Thinking of Mrs Dr Curly. I hope a relaxing weekend will help.
There are some bitterly disappointed children in my street as the snow fell deeply on the hills, but there was only a light scattering on the ground here at sea level, although the wind chill factor meant temperatures were around -1 to 6C. I hadn't realised before that thunder can accompany snow. On Wednesday night I though the nearby shipping containers had fallen to the ground and was glad I didn't have my hearing aids in.
It was sunny today, but the wind was from the Southeast
still very cold. I had 4 layers of clothing on this morning, but warmed up through the day.
Today's high was 12C tomorrow's is 17 and Monday's is 20, so at least it's getting warmer.
There was a huge clap of thundersnow in Edinburgh one night last winter; I was too far away in Linlithgow to hear it, but it was widely reported, and apparently quite spectacular.
I am wondering how our South African shipmates are doing? I just had this (extract from an e-mail) from my sister in Benoni:
Our skies at the moment are full of dust, waiting for rain, and also dust and horrible stuff from the Tonga volcano so only the brightest objects are visible at night. The grass is dry and crispy and not green as it should be in October. We have stage 3 power cuts and stage 2 water restrictions not due to the lack of water but because the power cuts play havoc with the pumps to the water towers. The reservoirs are about the level they should be at the end of Winter but please send someone to fix our power stations!! We have to get out of this place!!!
They only have a satellite phone at home, because the copper wires for land lines are stolen too often to be worth replacing. Is it any better in other places? I really, badly, want to go back there for another visit, but this is not encouraging.
It depends what you're watching. The Met Office website showed a lower max I don't remember the details) than the day's report in the TV news. I think it just means they take their figures from a different part of the city.
23c here today. I knew the forecast looked good, but I didn't realise it would be that good. I had to search out summery clothes. I was going to stay home and sort out the recycling, but that can wait. I went to the Library instead.
There were some very helpful librarians on duty who helped me track down a couple of history books I wanted. Next year a new history curriculum will be introduced in to all levels of schooling here. As I understand it there will be a greater emphasis on the effects of colonisation and Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi), which was signed in 1840 and is New Zealand's founding document.
Obviously All Saints isn't the board for this, and I don't think there would be sufficient interest for a separate thread, but if anyone is interested there is an article on the website of the Museum of New Zealand/ Te Papa Tongrewa entitled Two parties, Two Understandings: What Does The treaty of Waitangi mean? that encapsulates it far better than I could ever hope to.
As to coping with the rain - today it's more the cold. At present it's barely 19, but was and seemed much colder this morning.
It was bloody cold this morning; needed a jumper which I regretted after spending a few hours in (heated) ED at local Big Hospital…thankfully friend discharged home
We went to early church, and were clad much as we would have been in June. It not feel as if the heating had been turned on. Then an overlong sermon made it seem even colder.
I am usually in shorts and summerweight trousers and shirts by the Eight-Hour Day holiday, but am still in corduroys, winterweight shirts and sleeveless fleece today, and have been so every day.
I am usually in shorts and summerweight trousers and shirts by the Eight-Hour Day holiday, but am still in corduroys, winterweight shirts and sleeveless fleece today, and have been so every day.
Me too! We still need the gas heater on low for an hour or two each night as well as our house is a cool one even in summer.
The NE winds are the most common cold winds here, but the SW are the most cold and cutting. A friend calls them a lazy wind as they don't go around you they go right through you.
Flooding is significant in Tasmania at the moment and many areas have been evacuated. Fortunately our house is on a hill which is most fortunate, but we have friends in other areas who have been affected.
Here we go again. While floods are happening in Victoria, Tasmania, and western NSW, the Northern Rivers region has been issued flood warnings. This would be a third flood this year.
The Disaster Relief Chaplaincy Network has sent an alert for a possible activation.
This evening's worship service has just been called off because of the rain. I was to give the blessing at the end, so it's a relief I don't have to drive there, or rather drive home afterwards.
The Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network has asked for my availability to next Friday.
