Thursday, June 17, 2010

Adventures in Oz

This morning I had to get up and go deal with our pump yet again. For some reason the power to the shed where it's plugged in died. Might have had something to do with the rain and wind. What a great way to start the day and it only got better.

We had winds gusting to 100km/hr, driving rain and lightning in the afternoon. This in the equivalent of the northern hemisphere's December. It took down trees everywhere, the native vegetation park looked like the trees had been mown. We shut the shop at 2pm because there was no way the power was coming back any time soon. Fortunately, the worker responsible for clearing downed trees off our section of road used his head. He drove the dozer back to town along the rail trail. I'd brought a saw along just in case but I'm pretty sure it would have taken an hour or more to ride home if the trail hadn't been cleared. This on a ride that's normally 15 minutes.

The pub next door lost the roof from a bungalow out back and part of their front veranda. Tin from the bungalow roof ended up across the highway wrapped around a tree 10 meters off the ground. A house a couple of k away lost it's entire roof. We were lucky. All it did to our place is blow the back door open which fortunately is so far under a veranda that no water got in.

I went over to pub to see if they needed any help. Here's what I love about country life: as I talked to the owners maybe half a dozen people pulled up to see if they could help. Everyone was touching base and making sure everyone else was okay. Sure, a lot of these folk are rough as guts but they care about and look after each other.

We dug out some candles and our torches for light. I trudged across the highway to the creek and filled some buckets so we could flush the toilet. Claire made dinner on the barbeque and we ate by candle light. Our pre-bed play with Em consisted entirely of games where she got to sit in my lap.

Me: Emlyn, it's 10 degrees in here, you need warmer clothes.
Em: No, I'm warm.
Me: Yes, put on this jumper...
Em. No, no, No, NO!
Me: Look, if you're not cold why does every game involve you sitting in my lap?
Em: Cuddle me

She did tell me a fabulous story though. She gave me a piece of paper that she'd carefully folded up.

Me: What's this?
Em: It's your ticket.
Me: My ticket for what?
Em: Vesher.
Me: What?
Em: Vesher!
Me: Take that dummy out...
Em: Adventure.
Me: An adventure like with pirates?
Em: Yes we sailed on ship to island and there was a hole and the wormmies got the hole from the wormmy store and they went wriggle, wriggle, wriggle, wriggle, wriggle, wriggle, wriggle, wriggle, wriggle, wriggle, wriggle, wriggle and got it out for us. *
Me: Breath my love, breath. Got what out for us.
Em: Treasure.
Me: I love this adventure.

The power came back on after 7 and and a half hours. I've got to say that that was pretty quick work and that I'm a little disappointed. As unpleasant as it was to sit around in a cold house it was also kinda fun. A nice, safe adventure to break up the routine. For us at any rate; tomorrow will show just how bad it was for everyone else.

5 comments:

Jon Dayton said...

I live in a similar neighborhood. Trees are hardly down before everyone with a chainsaw is out and clearing. Glad you weathered the storm all right.

Jon Dayton said...

P.S. Didn't know how else to reach you so I guess another comment'll do.

I run a small sound production company and have always put some little saying on my shirts.

"Got Speakers?" (parody of a "Got Milk" advert campaign here in the States)

"Write it down I can't hear you!"

That sort of thing. I was thinking that "The Wages of DIN are DEAF" would look pretty good on the back of the next set. Would you mind?

I'll send you one.

Jon Dayton said...

Uuuuum, yeah... had to leave another comment because I forgot to check the follow-up box so I know if you post back.

Coelecanth said...

Sorry, I've not been paying attention.

I didn't come up with the title of this blog. Or at least I'm not sure if I did. A former bandmate of mine and I have disagreed about where it came from. It was an oft used phrase by me and him back when we were in a band that was stupidly loud. You know the kind, one where there's no way of getting a good house mix because the stage volume is too high.

Anyway, I'd be honoured if you'd use it.

