted by MaryLouise:
Good luck, Arabella!

This time of year I wait with bated breath for price increases on everything from petrol to basic food stuffs to electricity and water. Ugh.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Lothlorien:
It is hot, hot, hot. 32°C here at 9:30 am, forecast to reach 39. For inner west, that is hot, although several years ago it reached 43 and I took shot of thermometer which had suburb and time on it. That was matched by a friend from England in suburb of same name. Down in the minuses for her.

Everything is closed up and I am in front of a fan.
Roll on the southerly, although arrival time has been pushed back. 27° forecast for tomorrow which will be blissful, then more heat.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Barnabas Aus:
Bloody iPad. For fairies in my last post read "firies". I hate machines that think they know better than me.

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One did wonder!
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Your weather reports are making my eyes water; here we were delighted to welcome positive numbers to the weather today. According to Environment Canada it's currently +9°C, and feeling positively balmy.


 

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Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Lothlorien:

I had to take myrubbish downstairs and it was very unpleasant. I was most grateful for a young man whom I did not recognise. He went to get in lift as I came out and took my fairly heavy bag over much more quickly than I could have done.

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I'm lucky that it's only a few metres from the rubbish tin to the kerb. I tie the top of the rubbish bag, tip the tin over, pull the bag out and drag it to the kerb.

Slept in. I really must have my breakfast before it's time for morning tea.

GG
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Another hot one forecast for today - but not as hot as yesterday, for which I am grateful as I am running an outside market stall over the weekend for charity. The cooler change arrived at midnight as I was at my sewing machine under an open window, and it was like someone had suddenly turned some aircon on. I don't have aircon, but I do live in an oasis of greenery thanks to TP's gardening skills. It really makes a difference in hot weather.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
My breakfast is also turning into morning tea. I used the aircon in bedroom last night. The temperature had dropped but inside was still very warm and stuffy.

This morning I have my front door propped open a bit. This allows through movement of any breeze through the place.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Workers wearing high-vis in the street again. The wastewater system is being checked to sort the need for even further repairs

They do a essential job, which I appreciate, however it is easier if they do it at night(less traffic and lower water flow), so there's no escaping the rumbles by an extended visit to the library.

At least they won't be carried off with heat exhaustion or sunburn.

Huia
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Given the forecast, we've decided to stay down the coast for a few more days. Good summer weather here rather than the extremes of others. In other words, pleasant for long walks along the beach morning and evening, swimming in the warmer hours and comfortable sitting on the verandah for dinner and after (well protected by screens, I'm glad to say). Also the fish at the markets has been very good this year, and at a fraction of Sydney prices.
 

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Posted by Arabella Purity Winterbottom (# 3434) on :
 
Oh my goodness, the sun is shining! We've had the most midwinter weather the last few days, including a severe weather warning for the high winds yesterday.

Might be able to do some gardening tomorrow????
 

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Posted by Mr Curly (# 5518) on :
 
Scooped up the boys from their Yoof Conference yesterday and drove south. Now a resident of Thredbo until Tuesday, hoping for some milder weather.

It is increasingly clear that when Mr Curly Senior offers to do something (like have beers ready for the travelers on arrival) the chance of him remembering to actually do it is way less than 100%. This is of course more worrying than the state of unsatisfied thirst I found myself in at 7 last night. Observation at close quarters over next few days will be enlightening if not enjoyable.

Today will be a Day of Rest, with the Holiday Feast and dress up night tonight. Then, there will be walking.

mr curly
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Nursing a crushed finger today after I jammed it in the wheels of a book trolley yesterday. Crafting may be seriously impeded for a while...and typing not easy either!

Searing winds forecast for this avo. Bad fire weather around here so all will be on high alert.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Middle son usually has holiday this time of year at Chalotte Pass and spends a lot of time walking. Somehow his booking was stuffed up so he is now on Central Cast beach holiday and having a ball. Still wistful about CP.

BL, I notice forecasts for today have been updated. 38° C now for here again. That finger injury sounds nasty. Do you have cream for bruising? I speak as one who had bad finger for over three weeks when somehow I caught it in catch of the belt which holds balcony blind to balcony rail. It is still painful to touch, although bruise has gone and that is a month or ore ago.
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Yes...not broken, but nail is black and 5 cent sized slice of flesh flap on the top of my pointy finger means I have a most unhappy digit. It didn't help that a few hours after the injury I shut my car door accidentally on the same finger and re-opened all the clotting. Not happy with my klutzy self at all. I am monitoring the bruising.

Obviously need to slow down, like the rest of the country in January.
 

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Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Sympathy, Banner Lady, it sounds as if you're going to lose the nail. I swear by arnica for bruising.

Wild fires breaking out all around the Cape peninsula in the last few days but it is cooler this morning, a faint possibility of rain.
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Weirdest freaky squall just hit. At 1pm the temp was 29, by 2pm it was 39 with hot gusty winds blowing twigs off trees and empty bins off kerbs. Then at 4pm the wind began howling hard and the huge trees around us were bent almost double. Every firies nightmare - suddenly changing to a rain squall with very warm water falling out of the sky. But within 2 minutes the temp was back to 29. Power is out across Canberra and the damage is only just beginning to be noted. At the northside markets heavy glass doors were blown off their hinges and shattered.

Our house obviously still has power but up the hill where my daughter and mum live, it is off and it is out across the street too. Hoping no more wind is on its way, as this would be a linesman's nightmare. Prayers for all the emergency services people who will be having a long night.
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Visual evidence here.
 

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Posted by Lamb Chopped (# 5528) on :
 
Drat, that's eucalyptus, I can see the problem. We had a two-three story one fall on our bedroom once.
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
That is some storm. I hope that your mother's place is OK, very hard at her age to cope with an event like that.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
You are a bit far from SA to have the dregs of the storm they have just had. Big warnings about ice and batteries etc. Yours seems to have descended then gone. SA had warning. My sister is doing some emergency house sitting for friends in Gladstone SA in the Flinders Ranges. Storm was not quite as bad as forecast but she was there a year ago when they had one like yours today.

Hope your mum is OK, that sort of sudden bad weather is unsettling.

Please be careful with the finger . It may need professional attention. It sounds very nasty, much worse than mine was.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
It is Friday evening and I didn't pay a great deal of attention to emergency vehicles screaming up and down outside. Then I saw a news item. A short distance down the road from my place a truck hit a power pole which snapped in half bringing down wires and causing blackouts etc. I have escaped those. All west bound traffic along Parramatta Road was stopped for at least two hours. Fortunately, there are back ways around in that area.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
It's been a bit windy here, but nothing even remotely approaching that

I'm meant to be going north of Christchurch tomorrow into a country area to collect firewood but if it's too windy I'll stay home and do my needlework. (Thanks Banner Lady and Loth - your posts have reminded me I need to take gloves to protect my hands).

Huia
 

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Posted by Dennis the Menace (# 11833) on :
 
12.45am and it is 32 degC outside, not a nice night for sleeping
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Gosh, BL, that sounds like a very nasty injury.

Hope you're all managing to keep as safe as possible through all the mental weather you're having.


 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Dennis the Menace:
12.45am and it is 32 degC outside, not a nice night for sleeping

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quote:

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Originally posted by Banner Lady:
Weirdest freaky squall just hit. At 1pm the temp was 29, by 2pm it was 39 with hot gusty winds blowing twigs off trees and empty bins off kerbs. Then at 4pm the wind began howling hard and the huge trees around us were bent almost double. Every firies nightmare - suddenly changing to a rain squall with very warm water falling out of the sky. But within 2 minutes the temp was back to 29. Power is out across Canberra and the damage is only just beginning to be noted. At the northside markets heavy glass doors were blown off their hinges and shattered.

Our house obviously still has power but up the hill where my daughter and mum live, it is off and it is out across the street too. Hoping no more wind is on its way, as this would be a linesman's nightmare. Prayers for all the emergency services people who will be having a long night.

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Indeed, they're still working this morning round here. Knowing it was going to be hot yesterday I retreated to the Big Library (hi, MM!), then emerged at 5 to find branches strewn all over the place, and my bus then delayed by a tree down across the road. Power still on at home however. A bit sad for the guys clearing leaves and minor debris along Commonwealth Avenue at 9 am yesterday - by 5pm their work was completely redundant.
 

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Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
For more than fifty years I've been driving from time to time past the house where my mother was born in 1903, and wishing I could just step inside. Finally I turned off the motorway last year, found no one home but left a note in the letterbox, and was invited to visit, which I did today.

My hostess had done quite a lot of research on the house, and had among other things a description of its solid construction in totara, rimu and matai in 1868, much more substantial than the cottages being built at that time for most of the immigrants. It's kept its, I think, original colours, and been well looked after, with some obvious changes inside.

My grandfather moved often for his health, and I don't know exactly how long they lived there, but I printed a photo for her of the family as they would have been when they moved there or a year or so before, ie the baby in the photo is the one before Mum.

That was a long awaited treat!

Here the weather is comfortable, if with some quite violent wind at times, while son and his family are swimming twice a day at Matarangi (since I have to mention the weather).

GG
 

---

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Last gig at my former gig place tomoorrow. Weirder than a weird thing. I hope I get outa there alive as I have one or two things to say. I won't be back.
 

---

Posted by rexory (# 4708) on :
 

 

---

Posted by Uncle Pete (# 10422) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by rexory:

---

What he said, Zaps.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
All the best, Zappa.
 

---

Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
You don't need me to say don't say them. But prayers that all goes well.
 

---

Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Cooler weather but still no rain, went out and looked at the patch of dust that was grass a few months ago. I save water from my shower but that goes on stoep pots and planters. Regulations against using hosepipes, water restrictions with serious fines in place.

Hope everything went well, Zappa.
 

---

Posted by Mr Curly (# 5518) on :
 
Returning home from the relative cool of the Snowy Mountains to another hot coupla days in Sydee. This have been our extended family's 9th biennial Christmas/New Year holiday here, and could well be the last in its current form - the senior generation are struggling with the stairs and the terrain.

Back to work tomorrow, and university offers out tomorrow evening. If Biggest was any more laid back about this he'd fall off his chair.

mr curly
 

---

Posted by Barnabas Aus (# 15869) on :
 
Bushfires reported near Vulpior's abode. Hope all are safe.
 

---

Posted by Mr Curly (# 5518) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Barnabas Aus:
Bushfires reported near Vulpior's abode. Hope all are safe.

---

We drove close enough to see the substantial smoke from the fire.
Likewise, hope all are safe.

mr curly
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
I have friends with 100 acres and a few "temporary" sheds at Tarago. Hope they also are ok with fire there. Just watching ABC news and there is a lot. of smoke and aerial photo shows a big area burning.
 

---

Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
King's Highway has now been blocked and fire heading towards Bungendore where B3 resides. Hope those we know on Vulpior's mountain have found safe refuge. It doesn't sound good and will be an uncomfortable night for all in these parts.
 

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Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
19:20 and 39.4 degrees. I love Albury.

Hello all. Back again. Hopefully I'll stay. Good to see familiar faces here.


Hope all went well Zappa.

Vulpior and all dealing with fire, and our brave firies.
 

---

Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Hello lovely Ian, good to see your iconic face again!

Lake George Hotel is taking in those displaced by fire, God bless 'em.
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Hi Ian. Albury was not the only hot place. My suburb was 39.8

When son was at uni at ALbury he swam in the river on a similar hot day but said it was icy.

RFS update on Tarago fire. Now downgraded to Watch and Act although RFS volunteers will be working on it through the night. 7:48 pm update.

[ 17. January 2017, 07:51: Message edited by: Lothlorien ]
 

---

Posted by Mr Curly (# 5518) on :
 
Hi Ian! Great to have you back.

mr curly
 

---

Posted by Vulpior (# 12744) on :
 
Thank you all for the good wishes. We didn't get back from work in time to get through the roadblock so were stuck in Bungendore for a while. Mum came down with the pets and documents, but we've since been able to return. There's even been some rain!

We're probably a good 2km from the southern edge of the fire.

I suspect the phone and Internet will be out for a while.
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Good to hear from you, Vulpior. I think RFS want to get on top of things as tomorrow is supposed to be very hot again before a gusty change.
 

---

Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
My cousin says he's pretty safe, and if he is, then Vulpior should also be - but then there are wind changes. Even greater heat forecast for tomorrow.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Glad to hear you're safe, Vulpior - long may it continue.

Good to see you back, IC!
 

---

Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Crazy summer weather. Yesterday I did some grocery shopping at 7pm and afterwards had to lie down with my feet up feeling dizzy with the heat. Today I am battening the hatches as 100 kp/h winds are forecast. In Wellington the forecast is 150 -160kp/h. I'm not sure how much rain we will get, but it's been heavy in the Alps and on the West Coast.

Hold tight GG and Arabella.

Huia
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
32 when I went to bed. At 3:00 am, it was 25, at 7:00 am it was back to 32. I am about to close everything up. Forecast says change and storms in middle of day with a further wind change later in afternoon,

Bad fire weather.

[ 17. January 2017, 19:43: Message edited by: Lothlorien ]
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
That's a strong wind even at 100. Keep indoors.
 

---

Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Such a hot and weary night - even for those of us safe from fire - so I can imagine the stress of the country dwellers nearby. And summer only half over. Today is the anniversary of the 2003 fires in Canberra where 500 homes burnt down and people and their pets died. It will be a tough day for many.

TP and I are heading to the cool of the movie theatre this morning for some relief in a galaxy far far away.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Now 36 and it is not even 9:00 am. However forecast says change in morning. Allowing for inaccuracies in forecast, hopefully that means by lunchtime. I will have four grandchildren here today. My apartment is not small, quite roomy and well deigned really,but everything is closed and with four children here it will be noisy and warm. I usually send them upstairs to roof garden to run off some energy, but that will be like a branch of Sahara up there at the moment and almost no shade.

Vulpior, your district even scored a mention by name in today's SMH. Glad you are ok, but it seems as if at least one house burnt.

[ 17. January 2017, 21:00: Message edited by: Lothlorien ]
 

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Posted by Rowen (# 1194) on :
 
It was one of our extremely rare hot days here yesterday, in the lower Victorian Alps. 36.
So, I went up to the top of my local Alps bit, and visited some folks. 26. Much better.
19 today at home

[ 17. January 2017, 21:37: Message edited by: Rowen ]
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Lucky you. Over 38 here now before 10:00 am. I went to check something from freezer and tray of ice blocks smashed on floor. Cubes everywhere and corner of tray obliterated. There is another small tray still in freezer which won't go far armong four grandchildren. I have one more tray but it is cracked and unstable. Have just asked son to get me more in Coles etc on his way down here. The all broken or cracked trays will be pitched out.
 

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Posted by Barnabas Aus (# 15869) on :
 
40 here and a bushfire has just flared on the edge of town a few hundred metres from us. Southerly change is getting closer, which will blow it back on itself. A few cool days and some rain would go well right about now.
 

---

Posted by Barnabas Aus (# 15869) on :
 
Looks like we might have a firebug. Three fires in quick succession in bush on town borders. Brigades coming from all directions.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Prayers ascending for your safety, and that of all affected. Scary times.
 

---

Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
I'd say you're right. Not good news at all.
 

---

Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Firefighters are diminished to skeleton crews because of the number and length of containments going on. Exhaustion is beginning to be a factor. They are publicly calling for assistance from those living on the outskirts of towns in the Monaro region.

Loved the interview with the man who was helplessly watching fire race towards his homestead, wondering what he and his family could possibly do to avoid it. Suddenly a huge machine appeared overhead, dumped its water and the fire was entirely extinguished. Can only happen like that when there is no wind, so he was feeling very blessed.

The wind this avo is ferocious. But at least a cool change and some rain is forecast for the next two days.
 

---

Posted by Barnabas Aus (# 15869) on :
 
That went to hell very quickly. Within minutes of my last post, the fire was raging along the road at the rear of our house. We started hosing the house down. Back neighbour's pool pergola roof caught fire, then embers set fire to next door's palm tree. As I turned from helping extinguish that, ferns on the far side of our house went up. Thankfully, the town brigade and a couple of RFS trucks were able to save the house, but we have lost our fernery and the workshop/storage area adjacent, which had much of my late mother-in-law's sewing and other gear in it. We have power but no lights, so just waiting for the electrician to see if he can get here. This is the scariest day of my life - I now understand what people say about the noise of a firestorm. The southerly change arrived about 20 minutes too late for us, but that has put others under threat as the fire changed path.
 

---

Posted by Vulpior (# 12744) on :
 
Prayers and best wishes, Barnabas Aus.

Fire remains away from us. The nearest through road is open again. And the internet is back, thanks to some quick repairs by our great local ISP.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
That sounds freakily terrifying - prayers for all in these situations.
 

---

Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
That does sound terrifying BarnabasAus.

Much cooler day here... Humid though.

And thanks for the welcomes back.
 

---

Posted by Japes (# 5358) on :
 
Waves at Ian Climacus! Lovely to see you again.

Adding my prayers for all those in fire stricken areas.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
I meant to add my voice to the Welcome Back lobby but my attention span some days is rather less than that of a gnat!

Good to see you Ian C.
 

---

Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Barnabas Aus, That is terrible news indeed. Preyers for you and your family.
 

---

Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Barnabas - way too close a shave. Thank God you had help so close at hand. And sparing a thought for all who are out in the heat cleaning up the mess a fire leaves in its wake. That is no picnic either. Hope you have some hands to help you out, BA.
 

---

Posted by Barnabas Aus (# 15869) on :
 
Thanks everyone for thoughts and prayers. We have many offers of local help. My wife spent much of the time while the brigade was here up the road at a friend's house keeping an eye on our 92 year old next door neighbour who has very severe dementia.
 

---

Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Barnabas Aus and everyone affected by the fires.

I hope the person lighting them is found quickly.

In my small corner of the world the threatened storm has yet to make an impact. I woke to clear skies and a wind that barely stirs the leaves of the cabbage trees. People living on the Canterbury Plains, and the Alpine areas were not so lucky, and in Wellington the wind reached 160k/per hour with flights and ferry services cancelled and roads closed due to either wind or
flooding.

Huia
 

---

Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
Big fire near Whitianga, our shopping/worshipping centre for Matarangi. Four (five?) homes and Wilderlands commune wiped out. In the City, yes cancellations, and noisy winds round the house, but we're relatively sheltered here.
I had to take a bus in to the city yesterday and promised myself that if the gusts that blow old women over had started and I had to cross the street I'd ask s sturdy pedestrian if I could hang on to their arm.

GG
 

---

Posted by Arabella Purity Winterbottom (# 3434) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Galloping Granny:
...I'd ask a sturdy pedestrian if I could hang on to their arm.

GG

---

Reminds me of my first year in Wellington, doing postgrad library and info science. We had a lovely guy on the course who was around about the size of a medium sized car. He and I were walking down Lambton Quay one windy afternoon, when we saw a little old lady struggling to stay upright.

My friend walked over to her and said, "Walk behind me, the wind won't reach you, and my friend can give you an arm." The three of us proceeded to her destination, with him walking in front like a stately barge.

Sadly, he died later that year, of heart failure - which was just the wrongest diagnosis, because he surely had the biggest heart of anyone I knew. Thank you for bringing him to mind again.
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Barnabas, today is very grey but not wet yet and a good deal cooler. I hope you have a cooler day too. Take care, both of you as you wind down from yesterday.
 

---

Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
That's a lovely story, Arabella Purity Winterbottom.

 

---

Posted by Dal Segno (# 14673) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Huia:
Crazy summer weather ... In Wellington the forecast is 150 -160kp/h

---

150 kph last night. The house creaked like a ship at sea.

Twelve hours later it is relatively calm and gloriously sunny with blue sky, red pohutakawa and lush greenery. The latter owing to the fact that we have yet to have days consistently above 20 degrees.
 

---

Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Arabella, my first secretary was around 60, very slight, and an arthritis sufferer - very severe arthritis with quarterly gold injections and so forth. She would have trouble with even a stiff breeze, having to hang onto street posts and so forth. A pity she did not know your friend or his twin.
 

---

Posted by Clarence (# 9491) on :
 
BarnabusAus and neighbours

Lovely to see you Ian Climacus!!!!
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Huia:
... I hope the person lighting [the fires] is found quickly.

---

You mean they were started deliberately?? I was assuming they were the result of the hot, dry weather.

Prayers continuing to ascend for you all, especially Barnabas and Mrs. Aus and their neighbours - that is way too close a shave.
 

---

Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
The strong suggestion is that those around the town where Barnabas Aus lives were deliberately lit. They all started very close in time, and from memory someone was seen running. A person who deliberately starts a fire and is reckless as to its spread is liable to a sentence of up to14 years.
 

---

Posted by Barnabas Aus (# 15869) on :
 
Thanks again for your support and prayers. Our insurance assessor has been, and has engaged a professional recovery team to help clear out the wreckage, and then a building consultant will come in to arrange repairs and reconstruction. We are feeling much more settled. And it's raining!
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Raining here too and also at son's place on coast between Gosford and Woywoy. All afternoon and evening would be good. Lots of stressed trees and shrubs here and even the agapanthus and clivea strappy leaves are bleached and burnt.

Professional clean up sounds a really good idea. I hope you and others can now move forward.
 

---

Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Glad you're safe and the danger is over, Barnabus. Out here we have teens starting wildfires who don't really understand the devastating consequences but arson destroys community spirit in so many ways.

Lothlorien, you could be describing my garden -- agapanthus, clivias half-dead, even the herbs have shrivelled up. I'm good at using grey water (standing in tubs for soapless showers etc) but it isn't enough.
 

---

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Nasty shooting in Mebourne. One friend of mine was in the vicinity and says it was pretty scary. Three dead. Unlike the USA the incident did not end in a hail of bullets, but three dead is three tragedies.

Friggin' 'eck ... fresh snow fell on the mountains where we have been this week. It's mid-January fro crying out loud.
 

---

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dal Segno:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Huia:
Crazy summer weather ... In Wellington the forecast is 150 -160kp/h

---

150 kph last night. The house creaked like a ship at sea.

Twelve hours later it is relatively calm and gloriously sunny with blue sky, red pohutakawa and lush greenery. The latter owing to the fact that we have yet to have days consistently above 20 degrees.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zappa:
Nasty shooting in Melbourne ...

---

Is there any other sort?

for the souls of those killed.
 

---

Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
Good news Barnabas Aus.

Horrific events in Melbourne. My manager is from there and seemed dumstruck by it all, particularly being somewhere he frequented and knew well. for all killed, injured or affected.

Some lovely rain yesterday and the promise of a sunny day today. Planning on driving along the Murray east to Corryong and doing a small bushwalk or two. Saturdays are nice days.
 

---

Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
I think Zappa that the gales you've been experiencing have mangled the news beams across the Tasman. Only 1 shot, but 4 killed, when a man drove his car into a pedestrian mall; the assertion is that this was deliberate.

The shooting was of the driver. If what the police allege is true, we find it hard to have much sympathy for the gunshot wound he received; wrong of us, but hard.
 

---

Posted by Laud-able (# 9896) on :
 
Sympathy be damned! The man is drug-addled criminal who - but for the gutless magistrates - would not have been out on bail. Starting in a pedestrian mall he drove down whomever he could hit - so far four, including a child, are dead.
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
He was also apparently well known to police because of a very long history of domestic violence. It is alleged he stabbed a family member earlier before the rampage.
 

---

Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Laud-able, Laudable, where was there an appeal that the decision to grant bail was wrong? I can't say much of what has happened in Victoria, but in NSW there is a presumption against a grant of bail in so many cases, not good at all.

On another front, we drove back home yesterday. Not the best of drives but we made it. The garden needs days of rain to recover from the heat, and replenish the tanks we use to water it. Not all that happy with the idea of recycling grey water onto the garden.
 

---

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
As it happens two of my friends were nearby, and caught up in the pandemonium. Of my family none were near, though one daughter's partner had planned to be there at that time but got waylaid, and my former-wife's partner had just left the area.
 

---

Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Horrible ...and even moreso that he could have been picked up earlier.

At least we can't blame a criminal act for the fire near Vulpior. A bird flew into overhead electrical wires, incinerated itself and then set the grass on fire when it hit the ground.

Bet it was a galah.
 

---

Posted by Laud-able (# 9896) on :
 
The Premier has just announced changes to the bail system in Victoria. To begin, a night court of magistrates is to be established to hear bail applications from those accused of crimes of violence - part of the disaster that led to the (so far five) murders in Melbourne arose because a bail justice granted bail to the perpetrator who was already on bail for a prior offence. Bail justices, l should explain, have hitherto been volunteers (with minimal training) to whom the police have been obliged to refer out-of-hours applications for bail.
 

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Posted by Mili (# 3254) on :
 
I hope they do change the bail laws. I thought they had made them stricter since the Jill Meagher murder, but things like this happen again.

We also need better mental health and drug treatment as so many of these violent crimes seem to be by people on ice or similar drugs suffering from psychosis. Obviously most people with a mental illness are not violent, but those who are a danger to themselves and others should be off the street getting appropriate treatment.

It also seems domestic violence is still not being taken seriously as they seem to give bail more frequently when it is a spouse/partner or family member who has been attacked, rather than a stranger.

My parents were having lunch where the crime occurred the day before and a couple of friends narrowly missed being caught up in it. One ran to catch a tram - if she missed it she would have been there. The other had been there and was 50 metres away when the incident happened.

A baby has died now too and there are still 6 people in a critical condition in hospital. Praying for them all and the families of the victims.
 

---

Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
Godspeed the change in laws. And continued thoughts and s for those affected.

Gosh Mili: 50 metres isn't far! Thanks be to God.

---

Went for a dip in the, slightly chilly, Murray tonight after a 39 degree day. Was lovely to float down the river for a while, with many others and a number of ducks. I am lucky to live here.

[ 23. January 2017, 09:06: Message edited by: Ian Climacus ]
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
The ABC news is now reporting that a man has been charged with setting fire to the grass near Barnabas Aus's house.
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Gee D:
The ABC news is now reporting that a man has been charged with setting fire to the grass near Barnabas Aus's house.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Gee D:
The ABC news is now reporting that a man has been charged with setting fire to the grass near Barnabas Aus's house.

---

They also reported he was out on bail!!!!
 

---

Posted by Tukai (# 12960) on :
 
I for one love the inclusive message of this year's Lamb advert for Australia Day. I know it's a bit stereotyped, but it is funny, e.g. this dialogue
British commander stepping ashore, " We are the first fleet"
Aborigine already on the beach, "not quite, mate".
 

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Posted by Barnabas Aus (# 15869) on :
 
Bail refused, Dennis. Back in court today. Heavy rain late last night should have really helped, but we're down for 41 degrees again on Monday.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Great advert, Tukai, can I assume that it does NOT carry a Pauline Hanson Seal of Approval?
 

---

Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Some rain at last here in the Cape, a few hours reprieve from the heat. As always, the rain came down just as I finished carting buckets of precious water around the garden.
 

---

Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
MaryLouise I always think the pre-rain watering helps the rain soak in better. I don't know if it really does, but I am wondering if I heard it somewhere (of course I am not beyond inventing something then believing it ).

As the so-called weather bomb mostly avoided Christchurch (apart from I night of light rain) we are having water restrictions. At this stage they're more suggestions and not compulsory, but could become so if the high temps and lack of rain continues. On the other hand my favourite small town has 2832.1mm (or 111.5 inches) of rain a year so there are no restrictions on watering and some lovely gardens.

Huia
 

---

Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Huia:
MaryLouise I always think the pre-rain watering helps the rain soak in better. I don't know if it really does, but I am wondering if I heard it somewhere (of course I am not beyond inventing something then believing it ).
Huia

---

If rain falls on hard, dry ground it pretty much just rolls off. Pre-watering softens the soil so that the rain can soak in. (Try mopping up a spill with a dry sponge -- it doesn't work as well as a damp sponge.)
 