The NE winds are the most common cold winds here, but the SW are the most cold and cutting. A friend calls them a lazy wind as they don't go around you they go right through you.
As it is in Sydney. You might think that being on the eastern coast with a mountain range not all that far inland, you'd not get many winds from that direction, but you do.
We've been sitting outside, well rugged up on a chilly evening, watching the red moon. It's hard to think of the right description to apply beyond noting that the moon was red for quite a while.
Half your luck. Said moon largely obscured by cloud over here( just behind St Vincent’s Hospital). Managed a glimpse by walking outside and up the street.
Took a bit of juggling to get a view uninterrupted by some trees in the grounds of the house next-door. Took our second glasses of red and the cheese plate with us. Very little cloud, not enough to spoil the view.
I was lovely and clear for the eclipse here, but I had a tooth out earlier in the day and knocked myself out with painkillers. I had a wonderful sleep, but missed most of the eclipse.
I hope you enjoy it. As I think I've said before on this thread, Whittakers have consistently ranked first as NZs most trusted product. Their cocoa is ethically and sustainably grown. I send it to my brother in Chicago to make him feel homesick. So far it hasn't enticed him back home to live though,
My favourites are all dark, 63% or 72% but not over 80%. I allow myself 3 squares after dinner.
But know your acquaintances! In our little cul-de-sac we exchange small gifts atChristmas. #6 gave me her favourites: a Swiss brand of small balls of very sweet white choc with liquid sweet white centres. I could manage one a day, just (they've sold now and moved on after 50 years). But #4 gave me a delectable bar of Trade Aid dark with something crunchy in it, which I thanked her for and reciprocated next year.
Otherwise best to stick to something totally bland, like shortbread fingers. One year long ago when I was making jelly, crab apple or whatever (I still make it to sell for Christian World Service) I gave my immediate neighbours wee jars of jelly. About 18 months later or maybe longer, I was feeding a cat for then #9 while she was on holiday, and there was my jelly unopened in her fridge.
Climate change and massive weather events are bound to be on our minds; at Matarangi, where our holiday home is, they were having a huge rainstorm yesterday, and the Facebook page of the residents and regular weekenders gave a running reminder as people with business in Coromandel on one side and Whitianga on the other shared details of slips and roadworks: "Will I be able to get home after work, 'cos I didn't bring overnight gear?" or " I need to get my dog to a vet — is there one in Coro as the Whiti road's closed?" My greatest grief with advancing years is that as I stopped driving a couple of years ago, and I'm becoming kind of high maintenance for a companion to take me with them, I can't count. on going there even once a year. However after a year's deferment from Covid restrictions, daughter and treasured teenagers are coming from Canada, and they count on Taking Gran to Matarangi."
I am wondering how our South African shipmates are doing? I just had this (extract from an e-mail) from my sister in Benoni:
Our skies at the moment are full of dust, waiting for rain, and also dust and horrible stuff from the Tonga volcano so only the brightest objects are visible at night. The grass is dry and crispy and not green as it should be in October. We have stage 3 power cuts and stage 2 water restrictions not due to the lack of water but because the power cuts play havoc with the pumps to the water towers. The reservoirs are about the level they should be at the end of Winter but please send someone to fix our power stations!! We have to get out of this place!!!
They only have a satellite phone at home, because the copper wires for land lines are stolen too often to be worth replacing. Is it any better in other places? I really, badly, want to go back there for another visit, but this is not encouraging.
Just saw this @Stercus Tauri I've been offline most of this last month because of nationwide power cuts. Here in the Overberg we're not doing too badly with rain and water supplies because the Cape is a winter-rainfall area as opposed to Benoni in Gauteng which depends on summer rainfall. Our dams and rivers filled up this last winter. We do have water filtration problems because of power cuts so have to boil all our household water, but so far I'm able to keep the garden going and the local crops (apples, grapes, rapeseed, canola, wheat) are doing well.
No end in sight for the energy crisis in South Africa, tell your sister "Sterkte!" (strength) from me.
