high winds and other problems

 20.7.2024

 

The weather is just horrid. Icy rain continues to pour down and the water tanks are overflowing and creating small rivers just where we don’t want them. To make things worse, yesterday there were high winds and the road up our valley was blocked twice by falling trees. Peter from the hill brought down his digger and moved the first one and Edd dealt with the second with his chain saw.

 

Al and family went to the airport to catch a flight to Brisbane but were caught up in the global computer problem. After 7 hours waiting Al drove home but his car broke down on the way. Pip and kids got home by Taxi, but Al did not get home until just before 3am. By then the flights were going again and Pip left for the airport on her own because she was booked in for a conference. Al is at home with our three young grand kids who are probably exhausted.

 

To make matters worse the washing machine broke down. Josh took it apart and found the pump was not working.  He drove off and got a new pump and fitted it.  We are so lucky that Josh can fix things. Edd hacked the old pump apart and found it was blocked with a sock. I have always suspected that washing machines swallow the odd sock or two!  However, it was not a sock we recognised.

 

I am totally over winter and can’t wait for spring to arrive.  There are signs it is on the way. The wattle and lucerne trees are about to bloom and buds are forming on the quince and paulownias. The jonquils are in full bloom and there are heads forming on the broccoli. Tonight, we are off to a communal dinner to celebrate xmas in July. We have not been able to hold our mid-winter feast for several years now. Everyone in the family has commitments at different times making getting together as a family impossible which is rather a shame.