---

Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Well, of course. Sometimes I make more sense that I think I do.

Thanks Pigwidgeon,

Huia
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Water saving crystals work well in the potting mix for pots. Just don't use too much as I once did and went outside after rain to see a quivering mass of clear jelly on top of one of my pots. The crystals had spilt in the pot and when wet had expanded upwards and outwards.

For both pots and garden soil, wetting agents help so water is absorbed into soil and it does not merely run off.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
As it's presumably now well into Thursday Down Under, may I wish all the Australian shippies a happy Australia Day?

Have a good one!
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Have a good Australia Day, folks - it is Republic Day here in India.
 

---

Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
Thank you both. Happy Republic Day WW, and all in India!

Interesting choice for Australian of the Year. I had not heard of him. And a variety of recipients for Young Australian of Year, Australia's Local Hero and Senior Australian of the Year. Well done to them all for their work.

A bit of gastric has kept me indoors today. Friends have been floating down the Murray on pool floats and having bbqs. My boss is taking the family to a waterfall I visited last weekend where you can, with some scrambling, get to the pool of water underneath. Good day for it.

[edit: can't spell Happy]

[ 26. January 2017, 04:42: Message edited by: Ian Climacus ]
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Hope that complaint goes quickly for you, Ian. I remember some of your trips abroad from times past and also some of the walks you took up here. Around Waverton perhaps, seems familiar?

It is quite warm and stuffy up here and scrabbling around in a bush pool sounds a good idea.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Doesn't Professor Alan Mackay-Sim come across as a really nice bloke? Congratulations to him on his award.

I watched that Lamb advert again this morning - yes, it is stereotyped AND it is also excellent, particularly the question at the end.
 

---

Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Pre-watering is now my favourite word (thanks Huia and Pigwidgeon)and I shall look out for the water-saving crystals Lothlorien mentioned.

Happy Australia Day to those who celebrate it!

I'm on final deadline for an editing project so planning to spend the morning making a complicated roast vegetable stock for tonight's mushroom risotto. Procrastination, c'est moi...
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Just pointing out that there are two products. Wetting solution which affects surface of soil to absorb moisture and crystals which absorb water and expand, making water available under soil to roots.
 

---

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
I must say, Ian, it's so good to have you back around the decks!
 

---

Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
Thanks Zappa.

Great to see you too. I still have fond memories of my Wankydilla visit.

Gastric seems to have passed... Now just trying to be motivated [and as you can tell by my presence here, failing] at work. A Friday after a public holiday is a tough thing.
 

---

Posted by Clarence (# 9491) on :
 
Most of my Friday work conversations went:
Me: So how was your yesterday?
Colleague: oh pretty good, caught up with a few friends and had a nice relaxing day...but I'm really messed up about what day it is today. It feels like I got done out of a weekend and it's Monday again.

Maybe we should stick to keeping the national day to a long weekend.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Most of the public holidays here happen on Mondays even if the actual date doesn't; in Newfoundland St. John's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Victoria Day and Orangemen's Day were all marked by holidays on the nearest Monday.

The exceptions were Canada Day (1st July) and Remembrance Day (11th November) which were always marked by the actual day (although if they fell at weekends you'd get the following Monday off).

It makes sense in a country where people* often have country retreats, be they cabins, cottages or mansions, where they like to go for weekends.

* Not us - we can barely afford one house, let alone two.
 

---

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Oh what a perfect day here ... 28°C, 3% humidity, a 3 kph NE wind. Like Darwin in the dry season. Sheer bloody heaven.

Shame about the world, though.

[Edit: bloody miscreant K ]

[ 28. January 2017, 22:06: Message edited by: Zappa ]
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
Most of the public holidays here happen on Mondays even if the actual date doesn't; in Newfoundland St. John's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Victoria Day and Orangemen's Day were all marked by holidays on the nearest Monday.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Piglet:
Most of the public holidays here happen on Mondays even if the actual date doesn't; in Newfoundland St. John's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Victoria Day and Orangemen's Day were all marked by holidays on the nearest Monday.

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Just to safeguard the reputation of Canada, Orangeman's Day, St; John (the Baptist)'s Day and St. Patrick's Day are not holidays in the rest of the country.

John
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Fair play, John.
 

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Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
"Orangeman's Day" might take on a whole new meaning here in the U.S.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Ah, the advent of orange squirrels on a folliucally challenged scalp ... so attractive
 

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Posted by Tukai (# 12960) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lothlorien:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
Most of the public holidays here happen on Mondays even if the actual date doesn't; in Newfoundland St. John's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Victoria Day and Orangemen's Day were all marked by holidays on the nearest Monday.

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Anzac Day and Australia Day are holidays on correct date. otherwise usually a Monday is the day chosen. We too double up if Christmas etc is on the weekend.

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True now, but I am old enough to remember the good old days before 1994 when Australia Day was always marked on a Friday or Monday to make a long weekend, after which most schools resumed from their summer break. But PMs Howard (of white armband history) and Abbott (10 flags per speech and military parades galore) wanted to mark Aust Day as more than just a good excuse for a barbecue or a day at the beach.
Personally, I reckon they went far too far in the other, flag-waving, direction.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
A cloudy day, warm but not hot and enough wind. Perfect for the Christchurch's annual kite day held at New Brighton Beach. This is one of my favourite free events as part of the Summertimes Festival and marks the end of the school holidays. Lots of people of all ages but they were spread out along the beach so it didn't feel crowded. The kites were magnificent and came in all shapes and sizes, birds, fish, butterflies, dragons and a very effective small one that looked like an octopus. The friend I was with finally managed to get both his kites flying successfully, not helped much by me as I was just there to enjoy other people's efforts.

It was a wonderful break from the tidying and cleaning I've been doing to prepare a space for my new bed. (I jumped on the other one holding Georgie-Porgy and it broke so she is going on a diet tomorrow )*

*Actually it was not made of wood, but something that looked like compressed cardboard that had been painted. It was a bad buy on my behalf, but I was seduced by the shape Unfortunately the shop is no longer trading and the site is a barren piece of ground.

The salesman (who looked a bit sceptical at my blaming Georgie ) assured me this one is solid pine and is bolted together. We will see if Georgie is up to the implied challenge.

Huia
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
I went into work for 3 part-days last week, but tomorrow sees me back in full swing for another, and hopefully my last, year. I've thought about part-time, but beyond a bit of fiddling around the edges that's not really feasible.

A significant day for me this week, and Dog's still with us to help celebrate. Unfortunately he won't last much longer and we won't be getting another. That would leave us in our early 80s caring for a dog at a time when we may well be wanting to move into a unit apart from the other considerations.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Hope that significant day goes well for you, GeeD.

A significant day in extended family here. Son of my new DIL starts High School today and Miss M does also. Not quite so much a jump as it could be as their school is K-12. Uniform differs to primary school. The two of them are hoping to be in different classes to each other. They were deliberately separated in sixth class after being in same class the year before. They both brought home tales from school, so separating was a good idea.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zappa:
Ah, the advent of orange squirrels on a folliucally challenged scalp ... so attractive

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You may be being unfair to squirrels - they're cute.

Huia - that's right - blame the cat.
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Thank you Lothlorien'
 

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Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
Kite day sounded wonderful Huia! As does a new bed.

Thanks for explaining why we uni workers got an extra "In lieu of Bank Holiday" after Boxing Day Lothlorien.

My eldest niece started high school as well [same school as last year, K-12] as well today, and she seemed to enjoy it -- though "a lot to remember". Better than my younger nieces who both pronounced Year 3 and Year 2 "rather boring". The youngest because the music player was broken so a particular game, Musical Statues, could not be played.

Heard from a friend their daughter was told at preschool by some other kid that they did not want to play with her as she was dark [mixed Malaysian-Japanese-Italian]. Poor girl.

(Early) Happy significant day GeeD, and hope your full week goes well.

I had a productive day, despite the hot winds blowing through the air vents from outside and heating up my office -- and my bare lower legs as I wore shorts. 40C+ day. Not sure if I've said but we have a environmentally friendly building [with drop toilets!] that is supposed to be naturally cool. A/C was retro-fitted in the middle, and we get a bit of it; but as they were built to Euro standards it struggles a bit in the heat.
 

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Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Happy significant day, GeeD!

Working on copy for art gallery monographs and an exhibition catalogue, one of the more enjoyable projects to start 2017.

And it rained this weekend! Not nearly enough to help with water shortages, but the garden revived miraculously.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Feels like a good day to Tasman-hop
 

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Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zappa:
Feels like a good day to Tasman-hop

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quote:

---

Originally posted by Huia:
A cloudy day, warm but not hot and enough wind. Perfect for the Christchurch's annual kite day held at New Brighton Beach. This is one of my favourite free events as part of the Summertimes Festival and marks the end of the school holidays. Lots of people of all ages but they were spread out along the beach so it didn't feel crowded. The kites were magnificent and came in all shapes and sizes, birds, fish, butterflies, dragons and a very effective small one that looked like an octopus. The friend I was with finally managed to get both his kites flying successfully, not helped much by me as I was just there to enjoy other people's efforts.

It was a wonderful break from the tidying and cleaning I've been doing to prepare a space for my new bed. (I jumped on the other one holding Georgie-Porgy and it broke so she is going on a diet tomorrow )*

*Actually it was not made of wood, but something that looked like compressed cardboard that had been painted. It was a bad buy on my behalf, but I was seduced by the shape Unfortunately the shop is no longer trading and the site is a barren piece of ground.

The salesman (who looked a bit sceptical at my blaming Georgie ) assured me this one is solid pine and is bolted together. We will see if Georgie is up to the implied challenge.

Huia

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quote:

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Originally posted by Lothlorien:
Depends where you are hopping to, Zappa. Yet another 37+ day down here and several more forecast for end of week. You would welcome it, but it is getting mighty tiresome here. 41 in my area yesterday, more than that westwards.

---

Miserable bloody 14 here at the moment ... I like the parts of OZ that don't get cold overnigh. Melbourne ... not so much. In fact it's only about 100 kms north of where I live so the only suprising thing is that I always forget ...
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
It's -7° here at the moment, but it's been a glorious, bright, sunny day.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
It's 15c here, which I think is great because I have to finish cleaning the bedroom and it's easier when it's cooler. It was over 30c yesterday and I had to keep stopping so I could cool down.

Bed arrives tomorrow morning

Huia
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Please keep GeorgyPorgy from jumping on the new bed.

That temperature sounds blissful. Over 40 at my place again, yesterday and more of the same at next weekend.
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Interesting few days with 3 grandchildren starting at new schools and B1.1 and B1.2 entering their last years at primary and middle schools respectively. So 2 big fish in small ponds and 3 small fish in big ponds. We have been busy providing reassurance, advice, cheer leading, back up support and various school bits. We are tired already!

TP went to the mall to get away from the heat on Monday and was amused at the number of completely fed up mothers wrangling ratty kids and essential supplies. One small bored person managed to poke holes in an entire display of toilet paper while TP was waiting in line. I think he found it fascinating (not exactly what the mother thought when she noticed). A week not for the faint hearted.

And then the sadistic sales gurus follow this stressful week with flogging lovey dovey Valentine's Day merchandise everywhere. Hmmmm....



 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Not a holiday I have ever had anything to do with.

Cooler today but still stuffy inside.

I was guilty once of taking my three to a local Westfield in a heatwave. It was not a cheap outing as there was very little by way of entertainment and we bought drinks etc. Local library was situated elsewhere. However, they did not poke holes in toilet paper display or do anything else along similar lines.

I am suffering from too much heat and not enough sleep. I replied to an email from ex Mr L warning of a virus spread in a photo of cops arresting Trump. It is old news and false. Sent him a link to Snopes, and managed some derogatory comment about being gullible and hoping I would soon see news of a real arrest. Spoke about alternative news etc. In nine years since I walked out, this is the first time I have replied but this was a good opportunity. A swipe at his being gullible, a swipe at Trump, and an opportunity for education about sites like.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Miss M and Master M, new step grandson, both started high school yesterday. He is apprehensive, having just been diagnosed with mild epilepsy and a form od sensory disorder. He is having occupational therapy which has been some help and is just getting medication sorted for epilepsy.

They attend the same fairly large Christian school k-12 in western suburbs. Eldest grandchild has just graduated from there. Not my choice but better than many other choices there.
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Piglet, spare a thought for central NSW where some places like Moree have endured 36 consecutive days of temps over 35 degrees celsius.

I'm not sure even heathogs like Zappa would enjoy that.

Here in the national capitol we have had two cool rainy mornings in a row - a blessed respite from the searing midsummer fiery numbers. Due to climb again after today, but the garden is looking much less stressed, as is TP.
 

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Posted by Mr Curly (# 5518) on :
 
Captain Middle and Little Miss are back at school and have resettled into routines OK. MIddle turns 17 in a couple of weeks - hard to believe. Biggest is enrolled in his Uni course - his full time load involves 9 contact hours a week. He is working hard at building up his music tuition business.

One of our home group members talked about selling his plumbing business and retiring in our "share your hopes for the year" session. I (excitedly) asked him what his post-retirement plans were, and he said going on dialysis and waiting for a kidney transplant. It wasn't the only challenging news last night..

For G.

mr curly
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Captain of cricket Middle? I must have missed something, but congratulations in any event.

The kidney transplant sound worse than it may end up being. The husband of my elder sister had one done a dozen years ago. Not easy, and he took 6 months off, but he went back to work for another half dozen or more years after that, and is still going strong. I hope all goes as well as that for your colleague.
 

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Posted by Mr Curly (# 5518) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Gee D:
Captain of cricket Middle? I must have missed something, but congratulations in any event.

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quote:

---

Originally posted by Gee D:
The real treat of the day was an extra squirt of tomato sauce on my devon-and-tomato-sauce sandwich at lunch.

---

It's the little things...

Like today when at home I was making myself a smoked salmon sandwich for lunch. I was about to grumble at the lack of light cream cheese in the fridge when I found a half-eaten brie. It went quite nicely.

mr curly
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Back to school today and I was welcomed with open arms as a huge pile dual language, English/Samoan reading books had arrived and need to be processed. The school roll is about 50% Samoan and the books are aimed at helping the parents to help their children. It's a huge step up from when I was teaching.

The problem is that there was an equally huge pile of solely English reading books that arrived late last year (from a difference source) and are still unprocessed.

Part of me wanted to run screaming from the building

Being a volunteer(with no 'clout' in the system)I'm thinking of suggesting a dual language group of parents might be invited to help as part of the launch of the new books

Seriously though I do think it is worth celebrating.

Huia
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Much more decadent a lunch than my usual.
 

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Posted by Latchkey Kid (# 12444) on :
 
Have people seen this news story about a million dollar cross in the NT outback.

Not my cup of tea at all. What do people think. (I haven't seen another thread on this topic)
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Not my cup of tea either. Then again I am not in favour of the Big Prawn, sheep, bull or whatever else there may be on our highways.

That website is very vague on details except to say the community wanted it.

A caravan park was suggested in its stead. My sister has travelled extensively in outback and says decent parks are very good, but far too few in number.

The mention of Mel Gibson would send me scurrying in opposite direction.
 

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Posted by Kittyville (# 16106) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lothlorien:
The mention of Mel Gibson would send me scurrying in opposite direction.

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quote:

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"Seventy per cent of people who come to the Territory want an authentic experience of meeting with and understanding Aboriginal culture and only 3 per cent actually get that."

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quote:

---

Originally posted by Huia:
Sam Neill also stars in two of my favourite NZ films - Sleeping Dogs and The Hunt for the Wilderpeople - though I'm not sure I'd agree with his opinion on other matters. Frustratingly I can't remember the issue.

Today is World Wetlands Day and I'm off to a celebration of the Christchurch Estuary.

Monday is Waitangi Day. I've just discovered Wikipedia states that the Treaty was only signed by some North Island Chiefs, whereas it was also signed by some South Island chiefs too.

I'm not impressed!

Huia - proud citizen of Te Wai Pounamu.(the South Island of NZ)

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quote:

---

Originally posted by MaryLouise:
Overcast weather,a relief it is cooler. Off to the farmers' market to buy heirloom tomatoes for Caprese salad, planning to spend the afternoon picnicking under oak trees while listening to jazz. Unless it rains.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Huia:
... Cloudy Bay ...

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... where The Best Wine On The Planet™ comes from.

**sigh**

eta: Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc used to be imported to Northern Ireland in limited quantities, and one Christmas we heard a rumour that a particular wine shop had some. D. drove 20 miles each way to buy some to give as Christmas presents* (and keep one for ourselves for Christmas lunch, obviously) and, on finding that they were rationing it to three bottles per sale, went back later that week to get some more.

* to people we really liked.

[ 05. February 2017, 15:32: Message edited by: Piglet ]
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
It's a bit wasted on me Piglet, but I know it's won quite a few medals.

I went out to water the garden early this morning, feeling virtuous because that is what the City Council recommends, when I realized that today was an even date and my house number is an odd number . I salved my conscience with the knowledge that I had not watered at all in the last 5 days.

Loth, I don't know how you bear it. We have 31c forecast for today and that is way beyond my comfort zone. I may even have to test out the cooling settling on the heat pump.

Huia
 

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Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Huia:
Onuku was the signing place in Akaroa. A group from our church went there last Waitangi Day. It was also signed On Ruapuke Island (near Stewart Island), near the entrance to Otago Harbour, Cloudy Bay and Rangitoto Island off Marlborough.

Huia

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Sheila Natusch wrote Brother Wohlers: A Biography of J. F. H. Wohlers of Ruapake. which I must have read many decades ago. I remembered it as 'Pastor Wohlers of Ruapuke' which here appears as the title of an article in 'Te Ao Hou'. Among several references in an online bibliography is an article in Te Ao Hou in 1968 titled 'Pastor Wohlers: A Tohunga by Adoption' which I'd love to see.
Curiously the bibliography of NZ Christian publications appears on a website on which everything else is in Russian.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Ah, some relief ... a pleasant few days in Melbourne, though predictably the weather was no better than NZ. Then I leapt in the rental car and drove up the Newell to Brisbane and beyond. Just touched 38C in the north of Victoria near Strathmerton, but mainly around 35. Tricky to sleep in the car, as the overnight temperature stayed above 30 until well after midnight, when a storm near Coonabarabran lowered things down to about 25 and I grabbed a couple of hours.

And here I am, happily ensconsed chez Draught, where I am going to be quietly working on a book for a few days, surrounded by warmth, sub-tropical vegetation and birdlife, fermented fruits of the earth, and the wonders of friendship.

Life's tough.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zappa:
[QB
And here I am, happily ensconsed chez Draught, where I am going to be quietly working on a book for a few days, surrounded by warmth, sub-tropical vegetation and birdlife, fermented fruits of the earth, and the wonders of friendship.

Life's tough. [/QB]

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Latchkey Kid:
Have a good break/write Zappa. Say Hi to FD from me.

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Done! Greetings returned, with interest.
 

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Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
Happy travels Zappa.

Been a busy week for all here in the antipodes.

A weekend spent back north, giving the eldest and youngest nieces their birthday presents. Took all 3 to the park and out for milkshakes. Very nice, but I forgot how humid February can be. The parents' dog wanted a walk but I wasn't going out in 35+ temps and 60% humidity, sorry doggy.

Some rain down here today...but unusually humid now.
 

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Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
Good to see the PM and Opposition Leader behaving kindly and generously to one another today in parliament.


I despair. And hate when parliament is on as NewsRadio broadcasts it rather than the BBC into the night... Yes: first world problems I know.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ian Climacus:
Good to see the PM and Opposition Leader behaving kindly and generously to one another today in parliament.


I despair. And hate when parliament is on as NewsRadio broadcasts it rather than the BBC into the night... Yes: first world problems I know.

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quote:

---

Originally posted by Ian Climacus:
I despair. And hate when parliament is on as NewsRadio broadcasts it rather than the BBC into the night... Yes: first world problems I know.

---

And the news on child abuse is offered by Radio National. Another cause for despair.
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Yep, no good news anywhere it seems. Even listening to the Press Club yesterday was depressing as figures were rolled out showing how far Australia had slipped in the global gender equality ratings over the last 12 months. Dropped ten places - and now ranked 46th in the world for equal pay. As the mother of four working daughters I am dismayed by those figures.

So much seems to be going in the wrong direction. I must be getting old! The good news is that I WILL be going in the right direction tomorrow - heading down the coast where it will be a blessed 20 degrees cooler than blistering Canberra. Two days of 40 degree temps is the forcast in this neck of the woods. They really should cancel school. That is dangerous heat.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Enjoy the coast, BL.

It reached 43° C here this afternoon and more elsewhere. Even up Gee D's way it was 44 early afternoon.

I went to High School in that area and hated the broad brimmed Panama hat which was part of summer uniform.

I looked down this afternoon when it was 43, to see two girls from local High School walking along in the sun after school. Each had an exercise book opened and on the head for some protection. Suddenly the memory of the panama made more sense.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Many of the Primary schools here have uniforms that include a broad brimmed hat. Children at the school where I volunteer are not allowed out to play unless they are wearing them. I always wear one during the summer months too, even though I look a bit like a mushroom.

Huia

[ 10. February 2017, 05:46: Message edited by: Huia ]
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Primary schools are like that here, it often falls apart in public high schools.
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
I think that wearing hats outdoors at schools has become almost universal.

We used wear boaters and they are still part of the uniform. While we were allowed to remain in sports uniform after mid-week practices rather than change to go home, we still had to wear the boater and blazer. Not so long ago, Madame and I were at a local restaurant for an earlyish dinner. Some young fellows walked past wearing wet board shorts with their boaters and blazers - no shirt of any kind.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
I used to see boys going to rowing practice from school well down the line fromyou, rhymes with more. Early morning practice with tracksuits, blazers and boaters. I was on 6:15 or thereabouts at Killara.
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
That school and mine are the only 2 retaining boaters.
 

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Posted by Tukai (# 12960) on :
 
I've spent the last week at the annual conference of the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society. Several sessions were about heat waves past present and future, which was appropriate as it was 40 deg in the shade here on Friday. The invited lecture on the subject was by a young scientist from Sydney who must be feeling the heat even more than the rest of us, as she is 6 months pregnant and thus has built-in central heating.

For what it's worth, the good news is that heat waves are not getting much hotter (in terms of maximum temperatures). The bad news is that they are getting more frequent and occurring over a longer season (i.e. beginning earlier in the summer and finishing later in the summer).
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Tukai, I keep reminding myself of heatwaves in January which we spent at the beach. Sometimes we did not get to swim as the walk down was so hot and the sand on beach burned through soles of shoes.

However this run of hot weather has made me long for cooler seasons. I am over it, just over it.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
While you can keep your 30°-plus temperatures (40°-plus? Don't even go there!), a few more degrees wouldn't hurt here.

We got well over a foot of snow last night, and the current temperature is -18°, but feeling more like -22, and that's a bit parky even for me.


 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
41.5 here now Piglet, and we are getting close to the hottest part of the day which here is between 3 and 4:30 pm.

Southerly expected "in the evening," which is somewhat elastic as a time frame.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
While our temperatures are not (thank God) as high as those Australia is experiencing, they have been sufficiently raised to make me sick. I have high blood pressure which is well controlled by medication. Unfortunately hot weather lowers the B.P which means the combined effect has led to nausea, headaches and difficulty with thinking straight and with balance.

It should be fixed by halving the meds (according to the Doctor) but it was horrible to start with, because I knew I was confused but couldn't sort out why or what to do about it. Really scary when you live alone.

I have just Googled the 'America First, NZ Second' video and it's a hoot.

Huia
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Not good, Huia but at least you know the principle. Now for the fine tuning.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
All the best Huia. The heat here would have sent it plummeting. 44.1 here. I love living alone, but like you am concerned about sudden ill health. I hope you get the dose sorted out and also pick the best time to up it when it gets cooler.
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
I stood on the esplanade as a stiff sea breeze came inshore with the tide this morning. It was heavenly. Now back in baking Canberra where there is an evil red cast to the sky that has nothing to do with sunsets. The last time I saw it look like that was in 2003 when 500 homes burnt down on the outskirts of town. All across NSW the authorities are steeling themselves for a bad fire day tomorrow. Please God it will not be as bad as feared.

However on the drive back as the thermometer steadily climbed I passed a nasty accident that made me count my blessings. I cannot imagine anyone survived as the car was a pancake. You know it is bad when one police car, two ambulances and three fire rescue trucks pass you.

I will not moan about it being too hot - there are always far worse things than that.

Huia, have you tried cucumber peel on your wrists to bring down your core body temp? An old country trick that some ladies were telling me today really works.

[ 11. February 2017, 08:23: Message edited by: Banner Lady ]
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
We used to fight over the cucumber peel when we were young.
 

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Posted by Barnabas Aus (# 15869) on :
 
We have been at a wedding in Cessnock today, where there is a temperature readout on the covered outdoor bowling green at the venue. It maxed out at 46degC. Even the air-conditioning in the bowling club could not cope, being supplemented by large pedestal fans. And more of the same expected tomorrow.
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Well, apparently the crash victims did survive. I hope everyone recovers, but the pic of the car shows it a miraculous thing.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Sickening BL. Three critical unsurprisingly.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Crikey - that crash does look bad.

for all involved.
 

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Posted by Dennis the Menace (# 11833) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Banner Lady:
Well, apparently the crash victims did survive. I hope everyone recovers, but the pic of the car shows it a miraculous thing.

---

A dreadful road. Should be named Kings Goat Track
 

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Posted by Mili (# 3254) on :
 
Hope all NSW and ACT shipmates are keeping safe today. I'm skipping the Aussie summer heat this week having a holiday in Rotorua, but the weather and fire news from home sounds ominous. Praying all my Dad's relatives are ok in western district of NSW. My great uncle there is 94 so hope he's coping with the heat.
 

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Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Woken at 4am by heat and mosquitos, so got up at 5am covered in itchy lumps. I have found that placing a small bowl of malt vinegar on the windowsill helps keep most mosquitos away but it didn't work last night.

Ready to try cucumber peels on my wrists though!
 

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Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
40C yesterday, 22 when I woke up and 19 now. It felt rather cool when I went out for a walk.

Enjoy Rotorua Mili.

Sorry to hear of the pestilent insects MaryLouise.

That accident looked horrific BL!
 

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Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
Oh, and hope cool weather comes your way Huia for your BP.
 

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Posted by Barnabas Aus (# 15869) on :
 
The southerly's arrived, and it's a proper old-fashioned "buster". Temperature has dropped from 45 to 28 and still going down. Doors and windows opened to let the fresh air flush through the house. What a relief!
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Yes, it is 25 degrees cooler here than yesterday. A blessed relief - and I am now wearing a cardigan!
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Enjoy Rotorua Mili. I lived there for 7 years, about 30 years ago, and passing through on the bus last year barely recognised it. I remember cool evening with the wind coming off the Lake.

I used to enjoy sitting in one of the hot pools down by the edge of the Lake after work, but that's an activity better suited to winter.

The temperature reached 27c today, but now it's 15c, with a note that it feels like 11. It's delightful.

I will go to be with the security screen doors locked and the inner door open so I catch all the breeze

I think I've sorted the meds

Huia
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by MaryLouise:
Woken at 4am by heat and mosquitos, so got up at 5am covered in itchy lumps. I have found that placing a small bowl of malt vinegar on the windowsill helps keep most mosquitos away but it didn't work last night.

Ready to try cucumber peels on my wrists though!

