The forecast here is for 21C. Very unusual for this time of year. Although I've lived here for almost 30 years I still find warm winds really weird.
Don't move to Melbourne, then! Or any south-eastern Australian region, really. But whereas say Adelaide or inland south-eastern Australian regions could have warm to hot fine, calm days, in Melbourne and environs the heat is often accompanied by building northerlies, sometimes reaching hair-drier proportions, dusty with local dust stirred up, or occasionally quite apocalyptic inland red dust airborne maany many kilometres. If Melbourne reaches above 40 it's usually with that building wind afore a change ... Adelaide at 40 C can be hot, baking, still and heavenly (as long as you keep hydrated).
Today was mostly sunny. My huge graceful winter kowhai had its first few blossoms two days ago; this morning there were six or eight tui in it, not making a lot of noise though there was a bit of chasing going on. When I went outside this afternoon to where I could see the north side, there were half-open buds all over it. At that point the "owner" was there alone, singing the local tui call sign over and over.
I had a big bowl of cut up pieces of lime skins to shred, which I have to do outside where I can attach the shredder (like and old-fashioned mincer) to the barbecue table. It squeaks with every turn of the handle. The resident blackbird hung around, trying to figure out what bird it was making those strange calls.
Shreds and juice will be combined and frozen until I've made the last of the quince jelly, and then I'll start on the marmalade. $200 has gone so far to Christian World Service.
Temperature is forecast to drop to 9°C max on Sunday.
(What's the point of marking 'Keep me logged in' when I still have to log in every so often?)
At least if you click "keep me logged in" you don't have to remember your password.
Today we have a howling south westerly and heavy rain there is snow on the ranges, but here at sealevel it's just cold. I desperately need to do some grocery shopping so I'm hoping it eases this afternoon as forecast.
At least if you click "keep me logged in" you don't have to remember your password.
But I do have to, because I don't get kept logged in. I'm just left alone till I've forgotten my quite complicated password, which was insisted on, and then I get the 'Log on or Register' message.
Sunny at midday so I hung out some washing, determined to watch out for rain. Haha! It can just stay on the line until we have sunshine again.
Do you get a message asking whether you want your password kept? I did, and said yes. That makes logging back in after an automatic log-out much easier.
First world problem here last night. Power failure aver district. I woke to wonder why it was pitch black. We are set back from the road a very long way but obviously the one street light on that stretch gives some light.
I have just acquired a beautiful new torch with rechargeable batteries and LED globes. It was hanging on my bed frame but diagonally opposite where I was. I stumbled around, hanging on to bed and stubbed a toe. Power came back on at 3:14 and website for Energy Australia suggests now only about 150 homes were affected and they gave an estimate of 9:00 am for restoration of power. Cause is being investigated but it was on well before estimation.
First test of light. Absolutely brilliant light, with features like flashing for an alarm etc. Torch now hangs from frame at my head.
Yay for new toys! Hope it's a while til you need to use it again though, Loth.
I concur with the esteemed and reputable Zappa on the cold Saturday. Brrrrr. I'm now up in New Plymouth for what's left of the long weekend. Long live the Queen!
What a place! And what a volcano in Mt Taranaki... Covered in cloud yesterday. And some lovely other natural sights too. I've been off work for nearly 2 weeks [all good...just the usual mental health, not sleeping...] and driving up here has done me the world of good: 11 hours sleep, and I feel much better. I think I did need to get out of the studio apartment...and I've been taking it very, very slow.
Today I am up and walking. I give thanks to divine providence for this sequence of events. If I had left the booth just a minute or so earlier this tale could not have been written.
We all give thanks!
It’s just on 7 years since my cardiac adventures, although they were thankfully not sparked in such a dramatic fashion. After a period of feeling bleh, I went into the lab, I think so cardiologist could rule out artery problems as there were no real indications. His exact words were “Actually, Mr Curly, your cardiac arteries are ratshit.” Stents in three arteries over 2 sessions, probably avoided triple bypass surgery relatively narrowly.