Shipmates may be aware of the massive flooding which has afflicted the eastern states of Australia. The most vivid image is that of the Hay Plain, the largest flat area of land in the Southern Hemisphere, now almost completely submerged.
Conversely, in our region there is a warning that vegetation growth as a result of unprecedented rain may lead to high fire danger in summer, with firefighting access threatened by water damage to fire trails.
I heard on the news that some Kiwi firefighters had been sent to assist with flood damage. I think both our countries are going to need more trained emergency workers in the future.
As was Hay when I was there 15 or so years ago for some work.
When I chaired a state peak body we held a zone meeting in Hay. The council and community have great pride in the town and work together to make it an attractive stop on the road to Adelaide.
Yes @Huia we have NZ firefighters helping out along with some from Singapore and USA.
The tri-diocesan Anglicare has also launched a flood relief appeal, as there is nowhere to receive or store donations of goods. The link can be found here. Many small parishes, especially in Riverina and Bathurst will be hard-hit.
I will always remember with gratitude the emergency response workers who came from many countries to assist after the earthquakes here. Some were already here attending a conference -that was immediately disbanded, so that they could give assistance. Somehow amid all of the on-going quakes we were not alone.
And those of us neither fit or sufficiently knowledgeable to help can support the helpers. The Student Volunteer Army was established here by university students as a response to the quakes. Recently they responded to massive floods in the north of the South Island. A local supermarket collected donations of chocolate for them to hand out and sold chocolate at vastly reduced prices making it easier to give. I really appreciated that as not being able to afford to give is one of the worst effects of being on a restricted budget. At least with everyday needs such as food banks it's possible to budget in advance.
In breaking news here the Supreme Court has just handed down a judgement that the current voting age of 18 is discriminatory and it should be 16. Only Parliament has the power to change it.
It will be interesting to see what happens next. The next General election will probably be held next year,
Chez Curly's defences have been breached and it has finally succumbed to the plague. Mrs, Middle and I went to the live audience recording of ABC's Question Everything on Monday night, and the non-mask wearers tested positive on Thursday. I likely caught it from Mrs on Wednesday night and tested positive on Saturday.
Yes, cautious me is mightily upset to be sick after working so hard to stay clear of covid all this time. Mrs is sickest, then me, then Middle not so much. Little Miss is running errands and trying to stay clear of us.
Plans are in chaos - Mrs probably shouldn't fly to Balina on Friday with her dad, brother and sister for her late aunt's memorial on Saturday.
Last Sunday Mrs and I were enjoying a weekend away at Jervis Bay celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary - all a distant memory now.
My sympathies to Mr Curly. I have also succumbed over the last week. Fortunately, with full vaccination and antivirals the symptoms have been similar to a heavy flu, not nearly as sick as Mrs BA was when laid low in Holy Week. Many in the parish have been ill in this wave, so this morning's service was majority-masked once more. I think we let our guard down in church and community meetings over the last couple of months.
Chez Curly's defences have been breached and it has finally succumbed to the plague. Mrs, Middle and I went to the live audience recording of ABC's Question Everything on Monday night, and the non-mask wearers tested positive on Thursday. I likely caught it from Mrs on Wednesday night and tested positive on Saturday.
Yes, cautious me is mightily upset to be sick after working so hard to stay clear of covid all this time. Mrs is sickest, then me, then Middle not so much. Little Miss is running errands and trying to stay clear of us.
Plans are in chaos - Mrs probably shouldn't fly to Balina on Friday with her dad, brother and sister for her late aunt's memorial on Saturday.
Last Sunday Mrs and I were enjoying a weekend away at Jervis Bay celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary - all a distant memory now.
So a quiet week ahead.
mr curly
A mixed post. Congratulations on the anniversary and commiserations on the covid. We've stayed safe so far, and continue to mask whenever out in shopping centres and suchlike.
A little aside - the butcher next to a coffee shop we go to from time to time has a window sign advertising boned and stuffed loins of pork for Christmas. The stuffing includes Citrus Pell........