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quote:

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Originally posted by Barnabas Aus:
The southerly's arrived, and it's a proper old-fashioned "buster". Temperature has dropped from 45 to 28 and still going down. Doors and windows opened to let the fresh air flush through the house. What a relief!

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Lovely, isn't it?
 

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Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
Another year, another street barbecue, everyone here except a mum with a sick child. Weather no good so I'd run the car forward so the barbecue could go under the carport, and tidied the living room so that some sturdy men could shove the furniture around.
All I have to do is provide the place; everyone looks forward to it and everyone looks after me.
How lucky I am to be surrounded by great neighbours.
If only other neighbourhoods could be as friendly

GG.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Good neighbours are a blessing. There are a lot of apartments here, just over sixty, originally built as serviced apartments. Quiet,pleasant gardens etc.

I know quite a few people but not all of them by name. I have found them easy to speak to and helpful. Since I hurt my hip I have discovered how helpful many are. It is recivering but I still use a cane and take my rubbish downstairs, balanced on the frame I used to use. Many times I don't get that far, someone takes it for me. I would prefer to take it myself as part of exercise but they insist.

There is one young fellow who has been here about as long as I have, six years next month. Right from the beginning he has told me to call on him if ever needed. He works shift work at very odd hours but when I said I did not want to disturb him, he told me to just knock loudlyand not be worried

Then the other day I shared the lift with a delightful little girl and her mum. She was walking, about fifteen months old. She smiled and laughed and when they got out, needed no prompting to blow me lots of kisses and waved. Made my day
 

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Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
I shall have to have an easy day. With the Cuzzies' Lunch on Saturday and the barbecue yesterday I've hardly read more than the front page* of Saturday's paper. And I must start on today's over breakfast. Two of my favourite columnists write in Monday's DomPost.

Lothlorien, I'm glad that you too have people to look after you. With church, neighbours and family I feel so safe.

GG

*Slight exaggeration. But two little voices in my head are saying 'Don't even look at that puzzle' and 'But it looks quite doable!"
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Not good news for some places in our state.

42 degrees celsius was horrid - the water in our tanks was steaming - so I can't imagine 49. Hope the cool change has reached most parts by now.
 

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Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
49?!?!?! Holy Mother of God, I can't even imagine.
 

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Posted by Latchkey Kid (# 12444) on :
 
Our pool gets to just over 34C. Quickly jump in and out and hope there is a breeze to cool yourself off.
Some cloud today. We are hoping for the predicted rain.
The 2.5 metre python that often suns itself round our pool is also taking some dips in our pool today.
 

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Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
Here in Arizona we reached 50 (122F) in June 1990. It is definitely not pleasant. Luckily everything here is air conditioned, so it was just a matter of getting from the office to the car, the car to the house, etc.

The airport was closed because they didn't know how the extreme heat would affect landing and take-offs -- and because the baggage handlers could not be expected to load and unload planes on the black tarmac.

The only good thing about it was that here was virtually no humidity. Talk about a "dry heat"!
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Yeah, it's been reasonably warm. I'm currently in coastal/hinterland Queensland where the ocean has modified the heat somewhat - 33C at the moment but because of the 40% humidity a "feels like" of 36. Inland OZ has been a wee bit warmer.
 

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Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Tried Lothlorien's suggestion of lavender oil last night on my calves and it helped to keep mosquitos away and soothe bites from the previous night -- many thanks.

Huia I hope the cooler weather and adjusted meds continue to help with BP
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
I assume that being in Cape Town you get the equivalent of our southerly busters - very strong southerly winds that drop the temperature dramatically in a haf hour, cause havoc on the Harbour and so forth, but not necessarily rain.
 

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Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
Gosh...can't imagine 50C Pigwidgeon.

Hurrah for soothing suggestions MaryLouise. And hurrah from heat relief. Still shocked as per BL's link of that town, village, wiped off the map.

Some help from the wordly and literate people here, please.

I shall soon be off to drown my sorrows with the fact I turn the big 4-0 [just completed a survey today and realised I'm not long for the 30-39 category ] and I'm headed first to the US to visit my best friend and his family. They have 3 daughters, 4, 2 and just born.

I was thinking of taking some Mem Fox or other suitably Oztralian books for the 4 and 2 year old, and possibly a stuffed toy [koala, etc.] for the one just born. Thoughts? Thoughts on books? I'm going through what my nieces liked, but any suggestions appreciated. And I'm wondering if I get a stuffed toy for the youngest, if the books will be seen as a very poor subsitute by Misses 2 and 4 and they'd prefer a stuffed toy too. Thanks.

[ 13. February 2017, 06:03: Message edited by: Ian Climacus ]
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Jackie French's Diary of a Wombat and its sequel have proved popular many times as gifts for overseas children from me.

The toys are cute, but far too often have tags attached which say "made in China," or similar. Her writing is marvellous.

ETA. Often available, evein in local Coles, although I would prefer a local bookshop.

[ 13. February 2017, 06:25: Message edited by: Lothlorien ]
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Ian, I did not realise I had known you for that long. A privilege.
 

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Posted by rexory (# 4708) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ian Climacus:


I shall soon be off to drown my sorrows with the fact I turn the big 4-0 [just completed a survey today and realised I'm not long for the 30-39 category ]

---

Lucky you, Ian! Some of us vaguely remember 40
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by MaryLouise:
Tried Lothlorien's suggestion of lavender oil last night on my calves and it helped to keep mosquitos away and soothe bites from the previous night -- many thanks.

Huia I hope the cooler weather and adjusted meds continue to help with BP

---

Glad it helped, MaryLouise. I always have some inthe house as it is useful in a variety of ways.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
My absolute favourite Mem Fox book is Wombat Divine , but I once bought a nativity story for non-Christian parents who thought I was trying to convert their son so I am now a bit more careful.

I looked at Mem's website and discovered Ducks Away which I thought might appeal to the 2 years old ( as with most books at this age level the whole family will probably learn it off by heart). I've also always liked Possum Magic and, from what I remember it depicts a diverse range of animals and would probably appeal to the 4 year old. For the baby possibly The Little Fingers and ten Little Toes because it could be read with finger and toe play.

Ok, my bias is showing here - I don't think children (babies included) are ever to young to be read to, besides books pack much more easily. I don't know whether price is a factor for you, but getting quality soft toys that would last may be expensive.

If either of the parents have experienced depression you could buy them my absolute favourite Australian book - The Red Tree by Shaun Tan. It's a picture book too, but it has one of the best depictions of depression of any book I have ever read. It is stunning, and it ends with hope.

Sorry Ian I'm passionate about picture books and I get a bit carried away. There are so many good Australian picture books.

Huia
 

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Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
Don't apologise. Appreciate, and love, your enthusiasm. I too love books but just wondered about one so young. Books would be much easier to take!

Thanks Huia and Lothlorien for the suggestions. Much appreciated. And I may get The Red Tree for myself [thanks]; the parents already told me to bring chocolate for them -- they say they miss the taste of Australian chocolate.

And a joy and privilege to have known you for as long as I have too Lothlorien.

[ 13. February 2017, 07:27: Message edited by: Ian Climacus ]
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
By the way there is a large fire burning in Christchurch, mainly in farmland but there are houses involved. In case anyone sees a news bulletin and wonders, it is nowhere near me, but I'm praying for those who will have to spend the night in the local primary school.(using the votive seems a bit insensitive).

Huia
 

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Posted by Mr Curly (# 5518) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ian Climacus:


I shall soon be off to drown my sorrows with the fact I turn the big 4-0 [just completed a survey today and realised I'm not long for the 30-39 category ] and I'm headed first to the US to visit my best friend and his family. They have 3 daughters, 4, 2 and just born.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ian Climacus:

Thanks Huia and Lothlorien for the suggestions. Much appreciated. And I may get The Red Tree for myself [thanks]; the parents already told me to bring chocolate for them -- they say they miss the taste of Australian chocolate.

---

If you have not got the Red Tree then you really should! I will second everything Huia said plus suggest it might be a useful way to explore the different forms depression takes.

If you are concerned about refugees then look at his book the Arrival. Not sure if that takes you to the book or just to all his books and you need to select it.

Jengie
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
I was thinking of The Arrival too Jengie, but I couldn't see how to work it in. I am quite evangelistic when it comes to my favourite authors

And of course (ironic that this one slipped my mind) there's Wilfred, Gordon, Mcdonald Partridge

They may be easier to pack, but if you took all the ones I could suggest your baggage would be overweight and you wouldn't have room for a spare pair of socks.

And for your birthday Ian there's also an Australian song, Life begins at Forty written and sung by Judy Small.

"Life begins at forty/ til then you're simply learning how/ the Overture is over/the symphony starts now..." it's probably on the net somewhere.

In other news ... I think my Doctor and I have finally sorted things. In addition to the low blood pressure I had low blood sugar due to the timing of some meds. So a simple switch should fix that

Huia
 

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Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
Great news Huia!



Thanks Jengie jon and Huia...more books for my collection.

Woke up at 3:15 for some reason. Worse, got on the computer and started work. I'll be frightened to recheck what I actually did when I get in to work.

Off to Bathurst this afternoon for the rest of the week for work. Looking forward to it, catching up with people and meeting new people. Should be fun.

[ 14. February 2017, 16:49: Message edited by: Ian Climacus ]
 

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Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
The fires around Christchurch and in Hawkes Bay look every bit as scary as any from overseas. One house destroyed and one helicopter pilot killed, and miles of flames and black earth.

Take a book for the littlest. People read to their babies almost from birth and are amazed at the way the wee ones focus on the pictures and want the experience go on.

Makes you all the sadder to learn that there are children who arrive at school not knowing that you hold a book this way up and turn the pages likes this.

GG
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Studies have shown that babies learn three things in utero...taste (if mum likes garlic, so will bub!)...I've often wondered if that explains why all mine love chocolate! Music - babies will respond positively to favourite pieces. One doctor I know used to put headphones on his wife's belly and play lullabies at the same time every night before the baby was born. (Talk about conditioning.) And the cadence of certain voices - especially voices that read aloud.

So yes, don't be afraid to grab a baby book for the littlest one. There are also some fab board books out there these days. Always popular while junior learns the art of turning a page.
 

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Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Banner Lady:
Studies have shown that babies learn three things in utero...taste (if mum likes garlic, so will bub!)...

---

My mother and I had very different taste in food (I was also breastfed, which I would think would reinforce similar tastes.) My mother was so fond of onions that I used to tell her she'd put them in chocolate cake if she thought she could get away with it -- and I can't stand the smell or taste of them.
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Maybe I should have stated babies have been shown to react to certain foods in utero...pigwidgeon was obviously the one reacting very badly to the things being sent down the tube...
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Huia and Gallopping Grannny, thank you both for your news on the fires. How tragic that someone carrying out fire-fighting duite has died. But good Huia that you're safe.
 

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Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
From a quick Google of "Christchurch fires":
Four more homes destroyed, hundreds evacuated as Christchurch Port Hills fire rages out of control.
Hundreds of Christchurch residents have been evacuated from their homes this afternoon, as the battle against the Port Hills fires continued ...

There are also electricity outages as pylons have been in the path of the fire.



GG
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Electricity supply on this side of town is fragile, but we are grateful that the lines company Orion put in extra lines after the quakes, which may make a difference. I feel for all the people most directly affected as this area was very close to the epicentre of the Feb 2011 quake and many of the homes have only been fixed in the last year.

I got to the shops just as the power went off, but fortunately it came back on just as I caught the bus going towards home so I shopped in another centre.

Huia - heading off to bed with a torch ... again.
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Just seen this and your posts on the Prayers thread. Are you still safe?

The partner of a friend had a house on the northern slope of the hill with a tunnel in it to the port just south (does that make sense?) which was lost in the second quake. Is that the area you're calling the Port Hills?
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Yes. The hills around the Port are the remnants of an extinct volcano. I think I've got my directions right by saying an area to the South of the actual Port has been evacuated - Governor's Bay is one of the areas that has been specifically mentioned. I'm a bit vague as to other suburbs but The Sign of the Kiwi and Westmorland have been mentioned on the news.

I'm on the flat, about 5 kms from the tunnel you mention. Mostly the winds here are NW or East to North Easterly. The wind would have to be coming from the south east for me to be threatened. I suppose something catastrophically different could happen, but I don't think it's likely.

Having just read the "Stuff" news site it appears the fires might now been contained - I hope so.

I know for some people this will have brought back memories of the quakes with sirens, helicopters, evacuations and uncertainty, and my heart goes out to them. On the other hand as most of the rest of Christchurch has been unaffected ( except by smoke and worry about friends) many people are reaching out with offers of accommodation, food etc through facebook and other social media.

Huia
 

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Posted by Emendator Liturgia (# 17245) on :
 
For all those in and around fires!
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
That's good news Huia, particularly about the prevailing winds. A strong southerly would be something else though.
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Poor Christchurch.

 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
There's an article on Christchurch fire in SMH this morning.

Totally unrelated to above, I think I need to go back to bed and start the day again.

I had to edit a post on British thread this morning to actually post some content, not a blank page.

I went to wash up breakfast plate and pan. Not a job I like especially after having used dishwashers for decades.

I plunged my hands into soapy water to find it was totally cold. No fault of the system, I had run cold water into sink.
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
I'm a great advocate of going back to bed and starting all over again - but I do like a gap of an hour or two to rest my eyes as I deal with the trauma.


 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
I like it when I can con Georgie into joining me back in bed - better than a soft toy, apart from the sharp bits at the end of her paws.

Day 4 of the fire, (it didn't really hit my radar until yesterday when the two fires merged and.
light levels changed) and it is expected to go on for several more days. I think the army has been called in. Firefighters must be exhausted.

Huia
 

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Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Firefighters do a tremendous job. Stay safe, Huia.

I've had days that began like that, Lothlorien and WW. An hour back in bed with a pillow or two over the head sometimes works wonders.

Nervously watching the progress of Cyclone Dineo hitting landfall in Inhambane, Mozambique. I have friend setting off on a cruise to the Portuguese Islands and friends working on the Mozambique coast.
 

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Posted by Latchkey Kid (# 12444) on :
 
Hoping you stay safe, Huia.

[ 16. February 2017, 07:29: Message edited by: Latchkey Kid ]
 

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Posted by Mili (# 3254) on :
 
Praying for Christchurch. I'm back home in Australia now and only holidayed on the North Island so didn't visit Christchurch. I have a friend there, but I contacted her this morning and she is not in a danger area. Praying for everyone, especially those who have lost houses and for the family of the helicopter pilot. Keep safe Huia.
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Cyclone sounds alarming, ML. But cruise liners have very advanced weather equipment on them these days so they can avoid nasty weather systems. My daughter went on a pacific island cruise last summer and there were two cyclones brewing. We were a bit worried, but she reported back that the captain simply steered between them and other than it being too windy to be on deck much, did not affect them.

Much harder to be stuck somewhere on the coast. If they are not near a river mouth they may be okay.

Glad Georgie Porgy is doing a good job as a comfort cat, Huia!

[ 16. February 2017, 19:56: Message edited by: Banner Lady ]
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
I saw a reasonable length clip of the fires Huia, on news last night. Hope they are being brought under control now.

One thing the RFS stresses down here is how quickly fires can move and warns about complacency. The terrain there was quite different to areas of fires last week.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Banner Lady:
Poor Christchurch.

---

That's about right - if it isn't one thing, it seems to be another.

for Huia, Georgie-Porgy and all affected.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
I had some hopes after I was caught in the rain today, but the spokes person for the firefighters said it was like "spitting on a barbecue"

The weather is making it more difficult for the fire fighters because they cant get heavy machinery in to dig out hotspots and visibility is limited. The air seems a bit cleaner though.

Huia
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
There has been a huge storm threateninghere for all afternoon. Now here and much more than spitting on a BBQ.

Far too dark to read without a light on.

Son has been in Brisbane at a work conference since last weekend. He was on board at Brisbane but they have been disembarked as Sydney airport has been closed. I think he will get home tonight but it could be sometime before it reopens. Another message that they have been told two hours delay.

He has just had his flight cancelled but no other news yet. Storm is passing, but there could be another rolling in behind it.

He took a photo from cab of an ugly squat red brick building. Sign says, "Salvador Deli. Mediterranean beach food." No sign of melting clocks.

[ 17. February 2017, 04:26: Message edited by: Lothlorien ]
 

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Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Banner Lady:
Cyclone sounds alarming, ML. But cruise liners have very advanced weather equipment on them these days so they can avoid nasty weather systems. My daughter went on a pacific island cruise last summer and there were two cyclones brewing. We were a bit worried, but she reported back that the captain simply steered between them and other than it being too windy to be on deck much, did not affect them.

Much harder to be stuck somewhere on the coast. If they are not near a river mouth they may be okay.

---

That makes sense, Banner Lady. The destruction onshore in Mozambique was bad though: seven dead and 20 000 homes destroyed. So little infrastructure or emergency support. But Cyclone Dineo seems to be ebbing to the status of a tropical storm as it moves across Limpopo Province in South Africa.
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Fires here again. It's good to see that the Christchurch fires have been halted and it's now time to go in and start clearing up, always a sad task.

The end of a very difficult week for me with next week not looking any better. A case which should have taken no more than 4 days looks as though it will take the full fortnight allocated to it. A pleasant dinner ahead though. I'll get off the train a few stations early and meet Madame at a favourite restaurant.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Another extremely humid February day, and Sydney has forecast of a repeat performance of yesterday's storm. Son has been rebooked on a flight this afternoon, but earlier than yesterday, so hopefully he gets back today. Even if he had reached Sydney yesterday, he would still have had problems in trains.. Trees on lines and power outages meant no trains from Gosford almost to Newcastle. South of Gosford had very intermittent services. He is just a couple of stations south of that station.

I thought the storm was violent. One of the worst hit areas is just up the road opposite a couple of minutes.
 

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Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
Friends in Waitara messaged me a photo of the hailstones...they were rather large. Hope your son got home safely, Lothlorien.

Terible weather around the world, from cyclones in Mozambique to those fires near Christchurch and Queanbeyan, and fires near Gee D again.

Hope next week goes well for you Gee D.


Back from Bathurst. Had a grand old time at work, meeting people I've only spoken to on the phone, discussing and making steps to resolve issues, etc. And driving around Mt Panorama racetrack in my work-supplied Corolla! Bathurst is a delightful town. Also managed to get the books for my friends' children from a bookstore -- thanks again for the recommendations: they had them all in stock.

[ 18. February 2017, 20:22: Message edited by: Ian Climacus ]
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
That is wonderful Ian - and belated birthday wishes. TP and I will celebrate by attending Evensong where MM and his renowned choir are raising their voices in all sorts of delightful ways. A special treat.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Thank you Ian. Son is probably still in bed. Not an early riser. Trip home was slow. Usually 90 minutes from Central. A stop at Beecroft, a lengthy stop at Hornsby where train changed from a through to WoyWoy to all stations to Gosford. Signal failure up the line added to time and it was still raining from storm yesterday. His boss rang himfromGosford to see if son had returned fromQld and offered to pick him up and drive him home from Gosford. That was good. He is not far from the station, but it is up a very steep hill inthe dark and rain and absolutely no shelter.

Gee D, hope you suffered no damage from yesterday's storm. My brother was out and returned home to a white lawn which he thought was murraya flowers. Huge hailstones. Later he and neighbours heard a very large cracking tree out the front. All searched but could not find signs of damage although they looked up and down street. Both sides.
 

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Posted by Mr Curly (# 5518) on :
 
We were on the edge of the real action yesterday. Friends more up GeeD's way have pockmarked cars, some even smashed windscreens, and cracked skylights.

Played in the worship band at a wedding last night. Service at 7, supper in church hall afterwards for a multitude - it was lovely.

Family brunch today celebrating Middle turning 17 during the week, then leading the service tonight, where the input will be three interviews /testimonies on faith and work. Those with long memories will appreciate that BlackAxe will be one of the guests.

Never a dull etc.

mr curly
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Thank you Ian for your thoughts for this coming week - those fires are near my cousin and Vulpior, not me in suburban Sydney - and Lothlorien and Mr Curly about the storm. No damage I'm glad to say, cars in under cover and no branches down. It was the heaviest hail we've seen in years, large rather than enormous stones, but so many of them. The street's covered with leaves.

[ 18. February 2017, 23:05: Message edited by: Gee D ]
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Black Axe?her family must be growing up. The last meet I remember was quite a long time ago.

[ 19. February 2017, 04:25: Message edited by: Lothlorien ]
 

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Posted by Barnabas Aus (# 15869) on :
 
Both Friday's and Saturday's storms were fierce in the Valley. Trees down and property damage on Friday, the wind so strong that the rain blew in under our front verandah, which was at right angles to the prevailing blast and saturated the front door.
I was at a conference in Sydney on Saturday and had left the car parked on the street near Lindfield Station. By some miracle, no hail damage, and we managed to avoid the worst of the storms as we made our way slowly north along the M1. Arrived home to find Mrs BA had pulled something in her back clearing drains which the cleanup crew had left blocked with fire debris. Luckily only pea hail, so no damage at home either.

[ 20. February 2017, 00:10: Message edited by: Barnabas Aus ]
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
This time last week we were baking in 39-42 degree temperatures. Today I seriously thought about putting the fire on in the lounge room. It was 5 degrees when I woke up and it snowed overnight at Perisher Valley south of here.
Go figure.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
That valley sounds as though it has an apt name, Was it based on the experiences of early settlers?

We has 25c forecast today, but it only reached 20c. I hope something similar happens tomorrow when 30c is forecast.

Huia
 

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Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
Apparently Wellington made 27° today. I'd say 'I can't believe it' but I can.
I came home from tai chi (only managed 20 minutes, between the sciatic pain and the balance) and survived by opening doors on both sides of the house. Yes it did help, though there wasn't an actual breeze.

GG
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Huia:
That valley sounds as though it has an apt name, Was it based on the experiences of early settlers?

We has 25c forecast today, but it only reached 20c. I hope something similar happens tomorrow when 30c is forecast.

Huia

---

No reliable source for the name, except that it's below Mt Perisher - for which there's no reliable source either, of course. The valley base is at about 1700 - 1750 m, not much by the standards of much of the world, but plenty high enough to give a cold climate.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Tomorrow is the sixth anniversary of the earthquake that killed 185 people in Christchurch. There will be a public memorial service and the dedicated memorial will be opened.

I won't be going to the service as I avoid large crowds, but I will visit the memorial when it is less busy.

I treat February as a day for reflection, thinking of the lives lost, but also the tremendous changes to the city and in our lives since then.

In my opinion one of the best additions has been the building of the Margaret Mahy family playground in the city. I have watched children and adults playing there and it is a fitting tribute to one of NZ's best children's authors.

Huia
 

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Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Six years already, Huia? A terrible event. Moved to read about the playground.

Here we have ongoing water shortages as dams shrink away, no sign of rain yet. The dawns and dusks are much cooler though and from March we'll have morning mists with dew for garden plants. Yesterday the winter supply of firewood arrived to be stacked in the garage, so useful for the wood-burning stove and grilling outdoors in fine weather.
 

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Posted by Arabella Purity Winterbottom (# 3434) on :
 
I went to a wonderful funeral today for the Right Reverend John Murray, formerly minister of St Andrews on the Terrace in Wellington. He was known for so many things, and most of them got a mention. We sang lots of lovely hymns by his wife, Shirley Erena Murray (including one written for the funeral, which I suspect will turn up at a lot of ministers' funerals in the future), and after the prayers, Auld Lang Syne, complete with handholding.

There was a very thoughtful reflection from Sir Lloyd Geering, in which he outlined the theological life of an intelligent stirrer. He finished by saying that John was by far the most social justice-oriented minister he had ever known. (And on a complete tangent: Lloyd is about to turn 99, still looks about 80, and appears to be more vigorous than most 60 year olds - is he never going to age?).

I came into John's orbit when I got together with Rosie and started going to St Andrews, where Rosie was an elder. Having been an Anglican for the previous 28 years, John's extensive sermons took some getting used to (the very first one I remember was nearly an hour long). John loved to sing, and as Rosie and I are both singers, we got to hear him enthuse on the subject. He had an extremely theatrical nature, and I was amazed, talking to him on the phone a few weeks ago, that he sounded exactly the same as he had 20 years ago.

It was also a great time for catching up with people I hadn't seen for ages. As the man sitting next to me said, "well, if you have to die, this is a great way to say goodbye." Truly a mighty totara has fallen in the forest.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Oh Arabella. I met John and Shirley once about 30 years ago when they hosted an SCM meeting. He challenged the insular views of the Victoria University group (which at that time had some very conservative members). I also remember walking along The Terrace on the way to University just so I could read whatever St Andrews had on the noticeboard which was often a theological or social justice challenge.

A great loss, but as with all totara the seedlings will be sprouting for many years to come.

Huia
 

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Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
I did so want to go to John's funeral but my body was setting out to have a very painful day and I was stuck at home.
I spent a lot of time with John and Shirley when he was University Chaplain; I flatted nearby and we were involved with some inter-denominational youth thing. It was John who married us and Shirley was my matron of honour, which the boys explained was an elderly bridesmaid.
I have not seen them often since they've lived up the coast, but I'm so glad I was able to talk with them last month. Several times in the last few months word had gone round that John was about to leave us. I'd checked with Shirley to be sure it was an okay time, and John came out and talked for half an hour.
So I'll remember him very frail but with a spark left of the old fire.
As for Shirley, it gave me such joy on my farewell visit to Iona in 2011 to worship at the Abbey and sing her hymns there. They were also in the UCC church hymnbook when I visited there.

GG
 

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Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
UCC United Church of Canada, for any who didn't know. Should have written 'when I visited Canada'.

GG
 

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Posted by Leaf (# 14169) on :
 
They are in the Anglican and the Evangelical Lutheran hymnals in Canada as well.
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Love the bits of Shirley Murray's work that I've come across. Didn't know about John...will have to explore!

May he rest in peace and rise in glory, and may he and all the saints continue to pray for us. Our world sure needs it.
 

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Posted by Arabella Purity Winterbottom (# 3434) on :
 
GG, it was the most wonderful occasion for catching up with people. Shirley said to me that she was really enjoying seeing everyone, even while she was sad. The funeral itself set up an expectation that people would talk afterwards, and talk they did.

Huia, I love the idea of the totara seedlings! Specially as I've spent the afternoon rooting out various seedlings so the forest doesn't overtake the garden (not totara, fortunately).
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
I thought of it because it reminded me of when I travelled to the Coast with people from the church the first time. There was a fallen tree in a clearing and I was overwhelmed by the lichens, mosses, ponga and other tree seedlings that were growing from it. I remember thinking it was a vivid illustration of life in all its fullness.

Photos couldn't do it justice.

Then I thought about people like John and how they spark off growth in others. I know there have been, and still are people who do that in my life, and I am richer for having known them.

Huia
 

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Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
Huia, there was a time when if you went into the bush you looked for a little bit of fallen moss-covered branch to take home and keep damp with a water spray, and all sorts of things might grow out of it – moss, little ferns, seedlings.
Now it's strictly forbidden – what falls must be left to continue the cycle of growth and decay.

GG
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Not quite on the same scale because of the drier climate, but the plants that sprang up after demolished building were cleared following the quakes were fascinating. There were research projects, which may be ongoing studying the plants and the succession of their appearance, which in themselves are another kind of flowering.

I know there are theories about entrophy, but sometimes it's the relentlessness of the life force that astounds me.

Huia
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
BL, a little bird whispered in my ear that today was special to you. Have a wonderful day.
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Thanks Loth - like my mother, I always enjoy every birthday that comes along, knowing that I am younger than I ever will be again!
 

