Thursday 5 February 2009

Too much excitement

I haven't had an internet connection since Monday and that makes me feel very isolated. But it is the reason why we lost our connection that makes me feel stressed.

On Monday we experienced a tremendous lightning storm - but not a drop of rain. (It has now been 36 days since our last rain). The lightning caused 5 fires in our valley. One started behind our property about 300m from our house and another on the road in front of our house. We weren't hanging around so chucked a few valuables (including current knitting projects) in the car and took off. We didn't get very far when we came across a neighbour trying to put out a small fire with her feet. We stopped to help and with sticks, our feet and a shopping bag kept the fire contained until a fire truck came by and took over. We spent the rest of the afternoon at a neighbour's place until the all clear was given late in the afternoon.

The relief was short lived because on Tuesday the wind whipped up. In the afternoon we heard the fire truck siren as they rushed past our property. At this stage we still had no internet connection and thus couldn't check where the fire was. A while later we could hear Elvis in action. A neighbour called to tell us that there was yet another fire behind us and one lower down in our valley. So an anxious few hours passed with me constantly sniffing the wind for smoke and scanning the sky. But I'm happy to say that both the fires were eventually declared safe.

And then to add to our stress we discovered that the creek which supplies our water dried up yesterday. We do have two large tanks full of water and that should see us through to the end of summer but our garden will have to suffer.

Here's hoping for a speedy end to summer - with another 43C day coming up on Saturday I'm not really overflowing with optimism.

9 comments:

Jack said...

Bushfires are horribly scary. Glad everything is okay now, shame about the creek though.

Lupie said...

We in the Northeast US want an end to winter. Too much snow and ice. Today we will be well below Zero and lots of wind.

Anonymous said...

so this is where you have been in "nowhere land" i will pray for lots of rain for you tonight as its building up outside at the moment and we are meant to get rain tomorrow. can you buy water if you run out? - my friend buys water if her tanks dry up and lo an behold as soon as she buys the water it rains!!

Gemma Wiseman said...

So glad you are OK! Those few days of heat ruined my computer and I am just back online today! But my poor computer is still in intensive care.

Fortunately, I am now able to be on another and today is my first day back blogging!

I too am a little fearful of this Saturday with 43 degrees here on the Mornington Peninsula. Hopefully, there may be a sea breeze wandering around!

Anonymous said...

Crikey, what a time of it you're having. I was glad to hear about some knitting projects going with you, something to occupy your mind a little although how you can concentrate on anything with bush fires about is another matter entirely. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that soon the heat will lessen and you get some very much needed rain. You are very welcome to our snow!

Amanda said...

Valli - yes, if worst comes to worst we can buy water in. Still no sign of rain here.

Amanda said...

Greyscale Territory - I'm keeping my fingers crossed that tomorrow will not be as bad as predicted but its not looking good at the moment.

passionknitone said...

Great blog. Found you in Lesser Known Skeins. I hope your weather improves.

Annie said...

O Amanda, what horrible times you're having! And here we are complaining of too cold, too wet and too slippery! I hate thunderstorms and the fires will be so frightening! Hope all changes for the better soon