A little aside - the butcher next to a coffee shop we go to from time to time has a window sign advertising boned and stuffed loins of pork for Christmas. The stuffing includes Citrus Pell........
This could start a rather unhelpful thread all its own.
We're slowly improving, and getting some decent sleep is no small part of that. Running the house in a way that minimises the chance of Little Miss catching it is not much fun, though.
As a (temporary) shut in, I did appreciate that we're still doing high quality live streaming from church. Most of Advent will prob be like this.
I'm very surprised we've not caught anything. Apart from super-caution when this all started, we've been safe. We did venture down to Kirribilli last week for coffee with a friend who's moved there. Nothing nasty for us, but she's since come down with it. Good to hear that you're both recovering. How old is Little Miss? Too young to set up on her own while you recover I'd imagine.
Finally struck down this week and fortunately feeling OK-ish. Better now than next week or week after ( departing for UK on 21/12 to visit lastborn). However work busy in run-up to 2 week clinic closure for Xmas so profuse apologies sent.
And of your charity prayers for a very old friend who is close to death & likely to go any minute. He is 6 km away so am there in spirit.
Summer's here at last - I had to rescue a greengrocer from the track of a sliding door this morning and place it in a thick tuft of grass. No idea how it could have got where it was as the track was covered by the closed door. I checked about an hour later, not to be seen, so it had either found its way on, or turned into a late breakfast for a bird.
Comments
There are some bitterly disappointed children in my street as the snow fell deeply on the hills, but there was only a light scattering on the ground here at sea level, although the wind chill factor meant temperatures were around -1 to 6C. I hadn't realised before that thunder can accompany snow. On Wednesday night I though the nearby shipping containers had fallen to the ground and was glad I didn't have my hearing aids in.
It was sunny today, but the wind was from the Southeast
still very cold. I had 4 layers of clothing on this morning, but warmed up through the day.
Today's high was 12C tomorrow's is 17 and Monday's is 20, so at least it's getting warmer.
Our skies at the moment are full of dust, waiting for rain, and also dust and horrible stuff from the Tonga volcano so only the brightest objects are visible at night. The grass is dry and crispy and not green as it should be in October. We have stage 3 power cuts and stage 2 water restrictions not due to the lack of water but because the power cuts play havoc with the pumps to the water towers. The reservoirs are about the level they should be at the end of Winter but please send someone to fix our power stations!! We have to get out of this place!!!
They only have a satellite phone at home, because the copper wires for land lines are stolen too often to be worth replacing. Is it any better in other places? I really, badly, want to go back there for another visit, but this is not encouraging.
It depends what you're watching. The Met Office website showed a lower max I don't remember the details) than the day's report in the TV news. I think it just means they take their figures from a different part of the city.
There were some very helpful librarians on duty who helped me track down a couple of history books I wanted. Next year a new history curriculum will be introduced in to all levels of schooling here. As I understand it there will be a greater emphasis on the effects of colonisation and Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi), which was signed in 1840 and is New Zealand's founding document.
Obviously All Saints isn't the board for this, and I don't think there would be sufficient interest for a separate thread, but if anyone is interested there is an article on the website of the Museum of New Zealand/ Te Papa Tongrewa entitled Two parties, Two Understandings: What Does The treaty of Waitangi mean? that encapsulates it far better than I could ever hope to.
Me too! We still need the gas heater on low for an hour or two each night as well as our house is a cool one even in summer.
The Disaster Relief Chaplaincy Network has sent an alert for a possible activation.
The Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network has asked for my availability to next Friday.
As it is in Sydney. You might think that being on the eastern coast with a mountain range not all that far inland, you'd not get many winds from that direction, but you do.
But know your acquaintances! In our little cul-de-sac we exchange small gifts atChristmas. #6 gave me her favourites: a Swiss brand of small balls of very sweet white choc with liquid sweet white centres. I could manage one a day, just (they've sold now and moved on after 50 years). But #4 gave me a delectable bar of Trade Aid dark with something crunchy in it, which I thanked her for and reciprocated next year.