Be patient and determined. Patient - it will take a while. Determined - keep doing whatever they say to do.
In other news, Biggest turns 21 in less than a fortnight. How did that happen?
Yay for new toys! Hope it's a while til you need to use it again though, Loth.
I concur with the esteemed and reputable Zappa on the cold Saturday. Brrrrr. I'm now up in New Plymouth for what's left of the long weekend. Long live the Queen!
Much to see in New Plymouth; last time I was there I marvelled at the Te Rewa Rewa Bridge — I don't think the photos on the web page do it justice.
Chilly start to the day here, but now the sun is out and the wooden fences are steaming. I'm making the most of the sun as rain is forecast for the next few days for the next few days.
Whoops - got interrupted and forgot what I was doing - the afternoon almost made up for the cold morning, but rain is forecast again tomorrow,
Barnabas, how's progress? Will you be ok for the consecration?
Thanks to all and particularly Gee D and mr curly for continuing enquiry. Slow improvement continues - still some chest wall pain from CPR [I sneezed agonisingly yesterday] and slight laryngitis remains from intubation. Managed a couple of light chores around the house today, otherwise catching up on reading both online and hard copy and a backlog of recorded TV programs. I will be incarcerated tomorrow while the cold front goes through.,
We have the GP's all clear to travel south for the consecration of our dear friend, whom we have known since he came to our parish as a young man appointed to his first incumbency. We were young parents then, and as babies came to the rectory, the friendship deepened.
Even though it is over 25 years since he moved to ever larger parishes and higher rank, our parishioners still hold him fondly in their hearts, and he has been welcomed on return visits over the years. Thus the generous gift of cope and mitre which we will carry with us and present as part of the liturgy.
Winter is here, no snow here as we are too low. Katoomba Station is covered with it and road is closed between there and Mt Victoria higher up. There is snow below there too. Trains are delayed. DIL had a meeting at 8:00 am at Parramatta today. While we have no snow, trains are messy. We have not heard from her but she may have been late.
We have aircon running and it works well. Fire would be pleasant but tradies due here to continue solar installation and we did not want to smoke them out.
Winter is well and truly here in Newcastle too. The temp has not gone over 10 deg all day, lots of rain and wind. Have to go out at 5pm for a monthly committee meeting, am very tempted not to go but as I am secretary...........
You are probably not the only one not wanting to go out. Can you cancel it?
Snow over a large area. Blue mountains, Canberra, Goulburn, Lithgow, Bathurst and many places in between. Armidale, Tamworth, Walcha and Glen Innes. Perhaps not a great deal but that is a much wider spread of locations.
Too low here for it, but it is cold with an icy blast of wind.
There used to be a NZ whisk(e)y that was called 45 South because that's where it was made. It wasn't bad, from memory. That's the kind of stuff you need at those temperatures.
I lived down there for a couple of years and it was bitter. Being in a hill suburb it wasn't unusual to get snowed in.
A friend is talking about a day trip to Hanmer to sit in a hot pool, but I prefer a bath with red poppy and hemp bath salts - no annoying teenagers (like I encountered in Hanmer last time), but a hyperactive kitten that flirts with full immersion baptism.
Our cat managed full immersion a few times - I guess from the same desire to perch on the side when you're in the bath. The last thing you want in your nice warm relaxing bath is a furry irritated full-grown cat.
Well I though it was better than the one that another company made - which was even worse.
Zappa, even coke (blerk) will remove rust.
It's somewhere around 1C and 2 at the moment and is su[[osed to gallop all the way up to a tropical 8C. The kitten has gone outside to do battle with a very cold older cat. I am making chicken soup.
Water skiing, perhaps? Warmer here than yesterday and no widespread snow across the state. We have some much needed rain here today but could do with a lot more.
We are observing garden before we do anything drastic here after move. We were told little watering was done. I have watered tubs of herbs but actual garden is somewhat wild and unplanned. Much of it is shrubs and trees of various sizes, up to very large. They have survived summer and I will keep watch on them.
