Just a quick note to say we all survived a couple of days without power and that I'm thoroughly addicted to natural disaster mode. Mum's a bit tuckered out after having all of her beautiful native trees end up on the ground in the back yard, and her car fill with water, but we narrowly avoided having the house flooded so for that we are gratefull.
We had a pile of debris in the backyard for most of Saturday but every neigbour in the street turned up and we removed the whole lot in 10 minutes. Brings out the best in some, and the worst in others (an ambulance was looted while the paramedics were piggy backing a heart attack victim through the flood water, they took the radio and some other stuff that could be re-sold).
Have a look in the photo below at the angle of the massive tree behind mum. We spent all day trying to get someone to cut it down (SES said to call back if it lands on the house). Finally, at sunset we found someone, he arrived on his own with a chainsaw and an abseiling harness and scampered up the tree and took the whole thing down in about 20mins. Our next door niegbours were greatly relieved. So we cleaned up this....
... but it turned into this. Which is still there unfortunately. But the tree cutter promised to come back when he can.
ABC local radio came out as the real hero of the piece, helping individuals and the community with public safety announcements and updates. It meant the SES etc. only needed to call one group and know the info would be disseminated. They worked around the clock, except during the Newcastle Knights game, which was broadcast in full and uninterrupted.
We ran into the Newcastle Roff's on our way back from checking out the beached coal ship. A spectacular site. I wish they would reopen the beach so I could go for a surf next to the ship. Mum's going down now to look at the flood waters in the harbour which are full of interesting articles like logs, fridges, cows etc. Monica and I are back in Sydney sans car which is full of water. Turning on the ignition locks the doors instead of starting the engine so I fear we may have some electrical wierdness.------------------------
In addendum, R.I.P. Greg Heys, a one time Mayor of Newcastle and a good family friend. He died of a heart attack last week in an unrelated incident. Our sympathies to his daughter Sarah, son Matthew and wife Wendy. His funeral is tomorrow.
Greg was involved with several environmental and social projects and spent the past year fighting to reopen Newcastle's historic Regal Cinema.
5 comments:
Cue an explanation from Milly for the events over the long weekend:
The wild weather had something to do with a book called the "Bib-Hell" written by some old dudes. In that book they apparently talk about a massive flood, which is closely followed by the four elephants of the Calypso.
I don't quite get what she was talking about, but I put it down to excitement, terror, adrenalin and a hangover.
Aha, and they say religious education is a waste of time.. Keep up the good work, Millie, and don't forget to keep praying to Jeebers..
Great pics of the backyard, Adam. Couldn't you have pushed the Saab into a drain? Will email from 'Nam..
Adam
Great picture of the tanker, it looks like a stranded whale. No wonder you wanted to surf next to it.
Very disturbed to hear that the SAAB is taking on water, hopefully the later models (one of which I an driving) have cured that. I only bought it on Morley's recommendation (refer Morley's report on 2nd hand SAAB 95 Series -no mention of leaking).
Does anyone remember: "The Last Wave"? I saw it at the Drivein so I only caught snatches (thank you Benny Hill) but there was a huge debate at the time (the 'olden days') about whether the wave was real or allegorical. I am on the side of the real, mainly because I like action films and I would hate to think that all that suspensful and moody music was for nothing, but alternate views from drugged out ex-hippies are welcomed.
Stu and Marianne, sorry to be insensitive, we were wondering about your proximity to the flood drain so pleased to hear you survived:
"Now let the music keep our spirits high, and let the buildings keep our children dry, let creation reveal its secrets by and by."
Love and towels
Great pictures Adam. I am also starting to worry about Ashley.
Some us were angry, Ash, at the way the earth was abused
by the men learnt how to forge her beauty into power
but we were lucky and wern't swept
before the deluge
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