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Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
Happy Birthday BL!

And thanks for the early wishes...still a month and a bit to go though.

Wonderful memories and descriptions Arabella, Huia and GG. Memory eternal John!

Two weeks til holidays: hurrah! My manager had what seems to be an annual chat with me about management aspirations...of which I have none, but he thinks I should consider it at least. May surprise him and answer "Yes". Can't hurt to learn new skills.
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
BL, Happy Birthday from us as well.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Banner Lady:
Thanks Loth - like my mother, I always enjoy every birthday that comes along, knowing that I am younger than I ever will be again!

---

That's a gem Banner Lady and best wishes for your birthday and the coming year.

Huia
 

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Posted by Galilit (# 16470) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Huia:

A great loss, but as with all totara the seedlings will be sprouting for many years to come.

---

Me, for example

May flights of angels lead you on your way...may choirs of angels receive you
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Lovely time yesterday; lunch with my Aged P and TP, chocolates, flowers, good wishes from far and near... and then a beautiful antique brass mirror came my way. Though I really don't know who the matronly old broad looking out of it is,,,,,

If we both make it to next year, I will be 60 and Mum will be 100. Oy vei.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Many happy returns, BL!
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Perhaps a double celebration?
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
And my sister will be 70 and TP's mum 80. I suspect serial partying will be done.
 

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Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Many happy returns, Banner Lady! Nothing like shared birthdays.
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Yesterday we staked out a rose garden for our front yard. It has taken him 60 years, but TP is finally developing a liking for flowers. That, and being given a dozen rose bushes from someone who moved into a house and didn't want them!
I suspect it will be an interesting learning curve.
 

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Posted by Latchkey Kid (# 12444) on :
 
A late Happy Birthday, Banner Lady.

I am reading Tim Winton's The Boy Behind The Curtain.
I have just finished reading the chapter Twice on Sundays which resonated with me even though my child and adolescent church experience were different (but similar in some ways). Especially the last paragraph.

quote:

---

I remain a believer and even a churchgoer, though I am in more than one sense irregular. Church was my village, but I doubt I'll ever be truly at ease there again. All the same, on a Sunday evening, wherever I am, I feel that tidal pull, the old melancholy descends, and it's as homely and as unsettling as the smell of the sea.

---

 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
As you might imagine, following the events of the last few years, there are some resonances for me in Winton's experience. I'm undecided as to whether I'll ever operate in a stipended role again ... though I am drifting back from time to time to my little Māori faith community who have exercised so much arohanui (great love) to Kuruman and me these past twelve months.

And that, I remind myself, is where God is. Amongst other place (like a Queensland waterfall three weeks ago, or the central NSW sunrise a week before that).
 

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Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
Our congregation has joined with the local Anglicans to have a six-week Alpha Prayer Course.

I escaped and went to a nearby suburb where the minister and her husband, our Lay Supply, are showing a Living the Questions series of John Dominic Crossan based on his book 'How to Read the Bible and still be a Christian'.

At my age I don't want Alpha to 'deepen my prayer life'. I can go into my garden (or anywhere, but that's a nice place to be) , surround myself with the presence of God, and remember all those who I would want to know that Presence in their turbulent life.

Maybe I've said it before, but Zappa's post made me remember he too is covered by the cloak of the atua tapu..

GG
 

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Posted by Latchkey Kid (# 12444) on :
 
Zappa
I think many find resonances. The majority of my friends who were in churches or the Christian Counter culture in the 70s retain the ethics but not the religion, and the others who remained are mostly participating for the practice despite the problem with some of the content of services.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Swallowing my pride. I have always said I would stay and fight for integrity from within. I no longer have the strength (as it happens I have just pulled out of conversations regarding what would have been an exciting appointment ... I think I'm over any appointments, exciting or otherwise )
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
That's sad, Zappa, but possibly it is a bit soon for recuperation?
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
GG I did a Living the Questions course and got a lot out of it. I think it's been updated since then, and would be open to doing another if it was offered somewhere in Christchurch.

For Lent I'm doing a Retreat/ reflection course centred in the CBD in Christchurch. The Minister who retired from out church was offered a job as an inner city chaplain by Durham St Methodist church. He has written a set of Lenten reflections on the inner city and will be using this.

Zappa, my prayer life is somewhat sporadic, but I am remembering you.

Huia
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Zappa, did you get to the Franciscans at Stroud for a retreat? As a bonus, I think you may find the new rector at St John's very congenial. We knew him in another life.

And talking of lives, another significant day - my father's 101st birthday and we'll be having a large gathering for a simple meal at my elder sister's this evening. Just family, but that does include parents-in-law. Given that he was born late in the evening, he is of course called David.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Happy birthday to him , Gee D. A goodly age indeed. A couple of years ahead of BL's mother.
 

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Posted by Moo (# 107) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zappa:
Swallowing my pride. I have always said I would stay and fight for integrity from within. I no longer have the strength (as it happens I have just pulled out of conversations regarding what would have been an exciting appointment ... I think I'm over any appointments, exciting or otherwise )

---

You have been through an extremely traumatic experience, and recovery will take as long as it takes. Meanwhile, be kind to yourself and don't feel you 'should' do this or that.

Moo
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Thank you Lothlorien. We did not celebrate his birthday last year as may have been expected. He was very seriously ill with a bad prognosis. We made up for it last night.
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Yes, we are already thinking of the best way of getting my Aged P through what is predicted to be a dry autumn followed by a colder than usual winter. Funnily enough it is usually at the change into autumn and spring that the older ones seem to struggle most.

My mother seems to have lost the ability to dress appropriately for the weather. On cool days she will be in short sleeves and on hot ones in long sleeves with a jacket on. She is too frail to wear many layers, and is becoming increasingly vague about days and dates...but apart from that can still look after herself reasonably well.

Glad your Dad bounced back for the celebration Gee D. Their ability to rally is amazing! Some tough genes in there...
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Happy birthday to your dad, Gee D.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Banner Lady:
Yes, we are already thinking of the best way of getting my Aged P through what is predicted to be a dry autumn followed by a colder than usual winter. Funnily enough it is usually at the change into autumn and spring that the older ones seem to struggle most.

My mother seems to have lost the ability to dress appropriately for the weather. On cool days she will be in short sleeves and on hot ones in long sleeves with a jacket on. She is too frail to wear many layers, and is becoming increasingly vague about days and dates...but apart from that can still look after herself reasonably well.

Glad your Dad bounced back for the celebration Gee D. Their ability to rally is amazing! Some tough genes in there...

---

BL, this seems to me to be one of the first abilities to go. Dad was the same and my friend with dementia is firmly convinced of the relationship between clouds and temperature.

Grey clouds mean it is cold and like your mum, multiple layers go on, regardless of actual temperature.

He had a bad day yesterday as pharmacist forced Doctor's visit which he ws not expecting and which was therefore out of his control.. I think the problem was that script had finished its series of repeats and needed replacing. He can't undertnd that. He blames doctor nd pharmacy for the resulting mess. Hei is good at shifting blame. He is happy we are pleased with his ability to manage medication. Take away the Webster pack,and the ability goes with it. he did not know what the medication was and seems to think there is new one.

Total mess late afternoon. I hope he managed to get a frozen meal heated. He certainly needed it.
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Thank you all for your messages. In February 16, we were very doubtful that he'd make his century and even though he did, he was far too ill for any partying. This year was a different story - and the extra year meant that the great-grandchildren were able to be there, a source of great pleasure for him.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Wonderful news, GeeD

No ... my retreats are with God-in-Nature at the mo ... and writing
 

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Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
Belated Happy Birthday Pater Gee D!

And I can sympathise with the communing with nature Zappa. I read through the last thread to see what had happened -- sorry for all you went through, and s for the future.

s to for those with aged relatives.


A warm start to March here... Uni students back on campus, so the place feels a bit more alive. Even if I now have to wait longer for my coffee.

[ 02. March 2017, 06:51: Message edited by: Ian Climacus ]
 

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Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
World Day of Prayer service this evening. This year's service was prepared by women of the Philippines, and behold! of the four congregations present, Presbyterian, Anglican and Catholic, this last congregation has a big flock of Philippinos, who turned out in force, and contributed their share of the service. Well, what could we do? as one of them said at supper, a very happy gathering after worship. The biggest turnout I've seen at a WDP service. And what a pretty flock of young women in their sparkling colourful dresses!

So did anyone else out there join in the World Day of Prayer?

GG
 

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Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :
 
Well, it's not yet 9 am in the UK!

But I'm afraid I'm not going, although the service will be at our local A-C church which I know well. I have a funeral to conduct instead.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Ian, I have sent you PM with details of Fr Rod Bower of Gosford Anglican in your neck of the woods this weekend.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
The word for Sydney today is not soggy but sodden. A week of rain followed by more rain will do that. Storm water canal near me down to the river is running a banker after non stop overnight rain and heavy rain this morning.

The rain is much needed after multiple 40+ days of heat but time for a break.
 

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Posted by Latchkey Kid (# 12444) on :
 
Goldstone was shown at our local film society last night. Despite some inadequacies it was a moving and sometimes uncomfortable film. David Gulpilil, David Wenham, and Jacki Weaver.
 

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Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
It is a film I want to see. Jacki Weaver seems to get better and better in each role I've seen her in.

Thanks to Lothlorien I heard Fr Rod Bower, he of the most famous billboard in Australian Christendom, preach at the local Anglian church this morning. A challenging message on values over structures. They seem to attract speakers, esp. during Lent when they have guest speakers - the Human Right's Commissioner at Evensong tonight, our local member [of the Gold Coast apartment expenses] next week...Julian Burnside some weeks later...

A warm day down here. I await autumn making its appearance.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Disaster struck this morning. My burr grinder, an integral part of my Breville coffee machine stopped grinding halfway through amount needed. I dug out my separate grinder and was able to have coffee, although not upto my preferred standard.

I suspected a jam of beans in burrs, thinking it was a long time since that had been done. Machine was too high for me to see into properly, Iam definitely not tall. Finally took my torch and I could see the jam. I had to use my mother's old vegetable paring knife with a pointyend to dislodge beans. Knife is probably fifty years old, not the oldest I have, but it did the job.

Re-assembled everything and it works. The jammed beans were old and dry. I usually have coffee only once in day,, but look forward to cup with breakfast. Mum's knife to the rescue.
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
A great autumn day here, starting with walking Dog and now getting ready for dinner. Already the smell of bbqs from neighbours, and I'm about to put a leg of lamb onto ours, as we're having friends over. Bbq lamb, some salads Madame has made, and a bottle or 2 of red - just the night for it.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Certainly just the night. I have had the place wide open, but have closed up a bit sincethe cool breeze arrived.Fish tonight, lamb steaks tomorrow. I see southern Highlands have forecast of 11 overnight. After some of our overnight temps, that will be a pleasant change.am just having some red before dinner, more to follow.

(I do know red with red meats, white wine with fish. Thisislight and was opened already.just me here unless I have visitors.)

[ 11. March 2017, 07:41: Message edited by: Lothlorien ]
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Definitely moving into autumn here - today's high is forecast at a whopping 11c ( I remember my late Father visiting once and saying rather sarcastically that the temperature "Galloped all the way up to 11c" ),

I'm a wee bit stiff this morning. The friend who mows my lawn killed all the weeds in the 25mx 300mm strip along my driveway and I'm grubbing out the remains, with the intention of digging out some soil, laying black plastic and covering the area with shingle. Yesterday I got halfway before the rain started, which was lucky because otherwise I would have kept going and been even stiffer. I finished the day with a bath using the last of my arnica bath salts. I'm never sure whether they really make a difference, or whether it's the placebo effect, but it works so I don't question it too deeply

Huia

[ 11. March 2017, 20:50: Message edited by: Huia ]
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Off this avo to the Aged Care Facility where Mum lives to do some redecorating. Staff are scurrying about because there is a deposition arriving from Sydney on Tuesday re accreditation.

One of the pushes is to get more bright colours around...simply done with pictures and flowers, but it all takes time. Yesterday I took some wedding flowers up there from the church. (No flowers in church during Lent). And these were gratefully received - a change from funeral flowers anyway.

It is kind of fun to be given carte blanche to decorate four whole wings of a building, even if it all has to be done with whatever is to hand. Life is always full of interesting challenges!
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Gee D:
... Already the smell of bbqs from neighbours, and I'm about to put a leg of lamb onto ours, and a bottle or 2 of red ...

---

I'll be right over.

eta: Loth, there's no reason why you shouldn't drink red wine with fish. Although I once had an unfortunate pairing of salmon with red wine which resulted in each making the other taste of iron-filings, I understand there are some lighter-weight reds which pair very nicely with more robustly-flavoured fish dishes.

In any event, you should drink whatever appeals to you - never mind what the experts and wine-snobs say.

[ 12. March 2017, 00:29: Message edited by: Piglet ]
 

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Posted by Latchkey Kid (# 12444) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Banner Lady:
(No flowers in church during Lent).

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by MaryLouise:
Sending bottled water, juice and canned goods to those left destitute after a devastating fire in the informal settlement in Hout Bay near cape Town.

The fires made worse by galeforce winds and heat. Yesterday the Cape Argus Cycle Tour was cancelled for the first time in all its 40 years because the winds were too dangerous for cyclists, as shown in this video: cyclists blown over.

---

I saw the cyclist on the news down here. That fire sounds very nasty.
 

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Posted by Uncle Pete (# 10422) on :
 
Good grief!
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Crikey!
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Brilliant idea - sending food catered for the race to the victims of the fire (of course more long term they will need canned goods).

Even when I rode my bike regularly I avoided strong winds.

The South Island has been really lucky, further north they've has torrential rain, but we've had a few days of fairly light rain.

Huia
 

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Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Huia, yes, a generous gesture by the catering company that donated all the water and juices intended for the cycle race. The problem is that 15 000 people were left homeless and so members of the general public are also sending in foodstuffs, toiletries and blankets. Emergency shelters have been put up and rebuilding has begun. Because the shacks (sheets of corrugated iron insulated with cardboard and newspaper) are built so close together with dodgy electrical wiring and open gas burners, firetrucks can't get in close enough to extinguish blazes. An ongoing recurring dilemma until decent housing is made available.

Saw an African ground woodpecker under an olive tree this morning, very happy to think it may be nesting in the garden.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by MaryLouise:
Emergency shelters have been put up and rebuilding has begun. Because the shacks (sheets of corrugated iron insulated with cardboard and newspaper) are built so close together with dodgy electrical wiring and open gas burners, firetrucks can't get in close enough to extinguish blazes. An ongoing recurring dilemma until decent housing is made available.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Huia:
Eating a packet of raisins and discovering too late that it has been invaded by ants is not an experience I'd like to repeat.

Huia

---

 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Sugar, fibre, minerals and protein all at once!

Good to see you back Rexory.

[ 16. March 2017, 06:11: Message edited by: Gee D ]
 

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Posted by rexory (# 4708) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Gee D:
Sugar, fibre, minerals and protein all at once!

Good to see you back Rexory.

---

Thanks, Gee D. Haven't been anywhere: reading but rarely posting. It could be argued that I haven't much worth saying!
 

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Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Wild birds in the garden means fewer spiders and insects, including ants! Though tiny black ants got into an imperfectly closed bottle of sweet chili jam last week. (Huia)
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Rexory, as long as the congregation does not say that after your sermons.

On another note, it is so very sad to read that Bp Greg has resigned - not because he did something wrong but rather that he did a lot that was right.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
I hadn't read about the Bishop's resignation before I Googled it Gee D. The phrase "martyrs of the Church" came to mind, but in his case, more accurately, martyred by the church. I hope his retirement allows him space to heal and enjoy his life.

Huia
 

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Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
Sitting with my old MacBook in the library at Whitianga, which is easier than fiddling on my iPad.
What was once a day's drive from Home to Holiday I did gently in four days, 600 km, but Oh! the peace now I'm here.
While I was travelling there was a huge wind/rain/heat event up this way, and when I got as far as Coromandel there were emails and texts from friends and neighbours back home, filled with concern. In fact, the floods etc were on the east coast, and I was comfortable in perfect driving weather on the other side of the mountains, warm but not hot, overcast but no rain.
Church here can't afford a minister so any old lay-preaching friends who visit take a turn to lead worship. My health makes it difficult to stand for any length of time but they'll be happy if I lead sitting down. We'll have to see.

Back next week....

GG
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
So sending pics of flowers can have interesting outcomes. I texted the floral guild some pics of the arrangements I did at the nursing home by way of thanking them (and assuring them that the flowers were used as instructed). The nursing home manager also added her thanks. The floral guild have intimated I may be inducted forthwith into their hallowed ranks without any further training (one has to train for these things???). I would be flattered if I wasn't laughing so hard.

They really don't know what they might be getting by inviting me to join the roster - I hope my sense of humour doesn't get me into trouble. Leaving me to obtain "suitable flowers" could see me using a lot of red hot pokers and snapdragons or belladonna lilies and wormwood. Most of the time I absolutely detest how my denomination is run...stay tuned...this could be the shortest stint on a guild in history!
 

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Posted by Lamb Chopped (# 5528) on :
 
Ive used roadside wildflowers.
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
LC, I was informed by the esteemed guild that even this has a name...in floristry it is called "Roadsidia" !!
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
And there were flowers in church today - because the parliamentarians and glitterati will all be there for Evensong to celebrate the Queen's sapphire jubilee. Fabulous blue and gold arrangements that by tomorrow afternoon will also be gracing the nursing home.

I think I could get to like being a floral courier for Jesus.

 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Well done, BL on your new role. I think the nursing home people may well appreciate the flowers and the reason for them, more than the parliamentarians may.
 

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Posted by Latchkey Kid (# 12444) on :
 
A (70s) couple at the hospital where I provide spiritual care wanted to renew their marriage vows. I asked our UCA pastors to lead the service and everyone was very happy. It was the talk of the nurses that week. It turned out they had been married for 22 years, and people were expecting the marriage to have been longer.

They are now in an aged care home and I have to keep my promise to get the photos to them. A task for tomorrow.
 

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Posted by Latchkey Kid (# 12444) on :
 
Double post. Sorry.
With all the recent rain our smoke detectors are going off from the humidity coming in the windows and steam from the bathroom (a real bathroom with bath and shower). The last time this occurred was 3am this morning and the neighbours heard them. I had to take them down and remove the batteries. They do say they need replacing after 10 years so I went to buy replacements at the electrical supplier.
However, that model is no longer in production, nor is there an equivalent. When they were put in the regulations required that they be mains powered and linked so if they do not recover when it gets dry it looks as though I may have to get all three replaced by an electrician.
Built in obsolescence strikes again.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
I seem to have sorted my alarm problems from last year.continual working, batteries replaced. It was six months old and I refused to pay, said it was surely under warranty. Contractor changed his tune when Isaid I would tell everyone about poor workmanship etc. He replaced it at no charge to me, just in time for our annual compulsory inspection of every apartment.

It did go off a couple of days ago, possibly similar cause to yours. However it soon stopped.

I also had to have front door closure fixed a week or so ago.Over the years the screws had loosened and did not fit. Fortunately I was inside when this happened. Had I been outside, door may have needed drastic treatment to let me back in. It is a heavy fire door and part of common property, so fortunately I was not responsible for payment.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
An electrical fault caused part of the roof of a train carriage at Burwood Station to blow off this afternoon. It blew uphigh onto adjoining platform and some reports suggest over double tracks to platform 5.

Platform 3 is possibly the busiest platform at that station as most trains stop there, regardless of their destination from Strathfield, the next station up the line where trains branch out to other lines.

Just a few minutes away.

[ 20. March 2017, 04:14: Message edited by: Lothlorien ]
 

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Posted by Latchkey Kid (# 12444) on :
 
That is worrying, with those high voltage lines.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Amazing that no one was seriously injured.
 

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Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
Smoke alarm problem the same here at Matarangi.
The day after my arrival I was in the shower and had just worked up a great lather with the shampoo mwhen the alarm outside the (open because of hot climate) door started up. No visible steam; poked at the stop button with my walking stick but no luck, and I can't climb on to a chair. I just had to let it run its course.
It did it again next day, but after that I shut the bathroom door.

GG
 

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Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
Smoke alarm problem the same here at Matarangi.
The day after my arrival I was in the shower and had just worked up a great lather with the shampoo mwhen the alarm outside the (open because of hot climate) door started up. No visible steam; poked at the stop button with my walking stick but no luck, and I can't climb on to a chair. I just had to let it run its course.
It did it again next day, but after that I shut the bathroom door.

GG
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Wonderfully wet here, and rain (but not too much) predicted for the whole week. Cannot remember the last time we had a week of rain. It has wrecked our courtyard's canvas pergola cover which couldn't cope with the sudden weight of water. My fault - I thought about taking it down last week but didn't get to it. We were out grocery shopping when the heavens opened today and by the time we got home the metal roof supports had buckled on one side the awning. TP's tanks are full for the first time this autumn. He is as happy as a duck and spent the afternoon sloshing about putting plants in the garden. And our daphne is flowering for the first time. May it be the harbinger of a good outdoor season for the garden.
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
We can sound as if we'reom yje English thread and talk of the weather. A tremendous downpour here at about 6.30, and I was planning on catching my usual train about 7. Probably the heaviest since the current wet started. I left at the usual time, and took forever to get on a train home. To maake ligfe easier all araound, I rang Madame, I got off the train a few stations earlier and met her at a favourite restaurant. I don't know how much fell, but I'd guess about 50 mm. Lucky I got out when I did though. Dlet left a half hour later and took 2 hours rather than the usual 35 minutes. But the garden's responded very well to all this deep-soaking rain and will get through winter comfortably.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
50 mm of rain is not to be sneezed at - I think the technical term would be "more than mildly moist".

Is it generally regarded as a Good Thing in your neck of the woods to get some really heavy rain, to keep forest fires and such at bay, or, like us, do you just see it as a bl**dy nuisance?
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Piglet, your question has several answers. We needed the rain after the massive heat. Even the deep rooted big trees around here are stressed.

Come spring there will be complaints about hazard reduction burn smoke. Then there will be warnings about the growth encouraged by the rains in autumn. Complaints that Sydney is a tinderbox are regular at that time.
 

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Posted by Emendator Liturgia (# 17245) on :
 
For all in Sydney - and coming soon to those in other centres as well.

OFFICIAL PUBLIC LAUNCH OF EQUAL VOICES, Monday 3rd April at Pitt Street Uniting Church.

Equal Voices is a national, ecumenical movement of Australian Christians who seek to work for reconciliation and to equip LGBTIQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer) people and their friends and advocates to bring into being a truly inclusive and welcoming Australian church. For more information, please visit Equal Voices

The Hon Michael Kirby will officially launch Equal Voices on Monday 3rd April, 6.30pm at Pitt St Uniting Church. From 6.30 to 7pm there will be wine and canapés served before proceedings commence. At the close of official proceedings there will be a time for discussion over coffee/tea and selection of cakes, tarts and slices.

Following Michael Kirby's speech there will be a reading of the National Apology and we will also be announcing our plans for the next 12 months, including a Symposium in October, and an Apology will be offered to LGBTIQ Christians and Australians, for the ways in which they have been hurt. Our home page includes a link to RSVP for the Launch.

The homepage also has the National Apology for people to sign. If you would like a hard copy of the apology to sign, or to disseminate through your church and/or social network, let me know and I can send you a copy.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Do you mind if I pass this on to some I know who would not see this here, but would be interested.?
 

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Posted by Emendator Liturgia (# 17245) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lothlorien:
Do you mind if I pass this on to some I know who would not see this here, but would be interested.?

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By all means Loth - please pass along to anyone and everyone who is a GLBTIQ+ supporter!
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Thanks, I thought that would be the response, but wanted to be polite and not just take.
 

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Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Sounds like a great initiative, Emendator!

Packing for a work-related road trip to Swellendam (South Africa). It is still ferociously hot but rain is predicted for tomorrow and drop in temperatures as autumn begins. But the heat may resume with soaring temperatures the day after that, so I have to pack twice as much clothing as I'd like and feel irked.
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Piglet, it was so hot here over summer that even under many layers of mulch the ground is hard and bone dry. The first few days of rain merely moistened the surface. Much soaking rain is needed, but with breathing space in between for the water to settle in. Let's hope the earth gets what it needs.

I had to do the reading of the Samaritan woman at the well today. It made me think about how much of creation around me is thirsting.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Details in both prayer and thanksgiving threads of a nasty accident Rowen had this afternoon when the side of the mountain road collapsed and her 4WD rolled two or three metres into a culvert, landing on its side. She had to be pulled out through a hole cut in roof. Unhurt!
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
{{{Rowen}}}

My parents had a similar sort of accident forty-something years ago when their car (a Volvo estate, which is probably why they survived) skidded on melting snow in the Scottish highlands and went down a ravine. They landed on their wheels, and escaped by breaking the back windows, and the only injury sustained was Dad having to have stitches in his hand (presumably cut on the broken glass).

It was long enough ago that seat-belts weren't universally worn, but they did, and it probably saved their lives.
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Best wishes Rowen. As with Piglet's parents, I'd bet that the seatbelts plus the sturdy construction of the 4wd saved any real injury. Bet you're in a bit of genuine shock though, so take things easily.
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
A rural hospital in Victoria or elsewhere, I wonder? Poor Rowen, I expect she will be feeling very battered and bruised.
 

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Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Banner Lady:
Poor Rowen, I expect she will be feeling very battered and bruised.

---

... but pretty darn lucky as well.


 

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Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
Best wishes Rowen. I guess you're being well looked after.


GG
 

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Posted by Emendator Liturgia (# 17245) on :
 
Prayers for you Rowan - and blessings for it being a 'close' call: you're probably really sick and tired of seeing the inside of hospitals from a patients' viewpoint!
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Family in Mackay now without power. Niece who works in the Emergency Services call centre at Townsville says so many extra personnel have arrived from down south they are stacked in like sardines waiting for the aftermath of Cyclone Debbie.

The slower the system the more intense it gets. My sister is predicting it will go up the Burdekin River towards the huge dam there as warm water draws cyclones. A tense waiting period over the next few hours. Lord have mercy.
 

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Posted by bib (# 13074) on :
 
Prayers for all affected by Cyclone Debbie.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Rowen
Those facing Debbie down
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
for all in danger from the cyclone.
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
I hear Rowen is delighted with her new spectacles and is in good spirits. Hope many more new good things come her way to replace that which was lost.

Family have all checked in okay...except for the children who are going stir crazy without electronically powered devices to keep them occupied. They have been reduced to the slowdom of actual rather than virtual books, monopoly boards and packs of cards. A second full day without electricity and the parents are beginning to unravel a bit. I checked the stats for Mackay yesterday afternoon on the BOM site and it stated Mackay had !00% humidity.Hmmm.... does this mean they are living in water?
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Some friends in Mackay are into their second day without power but otherwise are ok. Mackay is fairly low and flat so they may be snorkelling soon.

Pictures this morning are astounding. Tremendous damage over such a wide area.
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Yes, I notice that if you draw a line directly inland from where the cyclone crossed the coast at Airlie Beach, you find Collinsville, then Lake Proserpine, then the Burdekin Dam. Guess Qld family was right about Debbie heading towards inland water. As it is now just a rain depression I expect things will be just as wet but not as windy for everyone. Mackay rellies have sandbagged as much as possible, but are not looking forward to the next few days. It will become critical when the beer runs out!

They posted a pic of an upturned coffee table and the monopoly scattered everywhere. Guess the kids are getting heartily sick of it all...
 

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Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Hope Cyclone Debbie has passed by now and everyone is safe.