You may find Koala Gardens interesting. I'm following her on 365, but her public profile is much higher. She's using 14 acres of land as a wildlife sanctuary for koalas and recording the information about the koalas that come and go. They also rehabilitate sick koalas and release them again.
No balance, really, so neither form of skiing works for me. Nor surfing. Body surfing, as long as the water temp is in the high 20Cs. And as for snow ...
Mine too. I rode a skateboard once when my youngest bro got one for Christmas. I skated down the hall and ended up in a heap by the bathroom - never again.
I use Nordic walking poles to help my balance due to earthquake damaged foot paths (mostly repaired, but still uneven in some places). The bus driver told me there used to be a man who travelled around the city on in-line skates, pushing his wife in a wheel chair. After she died he used ski-poles for balance. I love Christchurch - we have so many craz ahem creative people here. Apparently he wore advertising for the local skate shop, and they paid him with new skates every year.
Mine too. I rode a skateboard once when my youngest bro got one for Christmas. I skated down the hall and ended up in a heap by the bathroom - never again.
I use Nordic walking poles to help my balance due to earthquake damaged foot paths (mostly repaired, but still uneven in some places). The bus driver told me there used to be a man who travelled around the city on in-line skates, pushing his wife in a wheel chair. After she died he used ski-poles for balance. I love Christchurch - we have so many craz ahem creative people here. Apparently he wore advertising for the local skate shop, and they paid him with new skates every year.
We headed down to my cousin's house straight from church this morning.. A short stop for lunch at Marulan and then here. We planned this expecting proper winter weather, maybe some snow, but it's late autumn. Still very good to get here, quiet and peaceful. No definite plan to go back - we may even head further inland for a few days. Has anyone heard from Vulpior? I can't remember anything from him for a long time, well before the new Ship.
Today I have celebrated my 68th birthday for which, given the events of four weeks ago, I give thanks a thousandfold. I continue to improve slowly from my cardiac arrest. Post-intubation laryngitis is diminishing as is tenderness in the chest wall. Some light chores undertaken. Review visit to the GP this morning went well, so we are now finalising the packing for our road trip to the consecration of our dear friend, hoping to avoid the worst of the approaching cold front.
An enormous diocese with a paucity of clergy, whether stipendiary or not. Another friend and former rector now has charge of a joint parish with the two main centres 80km apart and a third town at the midway point where he alternates between Anglican and Uniting Church services. He also has oversight of a neighbouring enormous parish which has had no clergy for several years. Massive ministry challenges!
It all sounds very familiar. In many ways I miss it. The diocese I cover (not in a purple shirted way I hasten to add) now is probably not as big as the erstwhile Wankydilla parish.
I was thinking of Rowen the other day, not seen here for quite a while now.
I was a week out then. Riverina is very large - not sure off the top of my head if it's larger than Bathurst. There are only a couple of dozen clergy, if that, and not many regular parishioners. Money's pretty tight as well.
Even when the seat was Hay, can you imagine the Bishop riding to Broken Hill? Still a decent journey these days by car from Griffith.
I have spoken to Rowen and have her permission to give an update. She said she has had a busy year and some things have just slipped by.
She has the Church where she lives, but also is away a lot doing services for Uniting Church Frontier Services. However she has landed in a growing drought relief programme for Alpine farmers where the drought has hit badly. Food for stock is extremely expensive and farmers are doing it tough.
Pupils at Bairnsdale ( I think) Ctholic School started cooking and making meals for those in need. That was last year and they are still cooking. Then the whole thing took off. She does a lot of driving on Alpine roads in snow and up farm driveways where she is basically feeling her way. People are grateful, but things are expanding. Meetings on mental health and how to help those in trouble. What are known as Resilience days. Free lunch,haircuts, talks and much more. Help with forms for officialhelp.
