AS: Life downunder

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  • GalilitGalilit Shipmate
    I recall that- we had just moved to Chch from Miramar and used to swim at Worser Bay so it was all very real.
    Mum took us to school in the old Austin Cambridge but we could not get there for fallen trees
  • Among the many articles this week, I found this one particularly poignant because it reviews the disaster from survivors' memories.
  • APWAPW Shipmate Posts: 46
    Rosie was singing at the Wahine Memorial do this morning. It had been moved inside due to stormy weather. Her aunt was a survivor of the sinking, and Rosie remembers the day well because her father went down to help (he was a doctor) and to try and find Aunt Helen. Rosie's choir sang songs that the people on the ship had sung, including Dear Lord and Father of Mankind. She said it was very moving, and the weather added to the general sense of remembrance (it was around 7 degrees C at lunchtime).
  • HuiaHuia Shipmate
    edited April 2018
    Thanks for that APW. I must admit I have avoided lot of the news coverage.

    Dad's father lived in Miramar, and his father had been a sailmaker who drowned in Worser Bay under the sails of a boat that that capsized while it was being rigged. Grandad knew the harbour well and had strong views on the sinking. I remember he and one of my uncles often debated how the Wahine should be raised - Uncle Dennis, who was a bit of a tease, suggested ping-pong balls, :wink: while Grandad was all for pumping foam into to wreck.

    I've always felt that "Wahine Day" was somewhat akin to ANZAC Day as a day of mourning. I think it's because I was 14 when it happened, and it cast a shadow on my family.

    I once sailed on the Picton to Wellington ferry on the anniversary and wreaths were thrown into the sea near Barrett's Reef.
  • Where the heck did that come from? Tomorrow and Friday have Sydney maximum as 34. NZ has wild winds and winter on the way, if not already there. I am so over summer that even blizzards sound inviting right now.
  • HuiaHuia Shipmate
    I wouldn't mind half that Loth - it's galloped all the way up to 9.8c here (feels like 6c) with high winds. Glad I don't have to go out again today.

    I am so glad I took the time to put the warm sheets and extra duvet on my bed last night.
  • GalilitGalilit Shipmate
    Elder Son living in Oxford, North Canterbury) just WhatsApp'ed a gorgeous pic of The First Snow on The Yelps.
  • some snow down on Victorian alps is forecast at weekend. Now all we want is a decent southerly to blow cold air up to Sydney.
  • HuiaHuia Shipmate
    We are forecast a southerly tonight.

    Despite my whinging the city has got off lightly, apart from the temperatures. Taranaki has had houses wrecked and parts of Auckland have been without power for a day or so.

    Georgie-Porgy and I will evacuate to a friend's place if we lose power, he has a potbelly stove and enough wood to last through the winter. I hope we don't have to though - G-P is not friendly towards other cats, even on their own territory. :naughty:
  • I have to have a Thing taken off my shin and a skin graft to cover it, so have to keep the leg up for a week. I've given up and booked myself into the Rest Home cum Hospital of a Presbyterian retirement place. It has no wifi so I'm hoping my iPad will help me as its sim card has a phone number. I've only used it on holidays. None of the other residents I saw looked as though they'd be worried about wifi.
  • MaramaMarama Shipmate
    edited April 2018
    While we were in Wellington recently Tukai and I went to the Wahine exhibition at the Wellington Museum. Very moving. I didn't realise you had relatives involved, Huia. So sad.
  • HuiaHuia Shipmate
    GG, my brother's in the Presbyterian home in Lower Hutt.

    I think it was sensible to book yourself into somewhere where you can rest properly and allow the skin graft to heal. Given the weather too it's good to be somewhere with other people around in case of disaster . I hope you're not too bored.
  • Always books, I guess to read.

    It is 35 here this afternoon. There is a breeze outside but it is not my favourite sea breeze. It is a hot breeze. I had somewhat of an emotional, fraught day yesterday, slept poorly and now the heat and a repeat performance tomorrow. Can’t say any more because things are up in the air and I am waiting for news myself. A big life change if we can swing it. So I am taking things easy and drinking lots of water.
  • ClimacusClimacus Shipmate
    Best wishes GG.

    Thank you for the fascinating, and moving in the extreme, history of the Wahine.

    Hot here too Loth. 34C, and it was 35C yesterday. Dust and smoke blowing around everywhere with a fierce wind that came through the air vents in my office and heated it up somewhat. We're supposed to get a change for the weekend and some much-needed rain.

    I'll be up in northern Sydney and the city for a friend's delayed 40th birthday celebrations over the weekend.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    {{{GG}}} Hope your op. goes well.
  • Gee DGee D Shipmate
    Best wishes from us GG for your operation, and for a sound recovery.
  • The good wishes more than sufficed. It was a different surgeon (Amanda, not Stephanie), who took one look and said 'This won't need a skin graft. I don't have to take a wide piece and the sides will pull together with no trouble.' So I came home with a 10cm long dressing and very little discomfort. Stitches off in ten days at my local medical centre.
    I felt I should apologise to the nursing home who'd gone to some trouble – the nurse had contacted my GP to check on my medication, though she knew I was self medicating – but of course there was nothing to apologise for so I rang next morning and thanked them for their trouble.
    I shall read those books though. And make some more jellies.