Very sad week here in South Africa after the death of human rights activist and Struggle veteran Ahmed Kathrada aged 87 on Tuesday. He spent 26 years in prison on Robben Island alongside Mandela. Kathrada had been ill, so his death wasn't unexpected but a loss all the same.
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
A generation passing, the one which really suffered in their efforts to bring the extreme racism to an end.

[ 29. March 2017, 08:33: Message edited by: Gee D ]
 

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Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
That's how it feels Gee D, the sense of a generation of titans passing. Essa Moosa, the Cape lawyer and judge who fought so hard against apartheid died at the end of February and many of the old leaders of the ANC and UDF are now frail and retired from public life. Archbishop Desmond Tutu sent a message to be read out at Ahmed Kathrada's funeral -- Ahmed Kathrada will be buried next to the grave of his friend and fellow lawyer, the Afrikaner renegade Bram Fischer, about whom Nadine Gordimer wrote in Burger's Daughter. Another world, in which politics was a matter of life and death.
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
And we, perhaps unfairly, judge those now in power against these and find them lacking.
 

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Posted by Evangeline (# 7002) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Latchkey Kid:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Banner Lady:
(No flowers in church during Lent).

---

Not being a Lent person, I can only guess the reason for this. Are flowers seen as self-indulgent?

---

In addition to what others said, I have found that making the church more austere (so no flowers, covered pictures etc) not only focuses the mind on the crucifixion but when you come to church on Easter Sunday and there are flowers and everything is bright and happy it makes the celebration more vibrant & joyous.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Word just in from Rowen asking me to post on this thread for her.

The aches and pains are lessening. She has some new glasses to replace those broken. She is now in a motel, paid for by insurance, while things are being sported. Some progress with insurance and replacement vehicle.

She is very grateful for the friends she has in town who took her in late at night after accident and for those who have added their care and love.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Word just in from Rowen asking me to post on this thread for her.

The aches and pains are lessening. She has some new glasses to replace those broken. She is now in a motel, paid for by insurance, while things are being sported. Oops. Sorted, not sported. Some progress with insurance and replacement vehicle.

She is very grateful for the friends she has in town who took her in late at night after accident and for those who have added their care and love.

[ 30. March 2017, 03:36: Message edited by: Lothlorien ]
 

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Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Good to hear Rowen is getting better although I'm sure the shock of an accident like that will stay with her for a while.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
I gather FD and Clarence are a bit wet
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by MaryLouise:
That's how it feels Gee D, the sense of a generation of titans passing. Essa Moosa, the Cape lawyer and judge who fought so hard against apartheid died at the end of February and many of the old leaders of the ANC and UDF are now frail and retired from public life. Archbishop Desmond Tutu sent a message to be read out at Ahmed Kathrada's funeral -- Ahmed Kathrada will be buried next to the grave of his friend and fellow lawyer, the Afrikaner renegade Bram Fischer, about whom Nadine Gordimer wrote in Burger's Daughter. Another world, in which politics was a matter of life and death.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zappa:
I gather FD and Clarence are a bit wet

---

I do not have a causeway near me, but if I did, it would look like the picture I saw elsewhere this morning. Heavy, non stop rain all day here. Cold change from south is now meeting rain from cyclone in north. Trees are wild, not cyclone wild but wild for my sheltered corner of this block. Must see if storm canal is full. Most likely.

FD will be getting cabin fever what with bypass op and this weather.

[ 30. March 2017, 05:28: Message edited by: Lothlorien ]
 

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Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Zappa -- Beyers Naudé, Desmond and Leah Tutu. Cherished memories and meant to be shared. Such remarkable and brave people in a dark time. I attended a UCT seminar given by Beyers Naudé in the 1980s with security police hanging about outside in the corridor. He spoke with such sincerity and pain about what was happening to the church in South Africa.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
An expat Orcadian living in Broadbeach, Queensland posted a picture on Facebook of his Orkney flag flying proudly and undamaged - they're made to withstand a fair puff of wind.

Seriously though - glad to hear that you're all OK.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
So it should be. Broadbeach is a long way from actual cyclone. Yes, wind and rain moved south, even to Sydney which is a very long way away, but Broadbeach would have probably had just a bit of a blow. A bit of typical , laconic, Aussie understatement there. LOL. Qld is a big place and cyclone was based in far north.

Sunshine here , sort of, today but very much cooler and less humid than it has been lately.
 

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Posted by Latchkey Kid (# 12444) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zappa:
I gather FD and Clarence are a bit wet

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Latchkey Kid:

I joined the Uniting Church of Australia a year ago after my house church stopped meeting. They are now electing the council and elders and I have been nominated as an elder. The pastors would like me to accept. I am rather reluctant and wondering how others would approach or react to this.

---

Is your reluctance based on just having been there a year? From their point of view I can see that having some new blood amongst the Elders could be an advantage. From your point of view - if you're not yet ready, and don't feel confident, discuss it with the Elders. If you still feel really reluctant would "Not yet", be considered an acceptable answer? It leaves the door open for them to ask again later, after you've been around a bit longer.

Huia - been on a Vestry and the words, Never
Again!! spring to mind.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Daylight this morning when it ought to be. Clocks back. A few weeks and it will be dark early again. I do enjoy light in the early evening, but the cycle goes on.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
I had heard so many times about clocks being adjusted at 3am that my brain woke me then to do it

I did enjoy my later awakening though (7 am) as it was light and we didn't have any of the sea fog which has spoilt the last few mornings.

I even made it to church this morning where we had a trumpet and cornet playing various pieces of music including a couple of verses of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" and some brilliant preaching.

We had someone "Preaching for a Call" - I think is the phrase. It's a Presbyterian tradition I don't really understand - but she was great, and if it's a matter of voting or anything I say YES . There's a meeting after church next week. (fingers crossed).

In the interregnum we have had a couple of people who were dire, as well as a couple who were great, but either working elsewhere or retired, and so not available.

Huia
 

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Posted by Rowen (# 1194) on :
 
Home again

Thank you for your prayers. I am thankful to be alive and whole. Work has leased a car, as we begin the process of buying a new suitable vehicle.

It's getting colder in the Alps. No surprise really.
 

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Posted by Clarence (# 9491) on :
 
for all those dealing with the after effects of TC Debbie and for the ongoing flood issues.

We had all the drama without the pain - exciting flooding of our road, and some loss of telecoms, but otherwise nothing - and it seems somehow wrong we got off so lightly when others are suffering.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Clarence, good to hear you're OK. I had a similar feeling of the wrongness off getting off lightly after the quakes, so I recognise that feeling.

Today at church one of the Elders mentioned a meeting coming up that involved people coming from Marlborough (one of the areas badly affected by earthquakes last year). A gift basket of small, "thinking of you" type things is being collected as a symbol of support. My mind went totally blank on possibilities - then I remembered that planting bulbs as a promise of hope was important to me following the quakes, so I am sending some spring bulbs.

Huia
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Lovely thought Huia. This week I get to plant some anemones and crocus in my waterless iris pond, and will also be hosting a few rellies from far north Queensland. No doubt they will fill me in on many things that have failed to make headlines down south. As someone with relatives in the affected areas I had the news on pretty much all the time. By the third day I was so tired of the vulture like commentary I just switched off. It seemed that they could hardly wait to report on the first flood related fatality.

Last weekend I was at the Sapphire Coast - towards the bottom of NSW and the wind was fierce enough I could not sleep through it. However it was a southerly buster heading up the coast towards Sydney and a blessing as it forced the moisture from TC Debbie out into the Tasman. I expect not so much of a blessing for our NZ cousins...

BL does not like wind. At all. Thoughts and prayers for all those being blown about by it.
 

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Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
Even the tail end of Cyclone Debbie is doing dramatic stuff here, things like: month's rain in 24 hours, kids' school camp cut off, mud slides, man thought to have been seen struggling in water,evacuations taking place before Whanganui river floods, and so on.

GG
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
My sister reports that a certain morning show news team are definitely not welcome again in north Queensland. Having landed in Townsville they were miffed at being denied air access to the Whitsundays through emergency services and police channels. Ignoring police advice, they loaded their crew into hired vehicles and went looking for devastation to show their viewers. After using up their petrol and provisions they then had to beg the victims to share with them what little the poor and suffering had left. It was ill considered, intrusive and bad behaviour.

The North Queenslanders en masse turned off the reporting as it was so voyeuristic. Heaven help us, if this is now the standard practise in telecasts.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Unfortunately, BL, this does not surprise me. I see an attitude of entitlement among many media members. I remember seeing one reporter trying to jump into ambulance as it left with the two miners rescued from Beaconsfield mine after days and days of being trapped. Disgusting.
 

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Posted by Moo (# 107) on :
 
After the Virginia Tech shootings, the national media descended on Blacksburg. They behaved as if they believed that the people here had a duty to provide them with stories.

I still cringe when I see a media truck.

Moo

.
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
These people did not have the common sense to carry their own water or petrol - did not even occur to them that if there was no electricity then no petrol pumps could work. One local syphoned fuel out of his boat just to get rid of them.

Also copping a serve are those island resort operators who neglected to give booked holiday makers any option of cancelling - or even a heads up that they might run into problems when they arrived. Nightmare stories are now filtering out and to avoid public scrutiny the "missing persons file" quietly grows without being officially linked to the weather event.

After TC Yasi dozens of people from one beachside campsite area went missing. Behind the campsite was a 4-5 metre deep gully, After TC Yasi there was no longer a gully - the topography had been rearranged by the wind and water, and so much sand, soil and vegetation dumped on top it was not feasible to try to excavate it. Access was a huge issue so It was simply left as the probable gravesite of some of the surfing and camping nomads that roam the north coast. They may have got away - they may not. No one really knows.

Hope everyone is now accounted for in NZ. It sounds like it has been a wild few days over there.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Still happening down here, but as far as I know not nearly as badly as further north. I was out in it and the worst few minutes were the 100 metres from the bus stop to home when I was heading into either rain or hail. An hour later and my face and teeth are still aching.

The river at the end of the street doesn't seem to be flooding and the next high tide is in about 7 hours time, so I guess that will be the crunch time (on the other hand the rain is forecast to ease - so it should be OK.

For all those affected - in both countries

Next time Australia is welcome to send its used tropical cyclones elsewhere - how about the Anartic?

Huia

[ 06. April 2017, 06:22: Message edited by: Huia ]
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
A very difficult time Huia, waiting for the tide - I hope there's quite a rise from the river to your house. Just seen the photos of Edgecumbe on a news site.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
The river did flood, but further upstream, where it has flooded before. When I opened the back door at 6 am to let the cat out I could hear the sound of water pumps being used, so it has probably flooded somewhere nearby. The river hasn't flooded in this area for years, so long term residents told me, but the earthquakes raised the riverbed so who knows what could happen. There are also helicopters flying around now that it's light. Today's forecast here is for a fine day, which is a relief.

Edgecumbe has had a hard time. They had a big quake in 1987, which changed the shape of the landscape and made the town more flood prone.

Huia- earthquakes, the gift that keeps giving.
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Good to hear that you're safe. But let's also remember those who were out in the night on emergency work, many of them volunteers.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Yes indeed, Gee D. I used to mind young grandchildren while DIL was on SES work. I remember she was away several days on flood relief work further north. She was exhausted and arrived home with nothing dry, all wet and smelly. Those volunteers and others like them do dangerous, hard work.

Others in family were with RFS till injury forced withdrawal.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
for all affected.

From what I've seen of New Zealand (on film and TV), it looks like such an utterly beautiful place, if it would only stay still.
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Not just beautiful Piglet, but so clean. Once you get out of the big cities, you can feel the fresh air drink from many creeks and so forth.
 

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Posted by Mr Curly (# 5518) on :
 
Dropping in for a breather from the real world.

My usual Easter dramas have their usual Easter dramas! Two of the cast returned from Cadet Camp on crutches, while of more concern is our guitarist who admitted himself to hospital with depression on Thursday. (Please pray for N.) Thus I will be stepping to the breach for our three lead up performances (Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday nights) and the main gig on Good Friday in the city.

Numbers are not exact but I think Thursday night at my home church could be the 100th time I've directed an Easter drama performance. Will reflect on that and the future after Easter.

Kids all on church camp so Mrs Curly and I, while we didn't organise our weekend away, are looking forward to a smidge of peace and quiet tonight before opening night tomorrow night.

mr curly
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
What a dramatic start to a season, Mr Curly. Prayers definitely for N, in a nasty situation. Not too sure how Biblically authentic the crutches would be - perhaps some rough wooden ones might pass muster.
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
An interesting article in today's Guardian. It speaks of the by-elections, starting with Gosford and then moving to the one in North Shore - which does not cover the North Shore at all, rather some northern harbourside suburbs, but we'll let that pass. It then moves on to the electorate of Manly as being "further north"!!!! Most of us would say east of the area stretching from Wollstonecraft to Mosman. This in what's supposed to be a serious newspaper.

Time for Dog's walk, ruminating on changed geography.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Gee D, I guess if they gave directions purely from a map, then those suburbs are North Shore. I very much doubt Rose Bay would appreciate being called a southern suburb because it is on southern side of the harbour. Gosford is obviously a bit north to be called North Shore in the eyes of someone who does not know not only Sydney but also Sydney traditions, for want of a better word.

Gosford used to be Liberal but has well and truly switched. My youngest son lives and works in the area and reports to me of feelings there. Very much Labor now. He spends time before any elections to decide which group gets the privilege of being place last on his ballot paper. Spoilt for choice in Senate votes, but this was easier.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Gee D:
An interesting article in today's Guardian. It speaks of the by-elections, starting with Gosford and then moving to the one in North Shore - which does not cover the North Shore at all, rather some northern harbourside suburbs, but we'll let that pass. It then moves on to the electorate of Manly as being "further north"!!!! Most of us would say east of the area stretching from Wollstonecraft to Mosman. This in what's supposed to be a serious newspaper.

Time for Dog's walk, ruminating on changed geography.

---

Meh ... everything from Wollongong to the Hawkesbury and inland to Katoomba is just an amorphous grey mass!
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Wet and windy. Young friend studying to be a doctor hit a slippery patch on the Federal highway yesterday and flipped his car. After emerging and checking he was okay a second car with an elderly driver came around the bend, slipped on the same patch and hit a tree. Emergency services, when they arrived, were somewhat surprised to find the occupant of the first accident doing first aid on the occupant of the second accident. Take care on the roads today - it looks like it is not good driving weather all across the southern and eastern states.
 

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Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
I live in Wilton. I know people near the northern boundary who give their address as Wadestown, which must have more prestige, being a much older subdivision with its share of notable homes. Someone bang in the middle of Wilton was offended when a land agent used the expression 'middle-class'. Others use the designation 'Otari', reverting, as the local school did, to the Maori name.
Our cul-de-sac, which has been here 50-odd years, appears on GPS screens as a blue dot and nothing more. Two taxis and an AA mechanic have reminded us always to give our address as 'off Warwick Street'. This message didn't reach the man who was coming to deal with my flat battery last week, but he did spot the street sign as he drove past, directed by his GPS voice to go down the hill, turn right (we were on his left) and head off into the blue.
OTOH my taxi driver when I headed home from A&E the other night (and that's another story) had a larger and more sophisticated device which I think directed him correctly. He said it should do: it had cost him $1500. But then he had me there to direct him anyway.

GG (unashamedly middle class)
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
That sounds nasty, BL. It is lovely here so far, cool but sunny. Unlike last night when I could see distant lightning and was just checking radar on storm when it arrived in full force. Widespread over a large swathe of the state.

[ 09. April 2017, 21:34: Message edited by: Lothlorien ]
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Satirist John Clarke dies while hiking.

He will be missed, a very clever man, born in NZ but working here for years. I loved the brilliant film of the preparations for Sydney Olympics where he seemed to have prophetic gift for snags and disasters. I tried to never miss the Thursday night series with Brian Dawe, just before the ABC news. Four minutes of rueful laughter.

[ 10. April 2017, 02:36: Message edited by: Lothlorien ]
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Groans from our household as well. After chewing through all the crap dished up on the weekly political menu he and Bruce always delivered the tastiest morsels to savour. A unique and delightful talent and I am so glad Oz and NZ got to share him.


 

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Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
For a boy from Fairfield all those suburbs are north somewhere to me, Gee D. Seriously: you'd expect that paper to get them right.

N ; and your play is now presented in the city Mr Curly??? I fondly remember visiting your church and seeing it.

Terrible news re John Clarke. We'll claim him as we do all successful NZers. A mighty talent.


Back from just over 2 weeks in Iceland to celebrate my 40th, and a quick visit to California to visit friends as well. A wonderful time, and a wonderful country with wonderful people. Felt I was there for months. I seem to have brought the cold weather back with me.
 

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Posted by Dark Knight (# 9415) on :
 
Clarke is a colossal loss - one of NZ's greatest exports.
 

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Posted by Tukai (# 12960) on :
 
I was one of many at our local Palm Sunday rally in support of refugees, especially those still stuck on Manus or Nauru.

Weather was overcast, but fortunately (thank God!) the rally finished just before the hailstorm hit!
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
My new phone is due for delivery today by AusLost. I also have another grocery delivery due and am hoping they do not coincide. Grocery drivers are wonderful from my supplier, on time,trackable, polite and helpful. AusLost couriers are totally the opposite. Am planning to ask him to bring phone up as my mobility is improving but not good yet.

Once I have phone, I will organise new SIM as I am continuing my plan.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ian Climacus:
... Back from just over 2 weeks in Iceland to celebrate my 40th ...

---

Many happy returns!

D. and I went to Iceland for a long weekend for his 40th and absolutely fell in love with the place, so we went back six years later for mine.

Both of our birthdays are in the winter (his in December, mine in February), and I can highly recommend swimming in the Blue Lagoon with hailstones falling in your hair.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Am abaout to start yet another complaint for AusLost. I just checked the tracking info again. It now has that at 7:50 am the courier could not deliver , no safe location. I live in a security block and buzzer needs to be rung to be let in or to give notifications. At that time, I was dressed and eating breakfast. No buzzer at all. This is the usual response from me for a delivery by them. Had I known from website when I bought phone that they used this courier system I would have requested another means.

I will go down later to see if there has been a card left. Probably not. Nothing possible till later in day when courier returns to PO.
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
ooooh...not often we get to see a triple burn from Loth...some couriers are dreadful but it is usually the individuals not the company. I have been at home with lights on, curtains and door open, doorbells front and back working and actually been standing at the window in time to see van pull up, driver leap out, chuck a card in the letterbox and drive off. Obviously had no intention of getting to the front door (@ 2 metres behind said letterbox). Others from the same company are wonderful.

I know this, because eldest daughter has regular deliveries of new fashion accessories arriving for her. TP used to joke that she was holding up 5% of the Chinese economy. TP also gets books delivered once a month. Really seems to depend on who is driving the van as to how diligently things are delivered, if at all.
 

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Posted by Latchkey Kid (# 12444) on :
 
We once posted in the special home postcode box at our PO to a place 1km away in town. It took a week to get there. Apparently, it still has to go to the sorting office in Casino 90 minutes drive away.

At the end of February my sister in England let us know that our Christmas Card, sent at the beginning of December, had just arrived. I think the Australian postal system may not have many years to go.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Thanks, BL. I do not know how that happened. Have deleted two of them.

You are right, it is the person although the system is far from perfect. This fellow lies often. My hairdresser said the sa,me when she was here the other day, voicing the same opinion as I held re local PO. Uber driver collected a bulky but light parcel for me while I waited in cab. He voiced an opinion of local staff and their skills when he returned with my parcel. Other residents here would back me up about this particular fellow. This is the second time he has used 6:50 as a time of ringing. Last time, there were three people here. .

I had an incident number and a phone number for several years because of the rudeness of courier. "I am only doing this because you are old and helpless." Not true at all. That complaint brought his boss to pay me a visit.

Christmas 2016 saw christmas presents for grandchildren disappear. They "fell off the back of a truck," as the saying goes. They were stolen. Eventually tracked down.
On the other hand, my groceries have just been delivered halfway through the time allowed in tracking. Drivers are unfailingly polite and helpful.
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Amazon.in, and presumably other companies as well, have a scheme where you can nominate a courier or two - one of the ones down on their list for this area is, frankly, a waste of time so I have simply asked them to use one of three with offices based in nearby town and it was done, instantly.

Result me being a happy customer.
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Good to see you back WW, and prayers for a speedy recovery.
 

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Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lothlorien:
My new phone is due for delivery today by AusLost. I also have another grocery delivery due and am hoping they do not coincide. Grocery drivers are wonderful from my supplier, on time,trackable, polite and helpful. AusLost couriers are totally the opposite. Am planning to ask him to bring phone up as my mobility is improving but not good yet.

Once I have phone, I will organise new SIM as I am continuing my plan.

---

2degrees rang a couple of months ago to say they were giving long-time customers a new phone. She described its features; when I said I only needed a granny-phone, to make and receive phone calls and texts, she said they had that option too, and it would arrive in a few days. It arrived two weeks later, after I'd left on holiday, but finally last week Son arrived to insert sim and battery and put a selfie of the two of us on the screen. But I still couldn't send a text till he brought the 16-year-old round to help me sort it out. She knows she's not to seize the phone and show me what to do, but to give it to me and tell me what to do.

RIP John Clarke. Apparently he said he never revisited us because he so hated flying. We did miss him.

GG
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Cyclone Cook is dribbling in and predicted to reach the intensities generated by Cyclone Giselle, better known as The Wahine Storm on April 10 1968. I remember that day well.

I doubt it will, but a few rivers are rising - GG, up your way it's vulnerable, isn't it? We're in a storm shadow here, so just some steady-heavy-drizzle predicted. Kuruman is flying out to Oz on Friday, though, and that may be more tricky.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Apart from going to church (if the wind and rain permit) I'm staying home to make soup (chicken and barley broth as well as bacon hock) and read.

YaY for e books on the kindle and tablet. In a move that I have never really understood, the library system here is closed on Good Friday, open on Saturday and Sunday, and closed on Monday Apparently Easter Day is not a Public Holiday, (but shops have been prosecuted for being open then) whereas Easter Monday is. I know the law is changing, but it's still weird.

Added to all this my branch library is in a shopping Mall so is closed on Easter day as well as Easter Monday.

I also wondering whether ebooks, which are available 24/7, can be borrowed on Public holidays.

Probably only an obsessive library user would be wondering about such matters.

Huia
 

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Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Up in Pretoria for work, rain early this morning but took the day off to walk with a group of old activist friends from Church Street to the Union Buildings and join a massed opposition rally calling for corrupt President Zuma to resign. The weather cleared and the atmosphere on the lawns of the Union Buildngs was lively but relaxed, friendly, helpful. Huge crowds and disciplined marching through the streets. Glad I'd lost some weight, able to keep up with those +40 years, if not the dancing and running youngsters.

Heading back to the Cape and another cold front, hoping for rain. The glimpses of depleted dams and bone-dry river beds from the plane window were scary.
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zappa:
Cyclone Cook is dribbling in and predicted to reach the intensities generated by Cyclone Giselle, better known as The Wahine Storm on April 10 1968. I remember that day well.

I doubt it will, but a few rivers are rising - GG, up your way it's vulnerable, isn't it? We're in a storm shadow here, so just some steady-heavy-drizzle predicted. Kuruman is flying out to Oz on Friday, though, and that may be more tricky.

---

Hope you will all be ok and everyone else anywhere near too.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
What Loth said - prayers ascending for all likely to be affected.
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by MaryLouise:
...Heading back to the Cape and another cold front, hoping for rain. The glimpses of depleted dams and bone-dry river beds from the plane window were scary.

---

Drought is scary! This state has just been declared officially afflicted by it but because of the topography I don't think it will last too long and the declaration may well have left out this District.

for enough rain for all.
 

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Posted by Clarence (# 9491) on :
 
Lots of weather warnings in NZ still. Am hoping it isn't as bad as the predictions suggest.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Apparently Auckland has escaped the rain and the strong wind warnings there have lifted.

It looks like some areas on the east coast of the North Island won't be so lucky.

At this stage Christchurch is forecast to have a couple of hours of heavy rain around midnight and strong winds tomorrow. The forecast is due to be updated at 9pm. If it's too windy I will just batten the hatches and continue to make soup and read books,. I do want to go to church on Good Friday, but it's silly to take a risk that could end up endangering other people too.

Huia
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
To all in NZ, Madame and I are remembering you.
 

---

Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by MaryLouise:
Heading back to the Cape and another cold front, hoping for rain. The glimpses of depleted dams and bone-dry river beds from the plane window were scary.

---

As WW says, drought is scary. 10 years or so ago, towards the end of our last major drought in eastern Australia, water became very scarce, even in Sydney with its large storage dams. The city of Goulburn, about 2 hours drive SSW from here on the way to Canberra, was in very real danger of running out of water. More recently, there've been similar fears for the town of Broken Hill, about 1,000 km west, on the NSW/SA border.
 

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Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Thinking of those struggling with drought (WW) and those facing storms in NZ.

Woke up before dawn and the rain was falling! A great relief although the highways out of Cape Town are going to be congested and nightmarish later, as city people head out for the Easter weekend. Capetonians drive like lunatics in the rain. Years ago, an otherwise sane Capetonian told me that when it starts to rain while he is driving, he puts his foot on the accelerator 'to make a dash for it' and get back indoors out of the damp. I imagine this sentiment would be inexplicable to most Brits, but even if there's brief light cloudburst in the city, you see everyone speed up and overtake so as to get somewhere safe and dry.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Kuruman's flights have been cancelled, with both the local and Auckland airports shut down. The official warning for my area is "avoid all travel." So I wagged Maundy Thursday.
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Patience for all concerned and safety for all. A good idea to stay at home and a good excuse.

Son had flight cancelled home from Brisbane when very severe storms closed Sydney. He managed a flight almost 30 hours later. Only a few weeks ago but before cyclone Debbie.hope she gets accommodation. He got last room in close hotel and luckily his work really had little choice but to pay for it as he had been at work conference.

Lots of picture over here of water everywhere.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Rain and wind have been worse than usual for Christchurch, but nothing near as bad as a normal southerly storm in Wellington but the next few hours will probably be worse. It's forecast to clear this afternoon.

Apparently the now down graded storm detoured further east. Large parts of the east coast of the North Island weren't so lucky and are without power. There will be a lot of cleaning up to do after flood waters recede.

Hoping you're in the city GG - it seems less affected than Matarangi

Huia
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
May it be a GOOD and blessed Good Friday for all, whatever the weather where you are.

A glorious golden autumn day has dawned here in the National Capital. Up to the aged care facility this morning to spend time reflecting with those on the cusp of life and death. Poignant.
 

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Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Grey autumnal Good Friday here, very welcome cooler weather. In the back garden the plectranthus is blooming purple and mauve, which feels quite liturgical.
 

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Posted by Mr Curly (# 5518) on :
 
The sun shone today. Over 1,000 people came to watch our play at Martin Place and follow Jesus up Pitt St. Jesus was crucified on a food court balcony, and then Pitt St resounded with the whole assembly singing Amazing Grace.

I have set the firepit in the back yeard ready for a quiet and reflective cast after-party.

Very,very tired

mr curly
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lothlorien:
hope she gets accommodation

---

She has a strategically located brother in law 15 minutes from AKL airport! Should be sitting on the tarmac about now
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Prayers ascending for all travelling, or trying to, in difficult conditions.

I still have to put what passes for my brain into a different gear to think of Good Friday/Easter in the autumn.
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Not as difficult as us here in the southern hemisphere coping with all the Spring themed Easter gift stuff in the shops, Piglet.

What would we do without Chrysanthemum daisies and packets of bulbs?