Otherwise best to stick to something totally bland, like shortbread fingers. One year long ago when I was making jelly, crab apple or whatever (I still make it to sell for Christian World Service) I gave my immediate neighbours wee jars of jelly. About 18 months later or maybe longer, I was feeding a cat for then #9 while she was on holiday, and there was my jelly unopened in her fridge.
Climate change and massive weather events are bound to be on our minds; at Matarangi, where our holiday home is, they were having a huge rainstorm yesterday, and the Facebook page of the residents and regular weekenders gave a running reminder as people with business in Coromandel on one side and Whitianga on the other shared details of slips and roadworks: "Will I be able to get home after work, 'cos I didn't bring overnight gear?" or " I need to get my dog to a vet — is there one in Coro as the Whiti road's closed?" My greatest grief with advancing years is that as I stopped driving a couple of years ago, and I'm becoming kind of high maintenance for a companion to take me with them, I can't count. on going there even once a year. However after a year's deferment from Covid restrictions, daughter and treasured teenagers are coming from Canada, and they count on Taking Gran to Matarangi."
Just saw this @Stercus Tauri I've been offline most of this last month because of nationwide power cuts. Here in the Overberg we're not doing too badly with rain and water supplies because the Cape is a winter-rainfall area as opposed to Benoni in Gauteng which depends on summer rainfall. Our dams and rivers filled up this last winter. We do have water filtration problems because of power cuts so have to boil all our household water, but so far I'm able to keep the garden going and the local crops (apples, grapes, rapeseed, canola, wheat) are doing well.
No end in sight for the energy crisis in South Africa, tell your sister "Sterkte!" (strength) from me.
Absolutely - and if your neighbours don't want your crab-apple jelly, I'd be delighted to help out ...
Conversely, in our region there is a warning that vegetation growth as a result of unprecedented rain may lead to high fire danger in summer, with firefighting access threatened by water damage to fire trails.
How things change; back in the 60s it was dry as dry.
When I chaired a state peak body we held a zone meeting in Hay. The council and community have great pride in the town and work together to make it an attractive stop on the road to Adelaide.
Yes @Huia we have NZ firefighters helping out along with some from Singapore and USA.
The tri-diocesan Anglicare has also launched a flood relief appeal, as there is nowhere to receive or store donations of goods. The link can be found here. Many small parishes, especially in Riverina and Bathurst will be hard-hit.
In breaking news here the Supreme Court has just handed down a judgement that the current voting age of 18 is discriminatory and it should be 16. Only Parliament has the power to change it.
It will be interesting to see what happens next. The next General election will probably be held next year,
Yes, cautious me is mightily upset to be sick after working so hard to stay clear of covid all this time. Mrs is sickest, then me, then Middle not so much. Little Miss is running errands and trying to stay clear of us.
Plans are in chaos - Mrs probably shouldn't fly to Balina on Friday with her dad, brother and sister for her late aunt's memorial on Saturday.
Last Sunday Mrs and I were enjoying a weekend away at Jervis Bay celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary - all a distant memory now.
So a quiet week ahead.
mr curly
A mixed post. Congratulations on the anniversary and commiserations on the covid. We've stayed safe so far, and continue to mask whenever out in shopping centres and suchlike.
A little aside - the butcher next to a coffee shop we go to from time to time has a window sign advertising boned and stuffed loins of pork for Christmas. The stuffing includes Citrus Pell........
This could start a rather unhelpful thread all its own.
We're slowly improving, and getting some decent sleep is no small part of that. Running the house in a way that minimises the chance of Little Miss catching it is not much fun, though.
As a (temporary) shut in, I did appreciate that we're still doing high quality live streaming from church. Most of Advent will prob be like this.
mr curly
And of your charity prayers for a very old friend who is close to death & likely to go any minute. He is 6 km away so am there in spirit.
Summer's here at last - I had to rescue a greengrocer from the track of a sliding door this morning and place it in a thick tuft of grass. No idea how it could have got where it was as the track was covered by the closed door. I checked about an hour later, not to be seen, so it had either found its way on, or turned into a late breakfast for a bird.