Many places in the region - not us, which is probably a good thing - had their heaviest snowfalls for over 20 years, and possibly longer. The main highway north has been (and indeed still is) cut in several places due to snow and ice on the road, and now many more roads are cut due to flooding. Tamworth has three crossings over the Peel River, and as we speak two of them are cut due to water over the road; the bridge on the closest crossing to us is above the river level, but the approach road on the west side is not. The main bridge, the only one remaining open, isn't far below major flood level; folk have been posting pics on social media showing water lapping onto the roadway as the river flows swiftly - very swiftly - just below. You can read some of the news stories here. One person is missing after driving through a flooded crossing a few hours south-east of us. The rain has stopped for now, but more water is still making its way down the river toward us so it's not over yet.
While the story about the missing woman is tragic, I couldn't help a little smile at the yellow duck sign in the picture.
Tomorrow morning I have an appointment on the other side of the river, so fingers crossed that getting there (and home again!) isn't too much of a drama. My memories of growing up here are of regular floods; my parents' house was on a hill, and from their backyard we had a view over the town and a very good view of the flooded river. In those days there was no levee so when the river overflowed its banks the water would go right into the main business district, but that is now a thing of the past....some of the flood gates failed last night, but the water was pumped away. Those childhood memories are the reason we bought our house on a hill well away from the river - if our house ever goes under, the rest of Australia is in deep trouble!
And now onto our regular programming. This week's trees:
Another blue from Summertime Blues, an interesting print in smokey blue with red contrast. There aren't many blue fabrics left unused now.
Our wattle bush is starting its annual blooming, so of course there has to be a wattle tree!
I love this deep gold, and the contrast was bought in Canberra during our trip there a few months ago. I can't resist sharp lime green.
Now we're up to 64 trees. Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm 64.....I was once, you know.....
Some of those wattle blossoms at the beginning of their annual flowering, not quite the same colours as the fabrics in the golden tree but close enough in spirit. Several species of wattle have deep gold blooms, while others are so pale they are nearly white. Mine is bright lemon yellow.
How has everyone been this week? We shopped to avert starvation, stitches were sewn and knitted. Words were read. Songs were plinked and sung, and thereby lies a dilemma. When we first moved here one of the things I did was to join the choir of which I am still a member, and our regular rehearsal has always been on Thursday night from 7.15 to 9 p.m. Our recent concert didn't enjoy a huge audience; having it on a cold winter night is not a guaranteed way to draw a crowd, especially as many of the folk who support these concerts are not on the young side. Our leader Bill has now decided that we should meet in daytime and any future concerts should be in daytime too, which is probably a good idea - except that he decreed that we would meet on Thursday afternoon from 2p.m. to 4p.m.
Guess when U3A ukulele group meets? Yes indeedy, Thursday afternoon from 2p.m. to 4p.m......oh, just change your U3A day, said a few choir members to me when I pointed out that I would never be able to get to choir.....but when one is a small cog in a larger wheel it's not always easy. Bill is going to see if that is the only time available to us, and I will sound out the U3A people about a change of day. The issue with that is, many members are also enrolled in other courses so clashes would seem inevitable and venues are not always available when needed..
Oh well. We shall have to see how it goes. I'm certainly not going to do what the previous U3A leader did and drop my duties like a hot potato.
This week's etiquette quote is short, it is part of a topic which will be spread over a few posts as it is much too long for just one post.
"Proper manner of courtship.
It is impossible to lay down any rule as to the proper mode of courtship and proposal. In France it is the business of the parents to settle all preliminaries. In England and Australia the young man asks the consent of the parents to pay addresses to their daughter."
Did your parents arrange your courtship? Mine certainly did not; by the time Kevin and I were married my parents were divorced and my father was...we knew not where. Our courtship was self-service.
no, they didn't - i found out many years later that my father (who died before the eXMan and i were even engaged - an engagement that lasted less than a week) told my mother that if the eXMan was Kerry's (my brother) friend there must be something wrong with him ... she told him to keep his misgivings to himself unless he wanted me to end up living in their house forever ... sigh ... Daddy was, of course, spot on, but i didn't know till it was too late ... would i have listened to him and made other choices? i dunno...
ReplyDeleteYour trees are fun, as usual.
ReplyDeleteWhat a contrast of climate we are. You flooding and the south the state in drought. We only had a couple of very short light showers. The easterly weather systems rarely make it west of Lithgow.
My parents had no say with me and thankfully didn’t say anything negative when we got engaged so quickly. They came to love Mick very much. I was one of the lucky ones and scored a keeper.
There are lovely wattles flowering around here. I do love their happy colours. The weather is crazy.... been very cold ...
ReplyDeleteHugz
Our "courtship" began in university. Parents were not involved, nor, luckily, was my older brother, who had intimidated my high school beaus.
ReplyDeleteHope your weather settles down soon.
I head about the snow ….. when it melts, there will be more flooding. Love your new tree blocks!
ReplyDeleteI did wonder how you were faring, glad you are above flood levels, so cold your wood heater would be appreciated! Loving the trees!
ReplyDelete