On Maundy Thursday we planted some crocus and anemones out in our waterless Iris pond. The crocus were beginning to shoot so will be watching all winter for the flower spikes.

Today I will be packaging my little homemade dried fruit Easter eggs for the family gathering tomorrow. Gifts for the adults.

First ever family Easter egg hunt scheduled at B1's place- we have six pre-schoolers in the family now, and two primary schoolers. Should be interesting. Largest grandson is working tomorrow, but somehow I don't think he minds missing out on it at all....

 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Great news Mr Curly about your good season.

A couple of very enjoyable autumn days here also. Quite a bit of gardening done yesterday and more to be done this afternoon. The rain and then the mild weather have seem weeds spring up in areas they have not been seen for years. Once this afternoon's work is done, we can then move onto planting more spring bulbs.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Shows how much I know about gardening - i thought you stuck 'em in in spring
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Here it's best to get them in before the first frost, although I have planted them in spring, but they weren't as successful the first year.

There is a church further north, but still in the Sth Island that is named for the same saint as the church I attend. The area was hit fairly badly by the November quake. Someone in our congregation had the idea of sending some small gifts in solidarity (as many people sent things to Christchurch). I am sending some mini daffodil bulbs because, for me the daffodils coming up in the spring after the big quakes and amidst the thousands of aftershocks were a sign of hope. I know it may sound weird, but I found the fact that the seasons continued in the usual way immensely comforting in the midst of so much uncertainty.

Huia
 

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Posted by Vulpior (# 12744) on :
 
Looking in before bed to wish all a blessed Easter. It's been an unusual Triduum. Mr Vulpior and I attended a funeral instead of the Good Friday liturgy; a friend took his own life a week ago and the National SDA church hall was packed for the farewell and tributes. Today we headed into Monga National Park for an ashes scattering; marking a far more timely death with picnic and red wine.

I am (lay) deacon for the dawn service tomorrow, so I'll be leaving the house at about 5am. Mr Vulpior turns 21 again tomorrow, so we're aiming for a 2pm lamb roast. The Anzac biscuit cheesecake is cooling, the fruit-infused vodka is bottled, and I just have to wrap his present and write the card.

Posts here have been read semi-regularly, but I've not been chipping in.
 

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Posted by Tukai (# 12960) on :
 
Our friend L (the one who had her brain tumour recur) died on Good Friday. A very fitting day fro a good Christian to die. We pray for new life for her and her family (in their different ways) on Easter Day.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Tukai, I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend.

May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

Re: bulb-planting, I remember my dad planting hyacinth bulbs at some point before Christmas, so in the Southern hemisphere now sounds about right.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Tukai:
Our friend L (the one who had her brain tumour recur) died on Good Friday. A very fitting day fro a good Christian to die. We pray for new life for her and her family (in their different ways) on Easter Day.

---

Thoughts and prayers
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Yes, indeed remembering L.

A full day, starting with the new fire service at 5.30. A great service, but so early! Maybe not make the change back from daylight saving until after Easter? It will be a very simple and easy pasta dinner for us and early to bed.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Lovely day here, actually good weekend. Friday saw church and visiting with middle son and family, then family meal at night. Eldest son is back in China on business, but our chat program has been running hot all day and lots of photos. Youngest son and his eldest came for lunch from Central Coast.

I put a leg of lamb in to slow cook early in morning. Fresh herbs with lots of rosemary . After son arrived around midday, he took over. PileS of baked vegetables and his famous gravy., complete with some anchovies. They make a great gravy, but you would not know the secret ingredient. Red wine and a leisurely meal. Miss 16 did the cleaning up without a murmur after her father suggested it would be a good thing for her to do. We sat and chatted and they left after 5 for train home. Loads of leftovers, always a good thing.

[ 16. April 2017, 08:53: Message edited by: Lothlorien ]
 

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Posted by Moo (# 107) on :
 
During the Easter service this morning I noticed how many hymns referred to spring, longer days, etc. Do you all sing these hymns down under?

Do you have any Easter hymns that refer to autumn?

Moo
 

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Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Moo, out here in Africa it's all cognitive dissonance and pretending it is spring -- we only get to sing our winter hymns and carols about snow falling and wassail at Christmas when mid-summer temperatures are peaking.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by MaryLouise:
Moo, out here in Africa it's all cognitive dissonance and pretending it is spring -- we only get to sing our winter hymns and carols about snow falling and wassail at Christmas when mid-summer temperatures are peaking.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zappa:
... As the icy touch of a southerly (Piglet will need to rejig directionality ...)

---

Rejigging in progress ...
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Moo:
During the Easter service this morning I noticed how many hymns referred to spring, longer days, etc. Do you all sing these hymns down under?

Do you have any Easter hymns that refer to autumn?

Moo

---

Yesterday at the aged care facility the chaplain did something quite unconventional at the end of the service. The usual 3 hymns were sung, beginning in time honoured tradition with Christ the Lord is risen today. The concluding hymn, she explained, was to put to rights the intention of the author Isaac Watts, who always intended Joy to the World to be sung at Easter. Somehow it is always trotted out at Christmas in these parts... but it was a wonderful way to finish the Easter service. I thoroughly recommend it!

And the music neatly circumvented the seasonal thing entirely.

[ 17. April 2017, 02:32: Message edited by: Banner Lady ]
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Given the number of leaves falling in our garden, the season is definitely fall, not even autumn
 

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Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
A brisk wind since yesterday, so we're also looking at heaps of leaves piling up in corners of the garden and in street gutters -- red oak leaves, sere yellow of catalpa and poplar, brown from the liquidambar, orange from Pride of India and fiddlewood, russet and pink from the indigenous Lavender Tree (Heteropyxis natalensis). The forest plectranthus is in flower and there are green olives visible on the olive trees. Aloes branching up and the kalanchoe are deep burgundy. I love this time of year (sorry, Zappa).
 

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Posted by Clarence (# 9491) on :
 
If you missed it, make sure you catch up on iview John Clarke: Thanks for your time . I'm hoping it screens in NZ too. Such a fantastic tribute.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
A blast from the past to see different scenes and people.

[ 17. April 2017, 11:24: Message edited by: Lothlorien ]
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
I can't think of any autumn Easter hymns*, there are some summer Christmas songs. Shirley Erana Murray wrote one called, Carol Our Christmas with music by Colin Gibson, and there is a CD with this and other NZ carols written by others as well as a song book of more.

All of the clips of Carol our Christmas on You Tube have it sung a bit more slowly than the CD, and one even has it listed as a lullaby, which seems just wrong to me. I am not knowledgeable about what makes a hymn, a hymn, but my understanding is that a carol is light and joyful.

* I have a feeling that William Wallace (a contemporary writer, not the Mel Gibson one ) may have written some autumn in Easter songs, but I can't remember them specifically), Arabella and GG probably know heaps more about this than I do.

Huia
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
I can't think of anything for an autumn Easter. At Christmas there are several Australian songs. The north wind is tossing the leaves is one and Orana, orana, orana for Christmas day is another. There are another couple as well but they have slipped my mind right now.

John Wheeler has written several and some other Christmas related writing as well.

[ 17. April 2017, 22:51: Message edited by: Lothlorien ]
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
The other day I used the last of a pack of Elastoplast fabric strips bought when I moved here six years ago. Rarely used by me, but the girls used them often on blisters caused by strappy sandals. When in chemist for flu jab i bought another box to have on hand. They have gone the way of Minties, Fantales and Iced Vo-Vos. They have shrunk. The strips in this packet are just over half the width of the previous pack.

Sic transit Gloria Mundi,so passes the glory of the world.
 

---

Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lothlorien:
The other day I used the last of a pack of Elastoplast fabric strips bought when I moved here six years ago. Rarely used by me, but the girls used them often on blisters caused by strappy sandals. When in chemist for flu jab i bought another box to have on hand. They have gone the way of Minties, Fantales and Iced Vo-Vos. They have shrunk. The strips in this packet are just over half the width of the previous pack.

Sic transit Gloria Mundi,so passes the glory of the world.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
I knew someone years ago who was allergic to sticking plaster, and wondered what on earth she did if she cut herself.

---

I'm allergic to Elastoplast, too. Many small blisters. There are plenty of non-allergenic alternatives at the chemist, though.
Many years ago, I had an appendicectomy in Royal Melbourne. My papers were all marked in large red lettering - "Elastoplast Allergy". I woke up with a 6"x 3" strip of Elastoplast over the wound! Took much longer for the allergic blisters to heal than the surgical cut :-(
 

---

Posted by Lamb Chopped (# 5528) on :
 
I've got an allergy like that, but it's to surgical glue and tapes. And since the situation is that much more serious, they make me lump the itching and welts and scarring.

For lesser wounds I can beg off the tape in favor of gauze pads held on by an ace bandage rolled round and round the arm or leg.
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Rexory, Elastoplast lasts slightly longer than J&J products and German expensive tape about another day. Some years ago, I had an infected cyst removed from the back of thigh. I told them about allergies but they tried. One day the nurse told me she could see every place where she had tried to stick dressing down. Eventually, she used a tubular, stretchy knit dressing on thigh to keep bandage on. The main problem was that the actual removal had left a deep bullet shaped hole which had to heal from the bottom up so needed a dressing for a long time.
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
TP is allergic to bandaids too. We just pack gauze pads on to any wounds and tie them on with strips of cloth torn from my cotton petticoats...
 

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Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
You learn something every day. Did not people could be allergic to sticking plasters. Being a clumsy sort I am thankfully not!

My manager and I are planning a bushwalk to a WWII plane downed in the mountains near here on Sunday. Should be good fun.
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Unfortunately, I seem to have passed this allergy on to Miss M. When she was so sick with chemo tubes, tests etc things were much worse as everything had to be bandaged on rather than stuck on with adhesive
 

---

Posted by Uncle Pete (# 10422) on :
 
Band aid plasters are of the devil. If someone sticks one on when I am not looking, great pussy blisters erupt. I usually ask for paper tape and gauze or cotton.
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
I had flu jab yesterday and it was so smooth I did not realise a tiny round spot had been placed on injection site till it began to itch.
 

---

Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Years ago, cuts and grazes were swabbed with Dettol disinfectant, then Savlon ointment or red Mercurochrome was smeared on and a plaster (Elastoplast) put on over that, or a linen bandage secured with a safety pin. Now it seems that just a little salt and water and no Elastoplast is preferred for minor cuts and grazes. I always wanted a great splosh of crimson Mercurachrome on my knee or my entire leg to be swathed in bandages before going to school and affecting a limp. #childhooddramaqueen
 

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Posted by Jengie jon (# 273) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lothlorien:
Rarely used by me, but the girls used them often on blisters caused by strappy sandals.

---

• Compeed in various sizes
• scissors (for removing dead skin)
• anti-septic wipes (for making sure it is clean)
• needle (for popping blisters)
• thread (for draining blisters)

quote:

---

Originally posted by MaryLouise:
Years ago, cuts and grazes were swabbed with Dettol disinfectant, then Savlon ointment or red Mercurochrome was smeared on and a plaster (Elastoplast) put on over that, or a linen bandage secured with a safety pin. Now it seems that just a little salt and water and no Elastoplast is preferred for minor cuts and grazes. I always wanted a great splosh of crimson Mercurachrome on my knee or my entire leg to be swathed in bandages before going to school and affecting a limp. #childhooddramaqueen

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jengie jon:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lothlorien:
Rarely used by me, but the girls used them often on blisters caused by strappy sandals.

---

Don't you Austrailians have Compeeds. Yes, they are expensive but they work and are classed as essential walking kit* these days over here. So much so that they have many imitators.

---

Blister plasters yes, but not under that brand name. From memory, it's a Johnson and Johnson product and the name incorporates the word blister. Essential for cadets breaking in new boots (they always cause blisters, always have, always will) . Dearer than usual band-aids but not outrageously so, work extremely well.
 

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Posted by Kittyville (# 16106) on :
 
Compeed are on sale in Australia and have been for years.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I'm very prone to blisters with new shoes, and I find Compeed is the only thing for it - the imitations (like Boots' own brand) aren't bad, but Compeed is actually worth the extra money. For blisters, ordinary sticking plaster is almost worse than useless.
 

---

Posted by The Intrepid Mrs S (# 17002) on :
 
Mr S discovered he was allergic to Elastoplast when he chipped an elbow bone playing football as a teenager. They strapped the arm, wrist to shoulder, in it

He soaked it all off in the bath (the chipped bone had to get by as best it could) and now has to use gauze and micropore tape for cuts.

Mrs. S, too clumsy to manage without sticking plaster1
 

---

Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Kittyville:
Compeed are on sale in Australia and have been for years.

---

Thanks - not seen them here, just the others, which have worked well for us.
 

---

Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
And after a beautiful week of golden light and lovely chocolatey Easter celebrations the sky is now overcast, the trees are becoming skeletal, and the annoying whine of leaf blowers is filling the air.

I hate to sound Stark,,,but today we can really feel that WINTER IS COMING.
 

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Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
Winter is coming a bit further SW to where you are BL too...a rainy and chilly day, with much rain forecast tomorrow. My manager and I's weekend bushwalk has been postponed. The large tree in my backyard has started its annual shedding of leaves...

I do like Albury in the autumn, though; lots of trees changing colour. And we generally have bluebird days. But not currently.

Felt like comfort food tonight. Got takeaway pasta and a lemon meringue pie from the pasta shop. Mission accomplished: I feel very comforted after the pasta. Now for the pie...

[ 21. April 2017, 08:41: Message edited by: Ian Climacus ]
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
What might be called an unusual combination, and hope you're still with us.

Definitely mid-autumn here, and good weather for bbqs. A bit of chill in the air, grilled meat of some sort and a couple of glasses of red are a good combination. The end of daylight saving is very welcome to me - it somehow seems ok to walk home from the station in the dark, but not to walk to it in the morning until there's more than a suggestion that day is on its way.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Another glorious autumn day here, although there's a definite chill in the air and the day takes longer to warm up. Autumn is my favourite season - all the colours, and the leaves to scrunch through.

Christchurch is a city of deciduous trees. Historically the image of Christchurch as the "most English of NZ cities" and "The Garden City" has been promoted, but since the quakes more evergreen natives have been planted as a deliberate council policy. I like seeing some of my favourite tree species in the city, (though the prevalence of lancewoods is a bit overwhelming), but at this time of year the deciduous win hands down as far as I'm concerned.

Of course the Council with their practical responsibilities for keeping gutters running freely and footpaths cleared of leaves made slippery by rain, have different priorities.

Huia
 

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Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
Still here. Should've went for gelato, I suppose, but the pie, and pasta, was great.


I visited Christchurch in 2005 [?] in autumn...it was beautiful. Drove down to Akaroa which was also rather stunning. A quick trip, but one I remember fondly - even if I've forgotten what year it was!

[ 21. April 2017, 23:01: Message edited by: Ian Climacus ]
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Banner Lady:
... today we can really feel that WINTER IS COMING.

---

Does it cheer you up that here in what passes for spring we had a few inches of sn*w yesterday?

Admittedly it didn't lie, but they're forecasting some more for tomorrow ...
 

---

Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Thanks Ian. Even further south, around Central Otago is incredible, because the temperature differential is greater. In some years here dead, brown leaves just hang on the trees - but I don't think this year is going to be one of them.

Huia
 

---

Posted by Moo (# 107) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Huia:
In some years here dead, brown leaves just hang on the trees...

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Moo:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Huia:
In some years here dead, brown leaves just hang on the trees...

---

In the northern part of the US, dead oak leaves stay on the trees until they are pushed off by the new leaves of spring.

Moo

---

Those would be the pin-oaks. We have them elsewhere in our suburb and they make me feel sad all winter, seeing them shrouded in their tattered brown leaves. Many different kinds of oak trees - our street is lined with American hairy oaks. The acorns have little hairy hats on them. The trees are now so big that the acorns are the size of golf balls - you really don't want to get hit by them when they fall. And parking underneath one can be very hazardous at this time of year.

The council have been out massacring trees along Canberra Avenue again. Enormous stately cottonwood poplars have had ALL the branches removed from the side facing the footpath. This makes them look drunkenly lopsided and tortured. But the power lines near them are clear. Sigh.

I have no love of cottonwood fluff, but I would rather see a beautiful tree replaced with a shrub than dealt with like that.
 

---

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
I'm not sure I would want to be called an "American hairy oak." Lacks a certain luster I feel.
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
I have just watched the ABC coverage of the Sydney Anzac Day march. If was still going after over three hours when they switched to coverage from Gallipoli.

So many banners, all interesting. The Polar Bears who served in the Arctic. I wondered about that one then my brother said he knew someone who had been part of escorts for convoys around Norway. I knew about that,but had not made the connection.

Dozens of bands, some of which did the circuit two or three times. Several from local schools, Burwood Girls , Trinity and others. Masses of green blazers from Trinity as the band was large. Of course, what other colour could they have?

Some dogs, complete with vests in colours, six marching with one group. They all were applauded loudly.

Am now watching the ceremony from Gallipoli.
 

---

Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Wet, windy and cold in the National Capitol. I felt extremely sorry for the old and frail braving the elements for ANZAC Day...and the Tongans who marched in sandals and traditional tropical attire.

Had the fire on most of the day. Projected top of 12 degrees tomorrow. Brrrr.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
It's 13° here, and I was just thinking what a lovely warm evening it is.
 

---

Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Briefly, briefly got to 12 mid morning. By lunchtime back to 9 when a cold rain squall hit. Mid afternoon it was 11. Temperature now falling again. Seriously starting to put hibernation plans in place.

TP is loving it. He is out communing in the garden, praying over all the box hedging he has just put in and planning more landscaping. I suppose at least one of us is enjoying it, and that is a good thing?

Sigh.
 

---

Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
A top of 15° here today.

Our new employee, recently arrived from up north in Darwin, is not impressed.
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
It was around. 20 here this afternoon when the southerly change moved through. A few minutes later it was 12. Snowing in Alps both NSW and Vic.
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
It was around. 20 here this afternoon when the southerly change moved through. A few minutes later it was 12. Snowing in Alps both NSW and Vic.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
21c forecast today. The mist has disappeared, which is really good. I hate those clammy starts to the day.

Hopefully this will be a day where children can get outside and enjoy their holidays. I am waiting until the afternoon to go to the library as the school holiday activities there are planned for the morning.

Huia
 

---

Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Do both North and South islands have school hols scheduled on the same weeks in NZ? In Australia it is staggered so only 2 states have school hols at identical dates. This causes us some interesting moments as we have grandchildren in three different zones. It is never easy to organise family gatherings.

Facebook post from son-in-law asked if anyone else forgot to send their children back to school yesterday! He was looking after two of his own and one step-child from interstate who doesn't go back to school until next Monday.

I am sure he is not alone.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
That does sound confusing! Over here AFAIK (being childless, it doesn't affect us), when the schools go back after the summer is dictated by Labour Day (the first Monday in September), but as it's a national holiday, I assume everyone goes back at the same time.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
State schools in NSW resumed yesterday. The school several grandchildren go to went back on Monday, then Tuesday was Anzac Day, so no school. Two of the grandchildren were allowed Monday off by my son and their mother. They went to to Titanic exhibition at Moore Park and enjoyed it thorooughly. Learnt heaps and not just about Titanic. Son said it was a worthwhile day.

School must be back and extra long weekends are over. The traffic in both directions on Parramatta Road and even on side street opposite is heavier than I have seen it for a long time. Barely moving and cars are waiting more than one set of lights to get through intersection downstairs.

Cold too. Snow on alps down south is sending chilly tentacles up this way.
 

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Posted by Latchkey Kid (# 12444) on :
 
Cool here today.

The schools started yesterday, but the school time speed restrictions start on pupil free days for some reason.

LKKspouse is working on flood relief for Justice dept. They call up the Alumni (as they call them) to do this. 8:30- 5pm 7 days on one day off.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Banner Lady:
Do both North and South islands have school hols scheduled on the same weeks in NZ?

---

Yup ... small country, no need to stagger
 

---

Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Schools resume for the 2nd term on Monday all over NZ.

The Ministry of Education guideline is that all schools must be open for a certain number of half days per year, but fine tuning is in the hands of the Board of Trustees of each school. The school where I volunteer was open on Maundy Thursday, whereas the school down the road closed on the Wednesday. (I think they started the term a day before us).

Secondary schools have longer holidays, finishing a week or so before Primary. (I always said Secondary Teachers didn't work as hard ).

Such a lovely day today and I achieved Things


Huia
 

---

Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Todays challenge was to create a stage worthy Moana costume in less than an hour for Miss 9.

Almost. Got. There.

She will have to pick up the other half of it tomorrow on her way to the airport. I fully expect Miss 4 to demand the same when I next see her.

Studio work will have to go on hold until after the weekend though, as I pick up more people from the airport tomorrow.

Took Miss 9 to church service with her great grandmother at the nursing home this morning. Arrived to find everyone upset. One of the residents who had his birthday yesterday and was fine at breakfast gave up the ghost before morning tea. He just simply stopped.

I am glad for his sake. He was a lovely man. RIP Gordon.
 

---

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Huia:
Schools resume for the 2nd term on Monday all over NZ.

The Ministry of Education guideline is that all schools must be open for a certain number of half days per year, but fine tuning is in the hands of the Board of Trustees of each school. The school where I volunteer was open on Maundy Thursday, whereas the school down the road closed on the Wednesday. (I think they started the term a day before us).

Secondary schools have longer holidays, finishing a week or so before Primary. (I always said Secondary Teachers didn't work as hard ).

Such a lovely day today and I achieved Things


Huia

---

I went to an elite snobby private school for ten years ... we had a few weeks extra holidays (but school on Saturday mornings) ... I loved it after the mere mortals had gone back and we hadn't

 

---

Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Banner Lady:
Took Miss 9 to church service with her great grandmother at the nursing home this morning. Arrived to find everyone upset. One of the residents who had his birthday yesterday and was fine at breakfast gave up the ghost before morning tea. He just simply stopped.

I am glad for his sake. He was a lovely man. RIP Gordon.

---

May he rest in peace and rise in glory, along with our risen Lord.

I'll bet that there are quite a few other residents wanting to go as Gordon did.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Like most Brits, I have Australian Relatives™; two of my grandmother's sisters emigrated to Australia in the early years of the last century and many of their descendants are still there.

I had an e-mail today with an obituary notice from the Sydney Morning Herald for one Bettye Harcus, aged 94, who was the daughter of one of them. I understand she was quite well-known in her younger days as a singer of gospel music; I remember meeting her about 30 years ago when she was doing the rounds of her Orcadian relations.

May she rest in peace and rise in glory.
 

---

Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
And for Bettye Harcus as well.
 

---

Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
Gordon Bettye Harcus
 

---

Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Huia:
I always said Secondary Teachers didn't work as hard ).:

Huia

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Galloping Granny:

Is there a putting-tongue-out imoji?

---

(colon followed by lowercase p)
 

---

Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
It's the one I used GG. That really was just a stir . I remember when one of my brothers was taught by the father of a child I was teaching. On Parents night we both agreed that both of us were well suited, and neither of us would want the other's job.

Seriously though, I don't think the job good teachers do is really appreciated in much of the wider community. I sometimes read and post on a NZ website and the comments about teachers and the length of their holidays is enough to make my blood boil.

Huia
 

---

Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Prison ministry weekend training is over. It is wonderful to serve in an organization that is committed to training its volunteers so well. May it bear much good fruit.

Tired now. The trainers who stayed with us commented that our home is very "English".

I wonder what gave it away....the large and small hedges around the house? The chairs around the fireplace? The walls lined with old books and shelves full of black and white photos? The oak trees outside and the autumn leaves in drifts around the garden?

Or maybe it is just the Englishman in residence....
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Another Sydney institution closes after fifty years.

Fine dining it wasn't but queues out the door and around the block often. Basic, good pasta. Help yourself to bread and cold cordial. Just a couple of choices of pasta, but well cooked.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Huia:
...I sometimes read and post on a NZ website and the comments about teachers and the length of their holidays is enough to make my blood boil.

Huia

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zappa:
I went to an elite snobby private school for ten years ... we had a few weeks extra holidays (but school on Saturday mornings) ... I loved it after the mere mortals had gone back and we hadn't
]

---

And we mere mortals despised all you snobby private school kids for being so precious that you needed more holidays
 

---

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 

 

---

Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Huia:
It's the one I used GG. That really was just a stir . I remember when one of my brothers was taught by the father of a child I was teaching. On Parents night we both agreed that both of us were well suited, and neither of us would want the other's job.

Seriously though, I don't think the job good teachers do is really appreciated in much of the wider community. I sometimes read and post on a NZ website and the comments about teachers and the length of their holidays is enough to make my blood boil.

Huia

---

I remember going to in-service courses in the holidays.

And of course it's not just the holidays – it's the prep and marking after class, and the extra-curricular activities. For several years, not being a sporty person, I had a great Scottish Country Dance club.
Early in my career, I went to relieve for a year at a small-town high school, and spent some time with a friend and her husband. He was newsly trained and it was his first job, and it was made plain to him that he'd be expected to coach a cricket team – and take them to their Saturday matches. Essentially a six-day-a week job, rather rough on a newly married couple just settling into their first home and approaching parenthood.
For my part, I was directed as the year wore on, to supervise a hockey team on games afternoon (ie inn school hours). I said that's fine by me, I can supervise but I can't coach as I don't know anything about hockey. Fine, until a senior player came to tell me I was to take them to a match on Saturday. I went to the (male) principal and said I'm not prepared to look after them on Saturday. He said that was quite okay, no problem. But the Senior Woman took me aside and gave me a good telling off. How would I feel, she asked, if one day I had a daughter who couldn't play sport because no teacher would take her? (Daughter enjoyed sports and there was always someone to take her, ie shared parents' cars, sometimes mine, or someone else's.)
My son, incidentally coaches, and goes round with, the underwater hockey team, because he loves it.

GG
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Now I'm off to the megalopolis for a few days for a block course ... at least I'll enjoy the drive, even if I remain frustrated that NZ drives are so little
 

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Posted by Latchkey Kid (# 12444) on :
 
I wish our drives were shorter. I have a delivery and collect trip to Melbourne that I plan to spend a reasonable three days each way on. In a car I could do it in a tiring two days, but in my son's rough old ute it would be too tiring.
 

---

Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
B2 has just sent a message to say she has achieved 100% in her last essay for her MBA, and that her teacher, a woman of formidable energy and intellect, took her aside to tell her she could not believe B2 had done no other prior degrees. She also commented that B2 had a "brilliant mind"....as some of B2's classmates scored below 50%.

She may indeed have a brilliant mind, but she also put in more than 40 hours work on this particular assignment, because she was so anxious about doing "enough" to pass. This is her first experience of tertiary education so she has no prior benchmarks by which to measure standards.

I told her it was all down hill from here....
 

---

Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Congratulations to her. I don't know about these days, but 100% for an essay sounds a remarkable achievement to me.
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
One student some years after me received that mark for a theology essay. Possibly an exegesis assignment. From a very picky, hard to please lecturer who said she had done all he asked and much more. It is a pity I cannot remember more details. Until BL's post, that was the only one I had heard of.

Congratulations to your daughter. A brilliant start to the MBA.

[ 03. May 2017, 08:28: Message edited by: Lothlorien ]
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
She was so anxious about it that she requested a couple of coaching sessions with her dad...so he too is now basking in the reflected glory.

A satisfying family effort!

I commented that both her grandmothers had the smarts to do tertiary ed but never had the opportunity - so she is fortunate to be born in a time and place enabling her to hone the gifts given to her. Also a good thing to be able to show her upline at work, as they are underwriting this degree.