For those on FB she has a page but East Gippsland Drought Relief also has one. Prayers and funds always welcome.
Hi folk, pray for rain, please!
Missed you all, but just super busy.
Why not Facebook me on Mountains Project Drought Relief?
Cold, cold, cold, cold.....
Comments
Don't move to Melbourne, then! Or any south-eastern Australian region, really. But whereas say Adelaide or inland south-eastern Australian regions could have warm to hot fine, calm days, in Melbourne and environs the heat is often accompanied by building northerlies, sometimes reaching hair-drier proportions, dusty with local dust stirred up, or occasionally quite apocalyptic inland red dust airborne maany many kilometres. If Melbourne reaches above 40 it's usually with that building wind afore a change ... Adelaide at 40 C can be hot, baking, still and heavenly (as long as you keep hydrated).
It was not 40+ at 45 South yesterday!
I had a big bowl of cut up pieces of lime skins to shred, which I have to do outside where I can attach the shredder (like and old-fashioned mincer) to the barbecue table. It squeaks with every turn of the handle. The resident blackbird hung around, trying to figure out what bird it was making those strange calls.
Shreds and juice will be combined and frozen until I've made the last of the quince jelly, and then I'll start on the marmalade. $200 has gone so far to Christian World Service.
Temperature is forecast to drop to 9°C max on Sunday.
(What's the point of marking 'Keep me logged in' when I still have to log in every so often?)
Today we have a howling south westerly and heavy rain there is snow on the ranges, but here at sealevel it's just cold. I desperately need to do some grocery shopping so I'm hoping it eases this afternoon as forecast.
But I do have to, because I don't get kept logged in. I'm just left alone till I've forgotten my quite complicated password, which was insisted on, and then I get the 'Log on or Register' message.
Sunny at midday so I hung out some washing, determined to watch out for rain. Haha! It can just stay on the line until we have sunshine again.
We didn't get the sunshine though and the wind is coming off snow.
Not quite the adjective I'd use! Bloody cold yesterday and this morning - albeit not by your standards ... Currently a "real feel" of -1C
I have just acquired a beautiful new torch with rechargeable batteries and LED globes. It was hanging on my bed frame but diagonally opposite where I was. I stumbled around, hanging on to bed and stubbed a toe. Power came back on at 3:14 and website for Energy Australia suggests now only about 150 homes were affected and they gave an estimate of 9:00 am for restoration of power. Cause is being investigated but it was on well before estimation.
First test of light. Absolutely brilliant light, with features like flashing for an alarm etc. Torch now hangs from frame at my head.
I concur with the esteemed and reputable Zappa on the cold Saturday. Brrrrr. I'm now up in New Plymouth for what's left of the long weekend. Long live the Queen!
What a place! And what a volcano in Mt Taranaki... Covered in cloud yesterday. And some lovely other natural sights too. I've been off work for nearly 2 weeks [all good...just the usual mental health, not sleeping...] and driving up here has done me the world of good: 11 hours sleep, and I feel much better. I think I did need to get out of the studio apartment...and I've been taking it very, very slow.
We all give thanks!
It’s just on 7 years since my cardiac adventures, although they were thankfully not sparked in such a dramatic fashion. After a period of feeling bleh, I went into the lab, I think so cardiologist could rule out artery problems as there were no real indications. His exact words were “Actually, Mr Curly, your cardiac arteries are ratshit.” Stents in three arteries over 2 sessions, probably avoided triple bypass surgery relatively narrowly.
Be patient and determined. Patient - it will take a while. Determined - keep doing whatever they say to do.
In other news, Biggest turns 21 in less than a fortnight. How did that happen?
mr curly
@Climacus - glad the break seems to be doing you good - take it easy, and be good to yourself!
Barnabas, how's progress? Will you be ok for the consecration?
Much to see in New Plymouth; last time I was there I marvelled at the Te Rewa Rewa Bridge — I don't think the photos on the web page do it justice.
