Ho hum Hamish

Apart from the best surf V has encountered since moving to Paradise, Hamish is just being busy doing not much.

When I was an inmate at the Red Roof Gaol, we encountered several cyclones fit enough to make life a boarding school exciting.

• 3-4 March, 1983. CYCLONE ELINOR - memorable mostly because my cousin was born during it - and I was advised in sick bay, because apparently the boarding house we were living in was not rated for cyclones.
• 22 February, 1985. CYCLONE PIERRE - a whole lot of rain, causing our fire alarms to go off several times a night for several nights. Seeing firemen when you are in an all girls boarding school? Fantastic. Seeing firemen several times a night when you are shivering on the school oval while it was bucketing down rain? Not so fantastic.
• 1 February, 1986. CYCLONE WINIFRED - this one was noticeable because it decimated our ranks - many other inmates were in flooded regions when school reopened, and the ratio of misstresses to inmates being so high really sucked.
• Unfortunately for Des (January 1983), Grace (January 1984), Ingrid (February 1984), Harvey (February 1984), Lance (April 1984), Monica (December 1984), Nigel (January 1985), Vernon (January 1986), Alfred (March 1986), - obviously you were the Hamishes of yesteryear

I never really had high expectations of Hamish, anyway - the only cyclones (in my lifetime) who have had the guts to come this far South and crossed the coast been very fewhave all bar one been ladies.

Cliff crossed the threshhold in February 1981 and broke a drought - but we all have to doff our hats truly to Gertie (December 1995) (not to be confused with the Gertie of April 1964 or the Gertie of February 1971, or indeed the Gertie of 1985) who was no longer a cyclone when she came over, but came in from the West and traversed the whole continent!

So Hamish - it appears you are not an Althea, an Emily, a Fran, a Dawn, a Wanda, a Zoe or a Daisy.

Is it just me, or does it appear cyclone names are pretty wussy?

Apparently you can request (in writing only) a name to go on the future preferred name list.

What do you think is a good name for a cyclone?

Hello Karma

thy name is Hamish.



So tell me - is it because I didn't clean the bathroom?

Oh - and Elizabeth - front-loading washing machine + approaching cyclone = excellent drying conditions, so as every load was pegged, a dry load was taken off.

(Paradise is to the left of the zone where it might head)

I think I might have to offer the bathroom to the money gods next, now that I have form.

Jeanie and taunting the weather gods...

Apparently, there is a cyclone to the North of us. It is category 4 (which is really, really big - like you don't want to argue with it) and caused the weather girl to say on the news last night "most of coastal Queensland is being declared a disaster zone" which is just so typical of today's journalism.

Here, 650km to the South of the flaunted "disaster zone" (with another 500km to the South of us) it is fairly still, the waves are fairly flat (to V's dismay) and the rain only threatens.

My maths says that there can be no way over 50%, let alone "most" of the coast declared, so a big "nyah" to commercial television reportage.

Yes, I KNOW if you live in regions North of the "disaster zone" you sort of want to give rain a wide berth or send it South, but see, here in Paradise my car needs a wash and I may have to contemplate turning on a hose for the little citrus trees to grow up to be big citrus trees.

(I know - I was only whinging about rain a few short weeks ago, but (a) I am a fickle creature, and (b) I have a black belt in whinging and like to lash it occasionally.)

So anyway, I have hatched myself a little plan.

To entice a little of the wind and weather to my neck of the woods (just enough to water the garden, wash the car and get a surf for V - I am not greedy), I plan to:

• wash seven loads of washing, including
  • a small backlog built up since I last washed on Tuesday including the washing I forgot to take out of the machine on Friday
  • the sheets off the beds that were stripped on Tuesday
  • the entire range of teatowels from the kitchen and bath towels from the bathroom, and yes that means the dank washers found in nooks and crannies and even the < gasp > bath mat < /gasp >
    
• Hang them on the line (take THAT weather gods)

Of course, that may or may not work.

I also have up my sleeves

• Clean the bathroom (oh yes, I believe in pulling out the guns when the guns are necessary) and discussing the situation with the weather gods (including a small discussion with the big boss, if necessary)

I am going to get really upset if that still hasn't pulled a tear from the skies, but I still have an ace to play.

• The car will remain hidden in the garage so they don't know my sinister plot until the rain starts to plop, but if necessary I will forego my chance at a free carwash and actually do the darned thing manually. That should get the rain-juice flowing

Of course, if all else fails, I will have to water the garden myself.

Of course, the speed and direction Hamish is heading has caused a few weather predictions with him on our doorstep some time during the week - which may be about when I am over the whole hoping for rain thing and want sunshine - but hey, I can be as fickle as weather.

In which Jeanie throws caution to the wind and advises the public of her status as a "bad mother"

Did I ever tell you what a wonderful mother I am?

No?

Well, that would be because I am a bad mother.

I steal lollies from the child. That BAD.

And do you know what else?

I take great joy in eating them - a two-fold joy really, because

• (a) she isn't going crazy from a sugar high, and
• (b) I am!!


Sorry to whip the scales from your eyes.

Jeanie and her string of calamitous events

I was at Granite Glen on the weekend - a little computer mustering; a little offering of 'Salina for grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and horses to delight in; a little giving V some peace and quiet.

While there, I had the unfortunate experience of finding something under the wheel of the office chair.

It sounds so innocuous, doesn't it.

"finding something under the wheel of the office chair"

Do you know what the something was?

It was my mobile phone charger - oh, not the whole thing (which would have made an awful speed hump on my sliding around BushBabe's office) (and I am not sure I would have had the run up required), just one little bit of it.

One tiny little bit.

That tiny little bit what sticks in the phone.

You know.

That tiny little bit what sticks in the phone and charges is. Makes it work. Enables you to call, take calls, text, find phone numbers and rings an alarm when 'Salina is due to leave the house to catch the school bus.

Yep. That would be the school bus she missed this morning.

But do you know what?

I am all for silver linings.

I arrived home from Granite Glen without any problems, thus negating the need for the safety device for the 200 km trip home. Heck, over 130 of that doesn't have mobile coverage anyway, so it was false security. Of course, my thumb itched to send the "MP" and "GG" (milestones on the trip) to V, but each time it did, the cents I saved just chimed back.

I have had enough work over the last two days that I have been firmly tied to the office, and not needed to be out and about.

I was able to find my ex-SIL's phone number on an old statement and call to enquire after the health of the family.

I was able to find my ex-MIL's phone number from her to wish her well on her operation this morning.

I got to drive 'Salina to school, therefore giving her those few precious moments to remember I had to pay for an Arts council ticket for her. I had exactly the right amount in my purse for that purpose.

And tomorrow, I will be in town anyway so I will see about a replacement then.

I will be in town because I have to give blood. Yep, that blood I couldn't give at the start of the month due to antibiotics, that blood that I couldn't give last week because of the adverse reaction to a coffee - another silver lining.

Pronoia - it is the best game invented!!!