Exam worth 60% of the assessment is next. We'll see how her nerves hold up!
 

---

Posted by Barnabas Aus (# 15869) on :
 
I have achieved such a result only once throughout five tertiary qualifications. My Eng Lit lecturer's comment on my perfect-score essay on Richard II - "What more can I say?" - was one of the most satisfying moments of my education, and sticks in my memory 47 years later. She should bask in the feeling as long as possible, it's a great achievement.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Well done indeed, B2!
 

---

Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lothlorien:


Congratulations to your daughter. A brilliant start to the MBA.

---

It was her third essay in this particular unit, and it is the second unit of her degree. The first essay she got 60%, the second one 89%, so she is hoping to do enough in the exam to earn an HD for the whole unit.

I think the teacher has a lot to do with it. The first unit was taught by someone who she found out of date, out of touch with current business, and profoundly bored and boring. This tutor is exactly the opposite.

Very glad there are a few good ones about!
 

---

Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
My Godmother, God rest her soul, died a few days ago, aged 102.

I have just discovered the death notice for my mother's "stepmum", who apparently is listed in the Australian archives as a collector of botanical specimens along the Upper Murray. She shuffled off at 107.

Mum is not looking forward to her 99th winter, but if I was a betting person, I'd lay odds on her surviving it.

Note to Rowen: they sure breed 'em tough down your way. Possibly because they spend so much of each year snap-frozen....
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Sorry to hear about your godmother, BL. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.
 

---

Posted by Rowen (# 1194) on :
 
My sympathy, BL


Yeah, it's the cold that us tough.
And the local wine.
 

---

Posted by Barnabas Aus (# 15869) on :
 
The mother-in-law of one of our parishioners is approaching her 109th birthday in a week or so, but news yesterday was that she was confined to bed, and didn't want to eat. At her 108th birthday last year, she went missing from the party. When found, she said she'd got bored and just wanted to go for a walk. Praying that M has to travel for a party rather than a funeral.
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Prayers, Barnabas, for her and her family.
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Prayers also for Mark Colvin and his sons

The ABC is taking a beating this year, first Clarke, now Colvin.

[ 11. May 2017, 02:52: Message edited by: Lothlorien ]
 

---

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 

 

---

Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Ordination to the priesthood of our local deacon today. He is a navy chaplain learning the ropes in our parish. I was part of the set up team yesterday and spent a lovely afternoon messing about with flowers.

Sea Holly is a revelation. What an amazing plant. How did I never come across this before? Is it something you have seen growing anywhere?
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
I looked that one up, BL, and found I knew the plant , although the name was new to me. Not to others, heaps of references.. Easy to grow, likes hot weather, poor soil and can cope with little water. Sounds ideal.
 

---

Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
In the next installment of First World Problems I lost my footing on a bushwalk this afternoon and went sliding down a hill, tearing my (new) pants in the process. Oh well. It was a nice walk. I just need to take it slower next time.

My gardening consists of sweeping all the leaves that have fallen from the trees in the street and the one in the backyard. Not sure what type it is - it gets purple berries which delight in staining my white shirts should I forget and hang them under it on the line!

BL for your Godmother; and Many, Many Years to the deacon-now-priest.

And prayers for Madame 109 Barnabas.
 

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Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
So long as it was only the pants that were damaged, Ian.

I saw Sea Holly some years ago at Chelsea Flower Show, listed as an ornamental plant. There are a number of Eryngium varieties named Sea Holly and the one I saw was Miss Wilmot's Ghost, taller than other varieties and native to the Mediterranean or Eastern Europe. I see these plants in South African gardens from time to time but local gardeners often prefer indigenous plants to exotics.
 

---

Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by MaryLouise:
There are a number of Eryngium varieties named Sea Holly and the one I saw was Miss Wilmot's Ghost, taller than other varieties and native to the Mediterranean or Eastern Europe.

---

What a wonderful name for a plant.

The overnight low temperature is forecast to be 0c, but at least the next 3 days are forecast to be sunny, rather than the sea fog we have been enduring. I don't mind the cold or the rain, but fog is just depressing.

And I've mislaid the remote for one of the heat pumps

Huia
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Under the bed? Next to TV control? In cutlery drawer? Down back of lounge cushions?
 

---

Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
I wonder who Miss Wilmot was.

GG
 

---

Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
Don't just wonder; Google it

GG
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
More than the usual suburban gardener.

What a lot of work she did with plants.

Edited for over devotion to lots of vowels.

[ 13. May 2017, 10:07: Message edited by: Lothlorien ]
 

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Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
I am always inspired by women gardeners, especially those who wrote about plants and gardening: Gertrude Jekyll, Ellen Wilmott, Vita Sackville-West, Margery Fish who designed naturalistic woodland planting from the 1930s, more contemporary plantswomen like Beth Chatto with her gravel gardens. Mary Keen, Helen Dillon, Penelope Hobhouse, Rosemary Verey. And too many more to mention -- I still miss the Telegraph columns from the late Elspeth Thompson.

Out here in South Africa we had Eve Palmer who not only published books on trees and her gardening diary, but also a classic of farm life in The Plains of Camdeboo.

[ 13. May 2017, 10:53: Message edited by: MaryLouise ]
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Many years ago I first read about Georgiana Molloy in the book Australian Pioneer Women by Eve Pownall. She too gardened , raised a family, collected seeds to send to England and much more. Her first child died soon after birth and a son drowned. She took to observing plants and how they grew and were gardened and described by indigenous peoples as well as new colonists, in an effort to assuage her grief..

[ 13. May 2017, 11:38: Message edited by: Lothlorien ]
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
I'm feeling like an old lady. I picked a 6 litre slow cooker full of a very thick soup up from the floor with my back bent. Yes I did know better, but didn't stop to think. ACC, the state run injury insurance scheme often publishes figures of which sports cause the most injuries. I expect to see extreme soupmaking on the list any day now

Stupidity isn't a category, I suspect it would encompass too many of the claims.

Huia
 

---

Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Georgiana Molloy is new to me Lothlorien -- and what a character!

'Extreme soupmaking' made me laugh, Huia, but I do that sort of careless bending over and picking up heavy things too. I tried to lift up a crate of chopped firewood in the garage the other day (we have a woodburning stove in the kitchen)and it isn't just the heaviness of the object that causes problems, it is that I bend so awkwardly and put strain on the most vulnerable part of the back.

[ 14. May 2017, 04:42: Message edited by: MaryLouise ]
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Huia:
... extreme soupmaking ...

---

Love it!

I think it should become an Olympic sport!
 

---

Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
The English would win.

I must look up Beth Chatto - we are about to put in some gravel landscaping.
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
I will also enter Olympic extreme soup making. Five year old son came home from visiting his great aunt to tell me she had soup but from a tin. Did I know soup came in tins, mum?

In light of Mark Colvin's death last week, I have been reading his Light and Shadows, Memoirs of a Spy's Son. I bought it a couple of months ago but had not started it. A good read as it covers a period of recent history. I have written more in book thread in Heaven.
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
TP and I are both struggling with head colds....yesterday he made a thick soup loaded with garlic and celery tops, admittedly from a base of canned minestrone...but it was the perfect pick me up.

Yes, the English would be hard to beat in a soup off, even when handicapped!
 

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Posted by Jengie jon (# 273) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Banner Lady:

Yes, the English would be hard to beat in a soup off, even when handicapped!

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And you have not even seen the Scots entrant.

The congregation that holds my membership is largely Scots immigrants to England. Whereas in other English congregations people tended to have their own bakery goods (my Mum's were cheese scones), at this congregation people tended to have their soup. Therefore, when it was soup and sandwiches you chose your options by picking your soup makers. All soups were homemade.

Jengie
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Hoping that all those under the weather are being plied with copious amounts of hot soup and warm support. There are a number of clergy shippies especially in need of TLC at present. May you be back on deck soon - but not before you have made a full recovery.


 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
From my experience of clergy friends they are not good at self-care and often return to work [if they even allow themselves time off] far too soon!

Listen to Banner Lady and give yourselves time.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jengie jon:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Banner Lady:

Yes, the English would be hard to beat in a soup off, even when handicapped!

---

And you have not even seen the Scots entrant.

---

<waves trotter excitedly>

I'm here!

Soup-making (extreme or otherwise) has to be one of the most therapeutic things. My default soup is made of potatoes, onions, carrots and celery, with a couple of handfuls of pulses and home-made chicken stock, but you can make soup from anything.

D's definition of a good restaurant is one where they can make a soup that he likes out of ingredients that he doesn't (a notable example having been red pepper and aubergine).
 

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Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
D's definition of a good restaurant is one where they can make a soup that he likes out of ingredients that he doesn't (a notable example having been red pepper and aubergine).

---

Off to the quotes file with you!
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
I used to hide leftovers from such foods in completely new dishes, then listen to the compliments.
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Soup is always [always, always] better after it has sat for a day to allow the flavours to meld and mature so leftover soup is guaranteed to be better the next day.

The problem here is that it never gets the chance as we always eat it all on the first day!


 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
Soup is always [always, always] better after it has sat for a day to allow the flavours to meld and mature so leftover soup is guaranteed to be better the next day.

The problem here is that it never gets the chance as we always eat it all on the first day!

---

I usually make 5 litres, and as Georgie-Porgy doesn't partake there are left overs which are frozen into plastic pottles for future meals after a day in the fridge to let the flavours develop (and give me time to sort the pottles and the lids).

Today's effort is Kumara, Pumpkin and Peanut Soup. Which is sitting on the stove cooling down before I add the peanut butter and attack it with the stick blender. I was wondering why I hadn't made any soup with pumpkin in it for ages, then when it came to chopping and peeling the pumpkin ... I remembered. Extreme soup making calls for a creative approach, so I went outside and threw it on the concrete for the initial cut/break. (Then I recalled reading that partially cooking it in the microwave is the more civilized method )

If we have a fine day on Sunday I will take my large knife to the Market to be sharpened again. I was only charged $5 last time and a sharp knife is safer than a blunt one (the cut is cleaner so it's easier to sew amputated fingers back on).

According to ACC pumpkin is the vegetable associated with the most injuries people claim for, and injuries to people preparing avocadoes cost the country over $70,000 last year


Huia
 

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Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Any passing mention of soup turns a thread into a recipe thread. Huia, that sounds like a very good soup -- is kumara that orange-coloured sweet potato?

I make winter soups each week for a local soup kitchen and the most popular soup is not my cure-all chicken soup but a curried butternut soup with coconut cream and a topping of toasted coconut shavings and fresh coriander puree.
 

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Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
Those soups sound amazing...

All I can do is a vegetable affair. But it does keep me warm and happy so I should be content.
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
A lot of discontent around B1's workplace this week. She works in the Australian Taxation Office. TP commented today that things may be looking up for her career prospects....seems there may be a few openings at the top.......
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
MaryLouise - yes, NZ grows the original red as well as orange and golden kumara. I usually buy the orange as they're not as knobbly and are easier to peel.

Kumara

Ian - I cheat and use a recipe (sometimes x3 for volume) except for Mum's bacon hock soup where I use my memory of the recipe she followed.

Huia
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Yesterday I made a small amount of curried caulflower and onion soup. It wasn't cold here today but miserable and fairly dark. The soup was a good choice for lunch. I cheated and used a commercial korma paste.
 

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Posted by Dennis the Menace (# 11833) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
Soup is always [always, always] better after it has sat for a day to allow the flavours to meld and mature so leftover soup is guaranteed to be better the next day.

The problem here is that it never gets the chance as we always eat it all on the first day!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
Parsnips are fine in small quantities, but they do have a very strong flavour, which can overpower others.

My next venture into soup-making is going to be with fiddleheads - there's a stall selling them down the road from us and I bought a big bag yesterday. We were at a dinner-party a while back where we had fiddlehead soup and it was so delicious I decided I'd have a go once they came into season.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Huia:
... I bought 3 humungous leeks for $5, some freshly dug spuds ...

---

I can feel some more soup coming on ...
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Huia:
... I bought 3 humungous leeks for $5, some freshly dug spuds ...

---

I can feel some more soup coming on ...

---

Who? Me?

In other, totally unrelated news...The Bishop of Christchurch has announced that the decision on what is to be done about the earthquake wrecked Cathedral will be made at the Diocesan Synod in September. Given that an announcement was to be made before last Christmas, that the decision is affecting the rebuild plans of nearby developers and there is a well connected outside pressure group that wants total restoration of the building to its pre-quake condition,this will probably not be received well in the wider community.

Huia
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Great - let's pour a whole stack of money into making a mausoleum for nostalgia's sake. Then let's watch the white elephant moulder away until it is taken down by another catastrophe. Sounds like a plan. The same kind of plan that brought us Brexit and Trumpdom. Yay.

Is there still an active cathedral community, Huia?
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Yes. Scroll down here to see a small photo of the temporary Cathedral.

The trouble is that many people, even those with no affiliation to any religious group, have an emotional attachment to the building. I remember when the Visitors' Centre, where I volunteered for some years, was added there was a huge outcry because some felt in spoiled the Gothic effect of the building (which has a category 1 Historic Place listing). In addition ratepayers money was used for earthquake strengthening* so some feel they have a vested interest.

* Although this didn't save the building, it is thought to have saved lives in the 2011 quake, when, despite the damage, no one received a physical injury. (I am so grateful for this).

I parted ways from the Cathedral some years ago, but I was in there on Christmas Eve 2010 minding the Christmas tree where generations of Christchurch children left presents for those who might otherwise not have any.

Huia
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Dealing with my own cathedral disaster today. Some little darling(s) graffiti'd the side of my studio last night while TP and I were at Evensong. I wouldn't have minded so much if it had been even vaguely artistic graffiti - but no. They spray painted the word BLANK on the side facing the laneway in raggedy black and silver letters with two big X's inside the B.

I felt like marking it with a big red F for artistic effort.

I suppose I needed the exercise, and at least it is not too cold today...but I begrudged the two hours it took to get the gunk off.
And I have learned so much about cleaning products! (Need to get stuff with xylene in it).
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
May 24, Empire day. Now day and empire seem to have gone. A half holiday from school to prepare the bonfire and 5/- from my grandmother to buy fireworks or crackers as we called them. I could spend a lot of time choosing the best value for my money.

I also remember the night when a catherine wheel spun loose from the post it had been nailed to and cartwheeled into the shoe box of crackers of one of us.

The best part was afterwards where we would enjoy Mum's pea and ham soup and home made sausage rolls.

[ 23. May 2017, 23:38: Message edited by: Lothlorien ]
 

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Posted by Uncle Pete (# 10422) on :
 
"The 24th of May is the Queen's birthday
If you don't give us a holiday, we'll all run away!" -schoolyard chant.

On the last day before that auspicious date, we had a special assembly singing patriotic songs for Empire Day. And for some reason, The Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire attended to hand out New Testaments with Psalms to public school kids! My Jewish classmates loved this part. The IODE continues to this day on its sclerotic way.
 

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Posted by Dark Knight (# 9415) on :
 
In WA, the holiday is at the beginning of October.
I don't give a good God damn when Liz was born, but it's nice to have a public holiday in the second half of the year.
 

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Posted by Uncle Pete (# 10422) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dark Knight:
In WA, the holiday is at the beginning of October.
I don't give a good God damn when Liz was born, but it's nice to have a public holiday in the second half of the year.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lothlorien:
I used to hide leftovers from such foods in completely new dishes, then listen to the compliments.

---

We have a friend who doesn't like (?won't eat) pumpkin. So a friend cooked pumpkin pie for dessert and he had two helpings.

GG
 

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Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
I can understand that.

I do not like pumpkin, but love pumpkin soup.

 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by MaryLouise:

The Western Cape has been declared an official disaster area and emergency relief will be given as the drought and water shortage worsens. I keep waiting for the morning when we turn on the tap and no water comes out. On the other hand, I'm an expert at washing my grubby bits in a mugful of water and recycling the mugful as grey water for the blasted garden.

---

Things did not get that bad in the last long drought in the eastern states here, a decade ago now. Goulburn, a city roughly two thirds of the way from Sydney to Canberra very nearly ran out but hung in there. More recently there have been similar fears for Broken Hill, a town near the NSW/SA border, about 1000 km west from Sydney as the crow flies. So far, the taps haven't run dry there yet. A terrible position to be in, yet still governments talk of increasing the population..
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
We have had a little sporadic rain in the last week or so but we are desperate for next week for the onset of the monsoon, and for the kids to go back to school - but that is a whole other subject!
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Ooo...Oooo...I have found a new addiction. On line family tree research - very suck-in-able. Thirty years ago I had a go at putting a tree together and it was a nightmare of photocopied microfiche records and typed pages that didn't sync. Research was a bit hit and miss if you didn't have loads of cash to employ people. Now so many records are on-line and linked, that it is a breeze. Really enjoying seeing the automatic links come up where others have already done that bit.

It took me all of one night to go back 400 years and as far afield as China. And putting census records together with google maps meant that I could turn to the stately gent in the daguerreotype on my mantlepiece and tell him I had just had a virtual stroll down his street in Cornwall. Nice place. I wonder if he used to have a pint at The Fountain pub after work?
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Galloping Granny:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lothlorien:
I used to hide leftovers from such foods in completely new dishes, then listen to the compliments.

---

We have a friend who doesn't like (?won't eat) pumpkin. So a friend cooked pumpkin pie for dessert and he had two helpings.

GG

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Banner Lady:
Ooo...Oooo...I have found a new addiction. On line family tree research - very suck-in-able. Thirty years ago I had a go at putting a tree together and it was a nightmare of photocopied microfiche records and typed pages that didn't sync. Research was a bit hit and miss if you didn't have loads of cash to employ people. Now so many records are on-line and linked, that it is a breeze. Really enjoying seeing the automatic links come up where others have already done that bit.

It took me all of one night to go back 400 years and as far afield as China. And putting census records together with google maps meant that I could turn to the stately gent in the daguerreotype on my mantlepiece and tell him I had just had a virtual stroll down his street in Cornwall. Nice place. I wonder if he used to have a pint at The Fountain pub after work?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Huia:
One of my cousins on each side of the family has done an exhaustive family tree, so I don't feel any need to do a genealogy.

Huia

---

Same here, but on Dad's side the cousin was in Oamaru so although she did a lot in Dunedin I did the Wellington bits. In those days (30 years ago or more) you could do the Births Death etc, find what you wanted (no charge for looking) and pay for a photocopy; it seems that part of it is now much more expensive.

GG
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
I think it was at my dad's funeral [2006] that my brothers and I met a [now] elderly cousin who had been tasked by an even older cousin to complete his family research and told us [without much explanation] that he had come across some, what he called, disturbing information and decided that none of us really need or want to know!

We know we come from Huguenot stock and, realistically, that is enough.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Someone on D's side of the family has done a lot of research and got back as far as the sixteenth century, which is quite impressive.

Whenever we had Australian relatives visiting us back in the 1970s, they would usually come armed with lots of information about who they were looking for. One particular couple, who were - how shall I put it? - a bit holy, came with quite an elaborate family tree, but with gaps where there would have been anyone they didn't deem holy enough*.

* i.e. didn't subscribe to their particular brand of holiness

Piglet, who surely would have been deleted.
 

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Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 


My family tree if done by them would be holey rather than holy; a few skeletons in the recent past that only came to light after funerals.


Off today for a weekend away at Buchan in Victoria...almost now have got rid of 50 hours overtime by flex-days. Staying at a B&B and looking forward to exploring the caves, a bushwalk or two, and a nice cooked breakfast. Hope you all have a good weekend, and hope it rains across the Atlantic in SA soon.
 

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Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
Atlantic!?!? Indian Ocean, I think. I haven't had a coffee yet, if that is an excuse.
 

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Posted by RainbowGirl (# 18543) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
I think it was at my dad's funeral [2006] that my brothers and I met a [now] elderly cousin who had been tasked by an even older cousin to complete his family research and told us [without much explanation] that he had come across some, what he called, disturbing information and decided that none of us really need or want to know!

We know we come from Huguenot stock and, realistically, that is enough.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ian Climacus:
Atlantic!?!? Indian Ocean, I think. I haven't had a coffee yet, if that is an excuse.

---

Of course that is an excuse, Ian. One I use myself.
 

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Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
Our South Island cousin, our paternal family researcher, was contacted by a woman whose grandparent had been one of two children sired by our great-uncle Tom. Cousin knew members of this family and they had quite a fun reunion; the illegitimate daughter who'd made contact had always proudly given Tom's name as her father on legal documents. Tom had one legitimate son and four grandsons, of whom three were fascinated by the new information; the fourth said it must have been someone else of the same name.
A second cousin remembered great-uncle Tom, who used to visit his family, and who still gave the impression of being a bit of a lad.
Even more shocking for the upset grandson (if it even reached him) was a press cutting of the wayward young woman taking Tom to court for financial support. She claimed that he'd come with his sister to an arranged meeting and had pushed her to the ground. The magistrate found that a financial arrangement had already been made between the two families, that the young woman had a history of fainting, and ruled that there was no case to answer.
When family history is concerned, some of us have a good laugh and others go into denial.

GG
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I can't remember the exact details (even if I ever knew them) but I understand that the emigration to Australia of two of my great-aunts sometime around the time of the First World War was precipitated by an illegitimate birth.

I think the baby stayed in the UK and was brought up by her grandmother (my great-grandmother) as though she was one of her own children, but the mother and one of her sisters emigrated.

Anything to avoid a scandal, eh?
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
I felt really sorry for a young, married woman several generations back in my family tree. Her husband came on ahead to prepare a place for the family, and when she arrived she found he was living with another woman. ( My mother, who was the youngest in her family and 'protected' by them, wasn't told this until she was married with children herself).

My Aunt, who had a copy of her Grandfather's marriage certificate and the birth certificate of his son, laughed when she realised the son was born only a few months before the wedding because said Grandfather was always very 'proper' and censorial about anyone else's behaviour. Mum, probably because she had been so sheltered, was

Huia

[ 26. May 2017, 23:39: Message edited by: Huia ]
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Just had a conversation with one of my daughters who had never heard the term "common law wife".

Family trees do open up some interesting subjects!

Also had to explain to her why one of her great grandfathers, who was Chinese, would marry an English woman and not a Chinese one.

When I told her there were no Chinese women, because they were not allowed to emigrate here, she asked Why?

Therein followed a thumbnail explanation of the White Australia Policy, but she still could not grasp the past reality that if, as a Chinese Christian, he wanted to legally marry, he had to marry either a white or a native woman. Or a half-caste.

Nope, didn't understand what that was either. Makes me rather pleased we have moved this far in so few generations. Not fast enough for some, and still a long way to go with how we treat refugees...but it does give hope that things will not always be this way.
 

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Posted by Dal Segno (# 14673) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Huia:
In other, totally unrelated news...The Bishop of Christchurch has announced that the decision on what is to be done about the earthquake wrecked Cathedral will be made at the Diocesan Synod in September...and there is a well connected outside pressure group that wants total restoration of the building to its pre-quake condition,this will probably not be received well in the wider community.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Barnabas Aus:
...our mob...

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Barnabas Aus:
...our mob...

---

That is a perfect descriptor for my family!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Uncle Pete:
... "My dear, you know all the words, but you haven't the right cadence"

---

Or, as the late comedian Eric Morecambe put it, "I was playing the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order".
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Ah, but if you go back far enough, there is probably going to be a connection. Just not in the generation you first thought. At the moment I have lost one of my forebears completely. He was a 15 year old at home with his family in Penzance in the 1841 census and emigrated to Oz in 1858 with wife and child. But he is not listed anywhere in the 1851 UK census.

I am now rather mystified as to where he might have gone. Perhaps, as a joiner, he might have been a ship's carpenter for a while. Maybe he was out on a smuggling run!

The census records are quite fascinating in themselves as a snapshot of households in the 1840's. Particularly the lists of those in poorhouses and asylums. I am guessing that the church also supported widows who clubbed together to live - there are a few households that seem to be full of unrelated women of all ages. Given the dangers of working on the sea or down a mine, widowhood was not uncommon at any age.

Unless these are covens or cathouses! I am also guessing that the group houses along places like Market St could be taverns or fish shops or whatever other enterprises were operating along the town foreshores of the time. So guesswork is part of the sleuthing. Sometimes it's right and sometimes not, but a considered guess can still lead down fascinating paths.
 

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Posted by John Holding (# 158) on :
 
Please remember also that among the farm laborers and that class in England at least, spelling of family names is anything but reliable, depending on the accent of the person registering the name and the wit of the person registering it, especially in the days when the parish clerk did it.

My late uncle managed to work out a family tree for his father's family in Devon, back to sometime in the 1560s. Many or most of them would have been illiterate until at least the mid 1800s. In no two successive generations was the family name spelt the same. I grant you it's not like Smith or Black, but still...

In fact in my own great-grandfather's family (two sets of children by successive wives), the name was spelt one way for two children (of four) by his first wife, and for three children (of five) by his second, and a different way for the rest. And he was certainly not illiterate.

Just don't take too much for granted.

John
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Yes, I was puzzled by one person being listed with the surname Hanes in one register and same person as Hawes in another until I realised that in handwritten records it would not be difficult to mistake an N for a W. Or vice versa. I have no idea which is correct now. And I am aware of the plethora of spelling anomalies, and happily disregard vowels, plurals and double letters. Though I still smile when they are listed as "Henery" & "Mertha". I am guessing that is pretty close to how the occupant of the household described their names to the census man!

One thing that seems to have tripped up a lot of others working on this particular branch is assuming that "Christian" is always a male name. My lot seem to have used it only for female children, as the census records clearly show. And I do feel sorry for the poor little tot baptized "Triphena. " I wonder how that went down in a fishing village!
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Wow! I have just heard Bishop Victoria Matthews interviewed on the radio about the future of the Cathedral. Apparently it was part of a longer interview which will be posted online later. She questioned spending millions of dollars on a building when there are so many people in pain. Suicide has increased alarmingly since the quakes and there is strong evidence of a growing mental health crisis.

I think some of her response is because the government has offered a loan of millions to the Church and she is saying it would be better spent on mental health.

I'll try to find it on the RNZ website because I need to hear it again, but what I heard impressed me.
Checkpoint interview

Huia
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Good on her - probably there are many more who need help than attend the Cathedral on any sort of regular basis. I appreciate the symbolism that a rebuilt Cathedral would bring, but a less expensive version and use the balance elsewhere may be the way to go.

[ 29. May 2017, 07:51: Message edited by: Gee D ]
 

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Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
This was my take on it – Joe Bennett had referred to an article in the Sunday paper, which I don't get.

The Christchurch cathedral formed the centrepiece of a city that was to reproduce the society that the settlers left behind in the Old Country: Anglican, where everyone knew their place and all worshipped in a Gothic cathedral every Sunday.

The society that has developed in the intervening years is very different, and an imitation Gothic cathedral does not symbolise the culture of the 21st century. One wonders how many of the people who are so determined to have it restored would be regular worshipers.

It grieves me to think of the glorious churches that have been built in other countries in the last century, as well as on a smaller scale in New Zealand, while we are offered a rebuild of a structure that doesn't belong in this place and time.

GG
 

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Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
I should have said – I sent this to the DomPost. They print about one in seven of what I send them.

GG
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Lovely surprise packet in the mail this week with a photo in it of one of my great grandmothers. Only ever knew her by name and did not know a photo of her existed. It is interesting how much one can tell from a photo. She was caught in mid stride, erect as a ramrod and with a bag clamped firmly under her elbow. She is looking purposefully ahead.

Not to be messed with, I suspect! My old mum told me yesterday that her father did not get along with his wife's mother at all. But then that is the lot for most mother-in-laws I know.