    GG
  • Gee DGee D Shipmate
    That is very good news, thanks for letting us know. Prayers that those treating you may do so with care, skill and compassion.
  • Great stuff, GG!
    The Clarence and I are going to deepest, darkest Mexico tomorrow, I'm baptising the new, second daughter of an Aboriginal ex parishioner whose first daughter and himself I baptised here in the Sunny State a few years ago. The baptism on Sunday is in Frankston, we're staying tomorrow on the Peninsula, so it's possible that we might go sharing the gospel with some Mornington wineries after we land at sparrow's.
  • The news here has just had an item on fires just outside and to the north of Sydney. Hope that everyone is safe.
  • LothlorienLothlorien Glory
    edited April 2018
    Ember attacks expected tonight. We have had shifting gale force winds for two days and heat so everything was dry. Embers blow but with such winds can start new fires or set houses alight kilometres from the main fire front. Mostly to south west of the city but moving east with wind. It went through Holsworthy Army Base yesterday and defence forces are working with RFS and other volunteers. Prayers appreciated, a drop in the wind would be wonderful.

    https://tinyurl.com/y8fjahbjthis article was posted about an hour ago and was the most recent I could find. Sorry about link. Best I could do even with TinyURL.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    That looks a bit scary, Loth. Prayers ascending that you're all safe.
  • Gee DGee D Shipmate
    Piglet wrote: »
    That looks a bit scary, Loth. Prayers ascending that you're all safe.

    I think the nearest Shipmate (if he's made the transfer, that is) to the area is Middle Shire Hobbit Brigade and he's quite a bit to the east with a deep river valley between.
  • He had his turn earlier in summer.
  • I was watching parts of the fire on news last night. It did not seem intentional but one shot panned down the side of a house which was saved. Gutters were full of eucalyptus leaves and twigs. My parents lived on Blue Mountains and my sons used to often clean their gutters.In fireprone areas there, new houses must have gutter guards fitted to stop gutters filling and many existing homes have them. This house was in a very bushy area and gutters would fill quickly. There were massive fires in that area some years ago.
  • You folk have certainly been taking a hammering between fire and flood. I hope the changing seasons bring. more security. Here it's Auckland that's been copping storms one after the other. It seems it will be another week before all power will be restored. It's common for everyone else to make fun of our biggest city but you wouldn't wish this on anyone.

    GG
  • HuiaHuia Shipmate
    I feel sorry for Aucklanders with their loss of power. I hope it's connected up soon. Being without power is bad enough, but in this weather it would be diabolical. I remember there being bad power cuts there in the past too - possibly poor infrastructure.

    I ordered a book online from a supplier in Auckland recently. It was addressed to me in Christchurch , North Island, NZ, Sometimes I wonder if we are in the same country, or if some people are just geographically challenged.

  • Perhaps challenged, Huia. I did hear our ABC news a few years ago call Auckland the capital of NZ. Sydney had lots of blackouts when I was a child. Dad installed a gas light with a mantle which worked from one of the jets on the stove. Lovely light and it could light kitchen and dining room. There were scheduled cuts when my sons were small. We had a slow combustion stove in kitchen with wetback to water storage so we were fine for their baths etc. Also warmth and cooking.
  • Huia wrote: »
    I ordered a book online from a supplier in Auckland recently. It was addressed to me in Christchurch , North Island, NZ, Sometimes I wonder if we are in the same country, or if some people are just geographically challenged.

    Good grief! I live in Arizona and know that Christchurch is on the South Island. How can someone in Auckland not know that?

    (But then again, I once had a FedEx driver argue with me that Alaska wasn't in the United States -- it was in Canada.)
  • Bank who cannot believe I have had no written communication from Centrelink since 2012. I have 600 other bits of personal ID, but that one is required. I keep my side of things and pension goes in regularly every second Thursday. Bank statement shows this is referenced by bank’s reference number coupled with my Centrelink number. How often do I get this? I suggested their bean counter uses his toes to count up every 14 days as shown on my online bank statement . I took screenshot of this and forwarded it to them. Big changes ahead here if we ever get through this.
  • HuiaHuia Shipmate
    edited April 2018
    Like switching to another bank?

    And Aucklanders just think they are the capital of NZ. :wink:

  • Gee DGee D Shipmate
    Lothlorien, what's that about please? It does not seem to link to anything
  • should have gone in AS Hell.
  • HuiaHuia Shipmate
    Where most banks belong.
  • My bank is fine. They actually like you to grab a few free pens when you're there – not that you are in there when it's only open in the afternoon and you do most of your business on-line anyway.
    But as the annual receipts for donations come in, there was a funny one today. A charity to whom I donate $25 twice a year sent me (on-line) a receipt for $200, with a list of donations of $25 a month for 8 months (and then ended with November). Tempting? I emailed back with my details and got a corrected receipt.
  • MaryLouiseMaryLouise Purgatory Host, 8th Day Host
    edited April 2018
    Sympathy, Loth. My bank is frighteningly incompetent and very slow to correct errors. I'd move if I thought any other bank would do a better job.

  • HuiaHuia Shipmate
    I actually like my bank, it's only when I pay the bloke who mows the lawn, and I have to deal with his bank that I have difficulties.

    We are really lucky - first week of the school holidays, and although the Beasterly Easterly is a bit cold, the days are fine and sunny. I always feel sorry for the kids and parents if it's too nasty to be outside for long.
  • GalilitGalilit Shipmate
    Didn't Jacinda Ardern look fantastic in that korowai?
    (Didn't the korowai look fantastic on Jacinda Ardern?)
  • I :heart: Jacinda. Now here's the song after Confession and Declaration of Forgiveness at an Aged Care service next week. Shall I post it in Eccles? To educate them or horrify them? They're ineducable if you ask me.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Thank you for sharing that with us, FD ... :grimace:

    [/sarcasm]
  • I have news. Five weeks ago I told middle son that I was very happy hear and would continue to be so. Easter weekend I was asked to join two sons andDIL in a big move. My place is well on the way to being packed up and we are moving to what I call lower Blue Mountains but is really mid mountains. We have found a big place built 1977 which has many features of what we all want. Good school almost next door for grandspn who has just started hgh school. Double garage with studio above it. Plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms. Pizza oven outdoor, 12 person sauna, loads of places where we will not be on top of each other. Encosed cat run. Large chookshed with big enclosure and chooks. Heated large pool, ducted aircon. Verandah downstairs around three sides and a deck outside. Offer accepted in writing but contracts not yet exchanged.

    My place will be sold. I have been here 7 years and there was a lot of stuff.
  • Ooh, exciting news, Lothlorien. Sounds as if it will be much cooler than Sydney in the summer. Great to have a pool for gentle exercise too.
  • MaryLouiseMaryLouise Purgatory Host, 8th Day Host
    Loth, that sounds so exciting! I know moving home is exhausting and stressful even under the best of circumstances, but life in the mountains should be such a pleasure. And family all around!

    Are you an expert with a pizza oven? I have a no-fail pizza dough recipe.
  • Son 3 is an expert at such things as well as BBQs and a very large smoker. Makes his own bacon, smoked big joints of meat and more. Th recipe sounds interesting. Perhaps the recipe thread and all will see iy?
  • Foaming DraughtFoaming Draught Shipmate
    edited April 2018
    Exciting news, Lothlorien!
  • Thank you, FD. Yes I am excited and especially because it was such a short time ago. #1 son is very logical etc. Make a list of criteria and how places fit. Before he even saw it he though it could be the one. Came out saying it felt like home. His suspicious IT security consultant brother independently felt the same. I lived for almost five years with eldest son and his wife. We got on fine. Grandson is excited about being in charge of the chooks and ride on mower. I'm happy because I feel most at home in the mountains.
  • Lothlorien wrote: »
    Thank you, FD. Yes I am excited and especially because it was such a short time ago. #1 son is very logical etc. Make a list of criteria and how places fit. Before he even saw it he though it could be the one. Came out saying it felt like home. His suspicious IT security consultant brother independently felt the same. I lived for almost five years with eldest son and his wife. We got on fine. Grandson is excited about being in charge of the chooks and ride on mower. I'm happy because I feel most at home in the mountains.

    I lived in Blackheath for 20 years and loved every minute of it. I hope you like being cold for 6 months, very very cold for 3 months and warmish for the other three!! However, I wouldn't like to move back!
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    ... I hope you like being cold for 6 months, very very cold for 3 months and warmish for the other three ...
    As long as there's heating as well as air-con ... :mrgreen:

    It sounds lovely, Loth - I hope you and your family enjoy it!

  • Lothlorien wrote: »
    Thank you, FD. Yes I am excited and especially because it was such a short time ago. #1 son is very logical etc. Make a list of criteria and how places fit. Before he even saw it he though it could be the one. Came out saying it felt like home. His suspicious IT security consultant brother independently felt the same. I lived for almost five years with eldest son and his wife. We got on fine. Grandson is excited about being in charge of the chooks and ride on mower. I'm happy because I feel most at home in the mountains.

    I lived in Blackheath for 20 years and loved every minute of it. I hope you like being cold for 6 months, very very cold for 3 months and warmish for the other three!! However, I wouldn't like to move back!
  • LothlorienLothlorien Glory
    edited April 2018
    I would like to be up that far or at least as far as Lawson but one son will be travelling to Gosford one day a week, less if he can swing it and DIL is on call as chaplain at Westmead and needs to be no more than an hour away.We will be mid mountains

    As to cold, my parents both grew up in Lithgow, other side of Blue mountains and cold. Mum did not have a winter coat till she moved to Sydney because house was kept warm. Sydney houses are not built for winter or winds..
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