Whoops - got interrupted and forgot what I was doing - the afternoon almost made up for the cold morning, but rain is forecast again tomorrow,
Thanks to all and particularly Gee D and mr curly for continuing enquiry. Slow improvement continues - still some chest wall pain from CPR [I sneezed agonisingly yesterday] and slight laryngitis remains from intubation. Managed a couple of light chores around the house today, otherwise catching up on reading both online and hard copy and a backlog of recorded TV programs. I will be incarcerated tomorrow while the cold front goes through.,
We have the GP's all clear to travel south for the consecration of our dear friend, whom we have known since he came to our parish as a young man appointed to his first incumbency. We were young parents then, and as babies came to the rectory, the friendship deepened.
Even though it is over 25 years since he moved to ever larger parishes and higher rank, our parishioners still hold him fondly in their hearts, and he has been welcomed on return visits over the years. Thus the generous gift of cope and mitre which we will carry with us and present as part of the liturgy.
We have aircon running and it works well. Fire would be pleasant but tradies due here to continue solar installation and we did not want to smoke them out.
Snow over a large area. Blue mountains, Canberra, Goulburn, Lithgow, Bathurst and many places in between. Armidale, Tamworth, Walcha and Glen Innes. Perhaps not a great deal but that is a much wider spread of locations.
Too low here for it, but it is cold with an icy blast of wind.
I lived down there for a couple of years and it was bitter. Being in a hill suburb it wasn't unusual to get snowed in.
A friend is talking about a day trip to Hanmer to sit in a hot pool, but I prefer a bath with red poppy and hemp bath salts - no annoying teenagers (like I encountered in Hanmer last time), but a hyperactive kitten that flirts with full immersion baptism.
It was horrible, from memory
No, we braved it, all but one member who is currently in Iceland!! Then a nice meal at the club opposite.
quite good for rust removal
Zappa, even coke (blerk) will remove rust.
It's somewhere around 1C and 2 at the moment and is su[[osed to gallop all the way up to a tropical 8C. The kitten has gone outside to do battle with a very cold older cat. I am making chicken soup.
I take it you're not a keen skier.
We are observing garden before we do anything drastic here after move. We were told little watering was done. I have watered tubs of herbs but actual garden is somewhat wild and unplanned. Much of it is shrubs and trees of various sizes, up to very large. They have survived summer and I will keep watch on them.
I use Nordic walking poles to help my balance due to earthquake damaged foot paths (mostly repaired, but still uneven in some places). The bus driver told me there used to be a man who travelled around the city on in-line skates, pushing his wife in a wheel chair. After she died he used ski-poles for balance. I love Christchurch - we have so many craz ahem creative people here. Apparently he wore advertising for the local skate shop, and they paid him with new skates every year.
Your use sounds healthy, safe and fashionable.
Recuperate gently and thoroughly
I was a week out then. Riverina is very large - not sure off the top of my head if it's larger than Bathurst. There are only a couple of dozen clergy, if that, and not many regular parishioners. Money's pretty tight as well.
Even when the seat was Hay, can you imagine the Bishop riding to Broken Hill? Still a decent journey these days by car from Griffith.
She has the Church where she lives, but also is away a lot doing services for Uniting Church Frontier Services. However she has landed in a growing drought relief programme for Alpine farmers where the drought has hit badly. Food for stock is extremely expensive and farmers are doing it tough.
Pupils at Bairnsdale ( I think) Ctholic School started cooking and making meals for those in need. That was last year and they are still cooking. Then the whole thing took off. She does a lot of driving on Alpine roads in snow and up farm driveways where she is basically feeling her way. People are grateful, but things are expanding. Meetings on mental health and how to help those in trouble. What are known as Resilience days. Free lunch,haircuts, talks and much more. Help with forms for officialhelp.
For those on FB she has a page but East Gippsland Drought Relief also has one. Prayers and funds always welcome.
Missed you all, but just super busy.
Why not Facebook me on Mountains Project Drought Relief?
Cold, cold, cold, cold.....