Anyway, I enjoyed getting the photo immensely - and probably moreso because it was not a posed shot.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
I had a great aunt who sounds similar. Her back never touched the back of the dining chair she sat on, never a lounge chairs and she stood very straight. A person of very definite views which she was good at promoting.The last on her side of the family, Alberta. There was an Albert in each generation but as she appeared to be the last, she became Alberta, which she hated. Late in life she changed it to something very different.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Yay, tomorrow I'm off to the West Coast for the day. A friend has work over there so I am hitching a ride. The forecast is for sunny weather and no rain which isn't bad for an area that had 18 metres of rain one year (the average being only 14 metres).

Hoki is my favourite small town and a walk along the beach with its crashing surf will blow away the cobwebs.

I'm also hoping to see some keas at Arthurs Pass, but numbers ate dwindling a bit

Huia
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Safe travels, Huia, and have a great time!
 

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Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
Who remembers the days of he street photographers? They were a part of a trip into the city; they stood on the footpath and snapped you as you approached, and I think they'd take one or two more if you were in the mood. Then you had to be able to go into the shop next trip to town to look at proofs and hopefully order one or two.
I know there were one or two among our family archives but I don't know of whom or where they were taken.

GG
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Yes, GG I remember as a child that i hoped they would not step out in front of me. I hated having my photo taken. There was a small space between two buildings in Market Street in Sydney city. Just over the road from our hairdresser. A photographer kept his equipment there and would pop out unexpectedly.

I have a couple of photos of my mum from that era and some others of other members of the family. One of mum in particular was a superb photo, could hardly have been bettered in a studio.

I find them interesting now as they give some idea of every day "good" clothes and fashions. Shoes and bags too, and all the womenb wore hats to town.
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Yes indeed. Great grandmama was a dressmaker, so the dress is quite something, with a scarfed neckline, and a contrasting cloche hat. It's a black and white photo, and she is past middle age, but clearly took care in what she wore. Unfortunately it is just a grainy photocopy of an old snapshot, so I won't be framing it. But fascinating nevertheless. The old daguerrotype on my mantel is of my father's great great grandsire. Dark jacket, dark cravat and white wescott...he is sitting in a chair, posed like a gentleman. In real life he was a carpenter and cabinet maker, and the rather large ruddy nose and his girth suggests he liked a pint or two.

I just hope my kids don't toss the lot into the recycling bin when I go.
 

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Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
Happy travels Huia!

Hadn't heard of street photographers...

Took a walk along the Kiewa River this morning [dr told me I'm Vitamin D deficient and need to get out more - when it's 0C in the morning before work I don't feel like it!], near my manager's house, and who should I bump into when getting out the car but him, his 2 kids and dog. Walked with them for a while.

13C now, but warm in the sun. Off to sweep the leaves...the trees around me are almost bare.
 

---

Posted by Evangeline (# 7002) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dal Segno:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Huia:
In other, totally unrelated news...The Bishop of Christchurch has announced that the decision on what is to be done about the earthquake wrecked Cathedral will be made at the Diocesan Synod in September...and there is a well connected outside pressure group that wants total restoration of the building to its pre-quake condition,this will probably not be received well in the wider community.

---

Why oh why rebuild a building that is a not particularly exciting copy of hundreds of buildings across Europe. Why not build something new and striking and exciting and noteworthy. Sydney Opera House is an icon because it is exciting in a way it would not be if it were a facsimile of European opera houses.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Evangeline:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dal Segno:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Huia:
In other, totally unrelated news...The Bishop of Christchurch has announced that the decision on what is to be done about the earthquake wrecked Cathedral will be made at the Diocesan Synod in September...and there is a well connected outside pressure group that wants total restoration of the building to its pre-quake condition,this will probably not be received well in the wider community.

---

Why oh why rebuild a building that is a not particularly exciting copy of hundreds of buildings across Europe. Why not build something new and striking and exciting and noteworthy. Sydney Opera House is an icon because it is exciting in a way it would not be if it were a facsimile of European opera houses.

---

Because it is/was part of the history of the city and of the antipodes. I appreciate that it might not be the best thing to do to rebuild what was there before but I believe we need to acknowledge that the Cathedral in Christchurch was a much loved and significant piece of architecture and respect that, even if ultimately it is decided to build a more economically sensible and earthquake resistant structure.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zappa:
Here's a good piece on the subject

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by MaryLouise:
And in the southern hemisphere it would probably be much healthier for us to wear hats and gloves as well as sunbloc!

Severe winter storms battering the Cape, trees down, roofing blown off, flooded roads and hundreds homeless an sheltering in community halls -- wildfires caused by lightning causing havoc in Knysna and eight dead so far. Much needed rain but accompanied by really destructive weather conditions.

---

Just saw this on news. Prayers for all, it certainly looked violent.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
It looks and sounds awful - for all there

[ 08. June 2017, 12:17: Message edited by: Welease Woderwick ]
 

---

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by MaryLouise:
Much needed rain but accompanied by really destructive weather conditions.

---

And isn't that so often the way, "nature, red in tooth and claw"?

Thoughts and prayers ... my FB connections in your area are keeping me up to date
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
{{MaryLouise and everyone in the Southern Cape}}


 

---

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Thoughts and prayers especially with the people of Kynsna,on the South African south coasts, where people have lost lives in the fires
 

---

Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Back on line briefly, we have cables down in my neighborhood. Thanks for the thoughts and prayers, this has been a horrible week. Latest news is large numbers missing as more than 4 000 people have been displaced along the Knysna fireline, homes destroyed, destruction of forests, a young volunteer firefighter dead.

And down in the Cape so many homeless and sheltering in community halls, snow falling on the Cape mountains, the elderly and babies sick, low-lying areas still flooded. Collecting blankets and tinned foods to take to shelters, but so much more is needed in terms of infrastructure, upliftment and municipal services, a better co-ordinated emergency response.
 

---

Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 

 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
from here, too.
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Compass, Channel 2 next Saturday, 6:00 pm is on Father Rod Bower from Gosford Anglican. Episode titled This troublesome priest. On ivew from day after. Download app if needed for iview.
 

---

Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Moderate quake last night. Probably too small to cause damage but, before I checked, enough to make me wonder if it was a bigger one elsewhere - it wasn't. I'm a bit jumpy since the Kaikoura one last year that caused me to evacuate due to a possible tsunami. I hope it didn't disturb visiting Lions or their supporters too much. Mind you if they were outside at an after-match function they may just have put it down to the beverages consumed.

Huia
 

---

Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
Huia and those in quake-prone regions.
ML and those impacted by horrific weather and fires.
 

---

Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Prayer much needed here -- the fireline still extends more than 100km between Sedgefield and Plettenberg Bay. More emergency personnel and firefighters brought in, helicopters waterbombing inaccessible ares. Emergency food and medical supplies arriving, donations pouring in to vetted Knysna Disaster Relief organisations. But until the fires are put out, nothing can be done and the bigger picture showing the scale of the disaster won't emerge.

Huia, I'm glad the quake was just moderate. Right now with blustery winds and snow on the mountains, I'm watching the weather quite nervously.
 

---

Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Bishop Kay Goldsworthy has been awarded an AO in today's Honours List. Congratulations to her, but given that a dressmaker was awarded an AC, Bp Kay should have been awarded that.
 

---

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
I've met her occasionally - she left my almer mater the year before I started. I've been impressed by her integrity over the years, and think it's a fine award for her. Will she be ++ Perth, though?
 

---

Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
I suspect not, bearing in mind one of the Assistant Bishops there - but she's well qualified for it.
 

---

Posted by rexory (# 4708) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zappa:
I've met her occasionally - she left my almer mater the year before I started. I've been impressed by her integrity over the years, and think it's a fine award for her. Will she be ++ Perth, though?

---

I'm sure she's too smart to take on such a poisoned chalice!
 

---

Posted by Clarence (# 9491) on :
 
It's a couple of weeks in, but I'm finally catching up on iView with David Stratton's Stories of Australian Cinema . It's a rather marvellous perspective on Australia, its culture and its maturing film industry. Highly recommend it!
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Fr Rod Bower was elsewhere saying the parish of Gosford has a history of troublesome priests active in indigenous affairs etc. Compass tonight on Channel 2 at 6:00 pm explores the current troublesome priest.

[ 16. June 2017, 23:50: Message edited by: Lothlorien ]
 

---

Posted by Barnabas Aus (# 15869) on :
 
Here we are only two days from the winter solstice and the dashboard readout at lunchtime today was 24degC. Climate change anyone?
 

---

Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
You can send it down here. Birds doing it tough this week with so many birdbaths frozen solid...
 

---

Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
I went up to Newcastle, well, just north at Port Stephens but few people here know where that is so I say Newcastle...anyway...went up there over the weekend and it was pleasantly warm compared to life on the Murray. My parents complained at how cold it was; it felt like an early spring to me.

Thanks for the TV recommendations too...perfect viewing for the cool winter nights.
 

---

Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
TP & I took refuge from the fog and frost at the cinema today...I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the script writing in Wonder Woman. Far exceeded my expectations (which admittedly were rather low) and without thinking too much about immortal beings dying, ethnic minorities black marketeering in the middle of no man's land and Remus Lupin becoming Ares... I thoroughly enjoyed it. Great bit of escapism and some interesting myth weaving.

Nothing like a bit of midwinter to make one appreciate the Marvel Universe.
 

---

Posted by Dark Knight (# 9415) on :
 
Yo, Australia.
My mate AwkwardAnglican may be down here soon. Make them feel welcome, yeah? You all being sweethearts and all ...
 

---

Posted by AwkwardAnglican (# 18802) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dark Knight:
Yo, Australia.
My mate AwkwardAnglican may be down here soon. Make them feel welcome, yeah? You all being sweethearts and all ...

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Banner Lady:
You do realise we are welcoming AA on the winter solstice. Google informs me this will occur at exactly 2.24pm Eastern Australian time this afternoon.

I shall toast some marshmallows to celebrate that the sun will be up for longer each day from now on. TP informs me it is only a few seconds each day until the equinox in September, but the little flower in my soul will grasp at any thought of more sunshine in the day right now.

BL...dreaming of warm sunshine....

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by MaryLouise:
Freezing cold here in South Africa despite sunshine, aloes flowering red and bright yellow. Magnificent sunrises. I'm up to see them because I have so much writing/editing work on my desk (not a complaint).

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by AwkwardAnglican:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dark Knight:
Yo, Australia.
My mate AwkwardAnglican may be down here soon. Make them feel welcome, yeah? You all being sweethearts and all ...

---

Naw, you're making me even more awkward.

---

Hey, bro, wassup?
 

---

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
(oh, hosts, should I have offered a translation for that /\ ? )
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
The hosts here in AS are magnanimous and forgiving...

...sometimes.


 

---

Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Hi, GeeD. I'm not sure how to answer that and haven't really wanted to post on it because there's no good news. The (mostly white) owners of beach houses and suburban homes are probably waiting for insurance payouts and hoping smaller insurance companies don't go bankrupt. Those in disadvantaged communities (RDP housing) may be hoping municipal or government authorities help with rebuilding housing. Those from informal settlements are probably scrounging around for pieces of corrugated iron and cardboard in order to put up new shacks. Many are still squatting in community halls. And we're in mid-winter.

South Africa's a very hard country for most people to survive in and the lack of infra-structure means that charitable donations and goodwill don't go very far. It's both First World and developing world rolled up into one and last week it was revealed that because of chronic unemployment, more than 17-million South African are dependent on paltry social grants. Natural disasters just leave people much, much worse off.
 

---

Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Not good news at all. I suppose that many of the residents can just get by on their day-to-day expenses, but something like this is too far beyond them. Probably so far beyond them that they are dispirited to the extent that thinking about what they can do is out.

Many of the South Pacific Islands are in a different category. There's no money, but by the same token there's ample food for all and you don't see people without food or the sort of basic shelter that has done them for centuries. It is basic, but come a cyclone, the house gets blown over but rebuilding is a community activity and gets done.

[ 22. June 2017, 06:40: Message edited by: Gee D ]
 

---

Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Well, there's no shortage of ingenuity or resolve in informal settlements, but soils are poor and water is in short supply so growing your own food isn't feasible in most places, more sophisticated or durable building materials are unavailable, there is limited access to running water or electricity or municipal services or healthcare. And these settlements aren't co-operative 'communities' as such -- they have serious problems with gangsterism, xenophobia, gender violence and drug-fuelled anti-social behaviour.

This is an example of what I'm talking about: Hellish Blikkiesdorp
 

---

Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
That is real poverty indeed. The islanders I was referring to have no money but they are not in that sort of poverty at all. Of course, we've not been to Fiji since the coups, but beforehand it was a very pleasant place for a winter holiday - warm, close and welcoming to tourists. No beggars on the streets then, and as I said, no-one looked to be underfed. Certainly not the crime referred to in this article and I doubt that that has changed.
 

---

Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Huia:
GG, I wonder if that is a Stephen's Island kowhai? They start flowering in winter, and flower for longer, than most of the others. Also, initially at least, they grow more horizontally than vertically. I used to have one, but mow have only the smaller one with twisted branches.

Huia

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Gee D:
we've not been to Fiji since the coups

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zappa:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Gee D:
we've not been to Fiji since the coups

---

Kuruman is there at this very moment

---

I don't want to sound holier-than-thou, but we decided that after the coups we'd no sooner go there than to South Africa.
 

---

Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
I hope that whenever you get to the operating table, all goes well.
 

---

Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
GG, I hope he recovers soon and the operation happens soon.

We had swallows doing acrobatics in the air over the street again when I came home today. I'd been feeling a bit blue and they broke my mood so I was really grateful to them.


Huia
 

---

Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Lovely to see swallows doing their figures of eight!

And GG I hope that op is rescheduled soon.

Call from a close friend to say her daughter's partner has had a severe manic episode and has been hospitalised. I've wondered what was wrong and why she couldn't talk about her daughter or stress levels in recent weeks, thought she might have had depression herself. No, it was all about confidentiality and shame. If the partner had hurt himself physically, I would have had blow-by-blow accounts. But because he has been diagnosed as acutely bipolar, everything is being hushed up and only a handful of people 'know', all of whom are minimising and telling each other it was just one outbreak and once his meds are 'tweaked' he will be fine. His stigmatised condition is to be hidden away -- his mother doesn't believe it is anything more than an 'emotional upset' and she doesn't want malicious gossip.

In reality, he tried to destroy a city apartment and the police were called. He threatened his professor at the university and has been asked to take a break from his course. He gave away large sums of money to friends and the friends are being asked (tactfully) to return the money. Etc, etc. His parents are paying for psychiatric care (they fired a psychiatrist who told them something they didn't want to hear), begging my friend's daughter to marry the partner and start a family so as to give him something to live for.

I know this is what happens, I've been through something similar in my own family. But between the secrecy, denial and determination to put everything right all at once, the situation is just spiralling out of control. And the bipolar patient is incarcerated in a private clinic, manic, sleepless and has no idea what has been going on. He thinks he is saving his friends from the apocalypse. My friend's daughter is furious at his behaviour, frightened by this weird stranger inside him, and determined to save him from himself even if it means sacrificing her own career to nurse him for as long as it takes. His family thinks she is wonderful; her mother wants to get her away from all of them.

Sorry for the long post, it felt very cathartic to write this down in a safe place.
 

---

Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Prayers for you and your friends...navigating bipolarism is like learning to dance along the top of a chasm while juggling meds, hormones, energy, memory and moods at the same time. And once diagnosed it is a dance that has no end. I spent the afternoon talking to a similar young sufferer going through a black period. May the young man find and hold the light and hope he needs to get through this season.


 

---

Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
Thanks for kind thoughts, and – oh, MaryLouise, didI think I had troubles? My thoughts are with that troubled family right now, and with their friends like you who are distressed and helpless.

GG
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
{{{GG and ML}}}

Prayers ascending for both of you (and ML's friend and his family) from over here.
 

---

Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Many thanks for the support and prayers Banner Lady, GG and Piglet.

Still reeling from that conversation and subsequent disclosures about manic excesses, when I clicked on Facebook and saw that an old friend I knew at school is dying of advanced inoperable cancer, only discovered when she collapsed at an airport and was rushed to hospital. A horrible shock and this seems to me to be one of the more 'unbuffered' aspects of social media, the unexpected posts and how to respond in a form of media designed for fluffy light Likes and smilies. I emailed and sent private messages -- again feeling helpless and unsure what to say.

A small comfort to see snowdrops (leucojems) and clumps of the white paper narcissus are coming up and about to flower despite the drought and harsh dry winter.
 

---

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
, MaryLouise
 

---

Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
MaryLouise

I'm not on FB, but I can understand the disconnect between the medium and the message. It would be a difficult way to discover bad news.

I hope the young man gets some good medical help.

Huia
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
My sister is house sitting for my niece while she is away. Before she left, niece's two dogs escaped their enclosure. The female returned but the male has been missing for some weeks. A very bushy area near the Hawkwsbury on top of the ridge. Yesterday a man told my sister that there was a dog barking in the bush near his place, miles from my niece's. It was Curtis who was very glad to see her indeed. Living rough and he had lost a lot of weight.

Home to a smallish meal. She will give him several small meals through the day, so as not to overload the system.

Unfortunately it will be a while before my niece gets the good news. Two years ago she went on riding and photographic safari to two African countries. She has just arrived in Botswana and is riding totally away from phone or net access. A couple of weeks there and then she goes to Zambia. Hopefully she will be in some contact soon. Last year she went with the same company which is run by a friend to Argentina and Patagonia. Lots of polo coaching by Argentinean team.
 

---

Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Few things are more worrying than missing pets, Lothlorien: good to know Curtis is back! And those horse-riding adventures are the best way to see the wilderness. I did a horse trek in the Okavango Delta (Botswana) when I was in my early 20s and loved it.

Poor Z still manic and sleepless in the clinic, meds not helping. He has lost so much weight, none of his clothes fit. And his parents have gone from minimising ('Just a phase he's going through, he needs to pull himself together') to 'All of This is All our Fault, We Failed Him as Parents'. Even less helpful, if understandable.
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
She loves riding and photos fropm Patagonia show trails along knife edge ridhes of mopuntains foillowed by sure footed ponies. She has two polo ponies of her own and has just bought a smaller horse to learn camp drafting.

Will send PM.
 

---

Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
ML - so scary for all involved. Even more heartbreaking is that the sufferers are often wonderful brilliant people when right minded, and so totally lost when the pendulum swings the other way. It takes such a lot out of all those trying to be supportive - may the pendulum swing back soon, and all those crafting his care regime be given great wisdom.
 

---

Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
ML - prayers from us for the young man, his family and supporters and for your long-term friend.
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
I hope Banner Lady has some cosy blankets. I see Canberra has a forecast of -7 overnight tonight.
 

---

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lothlorien:
-7

---

I remember those sorts of temperature from Orange. Dear God I don't know how I survived. Anything under 30 is risky (night time I can survive down to 20C)!
 

---

Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
I don't remember even having -7 forecast as an overnight temperature here though if it meant a sunny day afterwards, albeit at a low temperature, it might be OK. I find the lack of sunlight more difficult than the low temperature, as if it's cold I pile on warm clothing, turn up the heat pump, snuggle with the fat'n'fluffy one.

My power bill might be a bit steep though.

Huia
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I'm with you Huia - you can always add an extra layer or a blanket when it's cold, but when it's hot there's a limit to what you can take off.
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
I just saw an official photo from Rural Fire Service. It showed a fire hose dispensing a slushy. It also said ground temeprature at Bungendore when picture was taken was -15. Back to bed, Banner Lady, and hope Vulpior and Orfeo are somewhere near some heat.
 

---

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
I'm with you Huia - you can always add an extra layer or a blanket when it's cold, but when it's hot there's a limit to what you can take off.

---

To a point. It was just on 1C this morning. I was wearing seven layers (down to five now because its 11) including multiple thermals. Mobility becomes something of an issue. My feet (two pairs of socks plus shoes) have still not warmed up.

At 45C I wear just one layer!
 

---

Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Spare us if the temp goes any higher then.
 

---

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 

 

---

Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
Ah yes, Zappa, mobility. It is 3 degrees C indoors and about 7 degrees C outdoors. I've got on socks, sheepskin slippers, kneewarmers, leggings, layers and layers of vests and sweaters, all topped with a thick stripy blanket poncho that makes me look like a circus tent. If I waddle out into the garden, I shall have to start unlayering and then dress again when I get back indoors. So I am just staying put on the sofa.

Unheated houses in supposedly hot countries.
 

---

Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Heh. Currently snuggled up in front of a toasty fire. Mum
's 99th birthday dawned with a -8.7 and the birdbaths remained frozen solid all day.

Spare a thought for the Townsville Cowboys who are playing the Raiders in Canberra tonight. Expected to be -3 at kick-off and -6 by final siren. If they win it will be because they didn't dare stop running in case they froze solid. At the beginning of the season the Raiders played the Cowboys in Townsville in 30 degree heat. The beginning of a long losing streak for the Canberra Raiders - maybe tonight it will be the dish of revenge that is best served cold. (Very cold).

So glad I am not a football goer. Cannot imagine being out in the weather tonight. BRRR indeed.

Mum, however, has sailed through the day and looks likely to be going a while yet. Guess I may have to begin planning the big 100 soon.
 

---

Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Happy birthday to your mother - time to start organising the telegram (done though your local MP). My Father was too ill for his last year, so we made a grand occasion for 101.
 

---

Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
There's a Lions vs All Blacks game on tonight in Wellington. MetService says, "Rain with an All Blacks victory hopefully developing tonight."

Lions fans say , "It's just like home" and were shown on TV complete with brollies. The field will be a mud pool by the time they finish.

Unpatriotically I hope the Lions win - those fans deserve something for coming so far to sit in the rain.

That's a lot of layers Zappa - think 4 is the most I wear and that includes a possum and merino beanie, with a thin merino one under it if the temperature is in negative numbers with a high wind chill factor.

Winter must be a real challenge for you.

Huia
 

---

Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
The Cowboys won, and I hope they had hot steam baths awaiting afterwards.

So cold this morning that the vestry pipes were frozen. I was sacristanning and couldn't wash up the silverware. I figured any germs and lurgies would be hard put to survive anyway. The priest flinched visibly at the hand washing. Yes, the water in the carafe was very very cold.

Church in the Canberra midwinter is only for the very dedicated, very desperate or totally insane.
 

---

Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
Apparently the Lions beat the All Blacks. I don't know who won the first test.
A small curly headed boy with a huge smile, holding hands with a Granddad on one side and a Grandma on the other, approached me as I was about to go into church. As I came up to them the wee boy had to tell me in the most excited voice imaginable, ' I'm going to have a birthday party!!!' 'What fun', I said,'How old are you?' 'Three!' and they went on their way, with the joy still shining on the small face.
Very heart-warming.
GG
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Galloping Granny:
Apparently the Lions beat the All Blacks ...

---

Wow!
 

---

Posted by Kittyville (# 16106) on :
 
And I was there to see it! Oh happy day, indeed.
 

---

Posted by rexory (# 4708) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Banner Lady:
The priest flinched visibly at the hand washing. Yes, the water in the carafe was very very cold.

---

My beloved makes sure that there's warm water for lavabo

[ 02. July 2017, 10:42: Message edited by: rexory ]
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Friend near Boorowa posted photo of ice from dripping tap. -10 at 10 this morning
 

---

Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Colder in Canberra the last two mornings than in Thredbo (high country ski central in these parts).

The world I woke up to this morning is very very white. No snow. Just very thick frost everywhere. Bird bath has not unfrozen for 3 days straight.
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Two separate layers of cloud are moving in here from the west and the day has an unpleasant chill to it. It went down here to 2 last night. Inner west of Sydney. Not normally anyhwere near as low as that here. But also not normally 45 in summer as we had last summer, several times. The times, they are a-changing.
 

---

Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Just very grateful the grandchildren have moved out and we have the luxury of being able to change in front of the fire. A most miserable TP emerged from his midday siesta time yesterday, declaring it was "too cold to read" in the bedroom, despite having some heating on. HIs fingers were struggling to hold the book! We inhabit the warm centre of the house during the day although I also have the heating cranked up in my studio. The back of the house has high ceilings and is wonderfully cool in summer - but not the right place for winter resting.

I will be spending my usual Monday at the nursing home, where it will definitely be warm enough. Doesn't seem to be worrying the cockatoos though - they are everywhere. When I drove to church early yesterday there were two entire streets full of them feeding on the nature strips. It was like playing dodgems and I was lucky not to collect any - two very near misses. Silly galahs.
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Be careful changing in front of fire. For many years we had a Norwegian box heater, slow combustion. It had raised decorations, pine forests, foxes, wood cabins etc.

It burned day and night in combined dining and loiunge rooms and was marvellous. Dried washing, warmed boys' pyjamas etc.

I repeatedly told sons not to get too close, but one of them branded himself with a fox brand. Bare bum, bent over to put PJ pants on and connected with very hot surface. It healed OK but it took him a long time to live it down. I think he was about six at the time.

[ 03. July 2017, 02:32: Message edited by: Lothlorien ]
 

---

Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
BL, a local publisher decided to revive the kids' Annual of old times – but they roped in a whole gallery of our top kids/young adults' authors, artists etc. I can't wait for next year's!
The big success for my grandkids was the board game 'The Naked Grandmother'. If you landed on the square in which 'you accidentally saw you grandmother naked' you were out of the game.

I've had the heat pump on for much of the day. draped on a coffee table in front of it are the woollen socks and two merino singlets; cottons go in the tumble dryer. I dread the arrival of the winter power bills.

GG
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
GG, have you seen the electric throw rugs? My sister lives on north coast, on top of a windy cliff right on water . Her heating is from the big bottles of gas which also power her stove. The first year she was there, she used her gas heater which gobbled up a big bottle in next to no time. Now she uses one of the electric throw rugs over her on lounge. Much less money used. OK, it won't dry clothes, but they just take longer. At least she is warm. Something like this. prices both higher and lower than this one.
 

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Posted by Barnabas Aus (# 15869) on :
 
My wife has an electric throw rug which gives tremendous relief of her severe arthritis. It is a great blessing on winter nights like the few recent ones.
 

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Posted by MaryLouise (# 18697) on :
 
An electric throw rug is like an electric blanket then? I might look out for one here.
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Yes, they have them on sale sometimes in auto shops as you can get ones that plug in to your car socket. I have also seen "American style" electric blankets in bedding shops - apparently electric blankets are usually put on top of the bed in the US rather than between the sheet and the mattress. Someone may be along to reject or verify this but that is what I have been told.

As for naked grandmothers...what on earth makes you think we get down to bare skin except in the bathroom? Thank God for whoever invented the Tastic.

Birdbath was not frozen this morning. TP is hoping for rain, but I fear he will be disappointed yet again.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Yes, like an electric blanket but not as large. It goes over anything, unlike an electric blanket which is under all bedding on top of the mattress. Mine has a removable electrical fitting so it can be washed if needed. Great over legs when sitting at computer desk or lounge while reading. Mine has nine settings and the feeling of spreading warmth as it heats up is just wonderful.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
As I recall, the electric blanket on my parents' bed was an "overblanket" - i.e. it lay somewhere between the top sheet and the bedspread, and was left on all night (presumably on a fairly low heat). I don't know if they had any other blankets in between.

My own experience of electric blankets is all of the under-the-lower-sheet variety that you switch off (assuming you remember ) before you fall asleep.

When our blanket (inherited from my grandmother) went fairly spectacularly phut (with a flash of light and a bang ) we bought a fleecy under-blanket (not electric) which was reputed to keep the bed warm in winter and cool in summer. We still have it (after about 15 years) and I have to say, it does work.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :