Sydney today

When will it end?

This is the Murray River near Moama/Echuca, where I was in February.  It hasn't yet gone over the top but I wouldn't like to live close by! If you look at the bottom of this blog, you'll see the level of the river then.  Haven't been able to contact my friend who lives there by email or phone. 


There is a YouTube site here:  http://www.mmg.com.au/flood-warnings-continue-as-more-roads-close-1.11949  (Sound is bad, so mute it.)

Here in Sydney it POURED all night - local flooding, traffic lights out causing huge problems. Below is Hyde Park, in the centre of the CBD, where I was just yesterday:

Wool, rice, wine and orange area

This is the Riverina area of southern NSW, where Lina's family comes from.  What a complete disaster!!!!

Not long ago I drove through here to Moama/Echuca on the Victorian border.

Hard to believe

These pics are from a NSW country town, Moree.  Can you imagine an area the size of France looking like this!!!


There are far too many rascals in the world, Winifred!  We hear all about the Murdochs and we have our own clowns running the country!!!


Dentists apparently charge an arm and a leg the world over, though I am lucky enough to have one who only charges what you get back from the health fund (except for a crown).


Hugo might be coming home today - they're waiting on a visit from the paediatrician to give the OK.


Later - Yes, Hugo is home!  Back to his usual smiling self.  What a relief.

Rain, rain, rain...

We were lucky to get that sunny day last week, as now we are back to day after day of rain.  You British folk would feel right at home in Australia now!  There are floods all over the place, though fortunately we are not affected here, but I do feel for the poor devils who have had to move out of their inundated homes.  Our biggest problem is having to pump out the pool every now and then so it doesn't overflow.


In the whole of summer we had only two hot, sunny days.  This was a first for me.

Yes, Lina, I did feel for that poor little lamb as I gobbled him up!  It's horrible to eat animals!!!!  Though I have to admit it was delicious.


Poor baby Hugo has been in hospital for two nights and days, with gastroenteritis.  This pic shows the new emergency centre and paediatric unit, which Philip says is first class. It's only a few minutes from home, so we are very fortunate.

6pm News - It's the worst flood event EVER, with 75% of NSW (an area the size of France)

affected.  Oh golly!

A lovely day

My birthday has lasted the whole month and one day last week a friend took me to this beautiful spot for lunch.


I keep reading warnings about not revealing personal details online so - you may have noticed - I am always very careful.  What sad things are happening in this world.  No doubt sad things have always happened, even though Steven Pinker in his latest book (which I haven't finished yet) claims things are improving.  I still haven't finished 'The Life of Tolstoy' as life keeps getting in the way.  I can relate to him as he had a lot of difficulty working out how to live his life, too.  I suppose we all do.


I seem to be in a muddle all the time and keep on trying to work out some kind of routine, but never manage.  My Japanese is coming along OK, though my cooking has been non-existent lately, so this morning I opened a Maggie Beer cookbook I've had for years for the first time and have written a shopping list for a delicious dinner of char-grilled lamb and broccoli in lemon sauce.


I would invite you Lina, but I know you don't like lamb.  (Listen here re your comment last time, there are sweeping lawns in the park over the road, so you can't expect everything!!!)

Simply amazing!

On 21 July 2010 I put the top picture in the blog, with the heading:  This is my kind of backyard - but will I ever find it?  When you look at my actual backyard in the bottom pic, it's not too different, is it?  And, since we're on the edge of a huge reserve, there is bushland all round us.


Frank and Winifred, and, from time to time, Michael, you are my faithful supporters.  Are you still there Olga?  Heather?  Karin?  And anybody else who usually reads my blog - give a sign of life, please.

Morning

I love the sound of planes overhead and went outside by the pool with Muffy, my coffee and my camera this morning to take some pics for you.  It wasn't the easiest of things to do, as, by the time I'd clicked the shutter and the photo was actually taken, the plane was almost out of sight.


The noise is minimal, not in the least annoying as it is in suburbs closer to the airport.

Last year and this year - more of the same.

This pic was taken in last year's floods but I decided to use it today as it's such a fantastic shot. Fortunately this poor kangaroo was rescued by a bloke in a boat.  I don't know, Winifred, maybe we should all head for the moon!  The flood situation to the north is horrendous again, with thousands of people being evacuated from their homes.  No floods where I am, but it's been cold and wet all summer.  It's the first summer in 69 years I've worn winter pyjamas to bed!  When I was in Goulburn with my sister last week, she actually had the heater on and also the electric blankets!!!!


This year:

Echuca holiday

On Sunday I went south to Goulburn by train to my sister's place, then we set out in her car to drive to Moama/Echuca, on the Murray River, which divides NSW from Victoria.  I forget how long it took - about 7 or 8 hours' drive each way, I think.  We'd been there twice before to visit a friend.  It's a lovely place to have a break for a few days.  Lots of history to take in.

As you can see the river is brown and the bush grey.  Typical of Australia.  Paddle steamers are currently being built and some of the original ones are still there, too.  We went on one of them upstream a few kilometres to a winery where we had lunch on the deck of the building.  To our great surprise, several tame kookaburras perched boldy right beside us, waiting to steal our meals!

This one practically sat in my lap, and wasn't the least bit nervous when I took photos!  A waitress came and threw some pieces of meat onto the ground to get the flock away from us, though I didn't mind at all, as I'd never been so close to such wonderful creatures before.


At times the Murray floods, and this picture shows some trees that have been uprooted in the past.

At the present moment there are serious floods in southern Queensland and northern NSW.  It rained heavily in Sydney the whole time I was away, as well as all the way to Moama/Echuca and back again, though it was fine and sunny the two days we were there.  No sign of summer at all here in Sydney.  We've had only one hot day.  Quite extraordinary, though anything is better than the usual summers of 40 degrees and high humidity.