My personal email is coelecanth28 on g mail

Anonymous said...

plush safe he think


http://vimeo.com/13704095


but with recent revelations about James Randi, I think he likes DICKS!


____________________

THE SECOND COMING!

THE END OF ATHEISM

FOLLOW THE WHITE RABBIT...
...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Smwrw4sNCxE
____________________________________________

THE B**BQUAKE - 911

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeblvLoVJCA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpZZ2PPBzP8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvSljPf9on4&feature=related

you are going to pay the price for this….

THE RUBBER DUCKY OF PSEUDOSCIENCE III - JAMES RANDI



http://daddytypes.com/archive/hofman_rubber_duckie.jpg

there is a lot of sh*t to flush!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg2AezJo8aQ

THE HEAD OF THE INFIDEL!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojR-XRt4rrA

Is America burning yet?

Maybe we need some more...

we use the DIVINE against the ESTABLISHMENT... you?

we do better DEMOLITIONS than you, savage...

RENOUNCE YOUR ATHEISM AND JOIN THE SOCIALIST FAITH!

let them know if the MDC continues more people will die...

the WORLD TRADE CENTER PROPHECY - THE DANCE OF DEATH

WORLD TRADE CENTER PROPHECY

FLUSH ATHEISM!

Actually it is a ROYAL FLUSH!!!

Let me show you how ATHEISTS were partially responsible for 911

These ATHEISTS NEED TO BE ON THE TERRORIST WATCH LIST!

You don’t even have SCIENCE on your side…

You’re a perfect example of when PHILOSOPHY becomes an ENEMY OF LIFE...

http://stephenlaw.blogspot.com/2010/06/playing-mystery-card.html

not quite samantha with her *supernatural spit*, eh?

this isn't one of your little WORD GAMES...

blasphemy is a DEATH SENTENCE

you people actually BELIEVE the BS you preach!

GOD 1 - atheists 0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQcNiD0Z3MU

Atheists,

you are ENEMIES OF GOD AND ARE GOING TO BE ANNIHILATED...

Repent and turn to God or be destroyed...

YOU HAVE NO CHOICE...

my interpretation of the STATUE FIRE... it symbolizes the SPIRITUAL DEATH of atheism...

http://www.salon.com/news/2010/06/15/us_lightning_strikes_jesus_statue

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2010/6/16/1276680110544/The-King-of-Kings-statue--005.jpg

http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2010-06/54332292.jpg

http://friendlyatheist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/butterjesus-1.jpg

PRINCESS DI IS WEARING A NEW DRESS!

http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/speechesandarticles/a_speech_by_hrh_the_prince_of_wales_titled_islam_and_the_env_252516346.html
______________________________
http://skepticblog.org/2010/04/06/would-i-ever-pray-for-a-miracle/

Shermer, I WANT TO SEE YOU BEG FOR A MIRACLE...
___________________
we do like your music Lady Gaga, but...

The B**BQUAKE - 911

Let me show you the FATE OF TRAITORS...

http://www.loiterink.com/photos/products/182_3424_500x500.jpg

they are incapable of telling the difference between SCIENTIFIC *FACT* AND
RELIGIOUS AND PHILOSOPHICAL *TRUTH*... FATAL ERROR!

they also preach a *VALUE FREE SCIENCE* called *POSITIVISM* that ignores the
inequalities of wealth and power in capitalist civilization...

for a sample taste of PZ Myers' GARBAGE...

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2010/06/sunday_sacrilege_imagine_no_he.php

HIJACKING IN PROGRESS!!!

http://hawaiiwebgroup.com/maui-design/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/website-hijacking.jpg

HIJACKING IN PROGRESS!!!

how can these HEADLESS IDIOTS BET AGAINST GOD!!!
________________________________________
what happens when you LOSE Pascal's Wager...

http://www.peterkreeft.com/topics/pascals-wager.htm
____________
you FIGHT PAPER MONSTERS...


THE BOOBQUAKE - 911!
****************************************************
http://dissidentphilosophy.lifediscussion.net/philosophy-f1/the-boobquake-911-t1310.htm