WHAT A WEEK!

[RobynG]

It really has been a bad week. It started with a freak storm which caused the friendly little stream at the bottom of our garden to flood. It was a raging torrent within minutes and within the hour it had undercut the gabions with such force that they ripped out of the bank making way for a wall of water to slam into our neighbours double story house. She was beside herself and called the fire brigade who assured her that as long as the storm subsided all would be well. Fortunately the storm did subside soon afterwards! We were very lucky. Not even a broken branch! Two houses at the top of our culdesac didn't fair so well as the river burst its banks and flowed straight through their properties causing quite a lot of consternation....but still nothing too drastic. Today the stream is gurgling prettily as if butter wouldn't melt in its mouth.

The next thing on the agenda are the daily power outages we are experiencing here in South Africa (and will continue to experience until 2014). Not only the inconvenience of being without electricity for several hours every day ( usually over meal times and peak TV viewing times), but we also have power surges that blow up appliances with regular monotony. This week my computer got it! Insurance won't pay because it's very difficult to prove that the power surges caused it. I was without my computer for a week which was very painful since I couldn't visit CCS. In the bigger scheme of things it really wasn't such a hardship but knowing that this is to become par for the course is a bit hard to stomache. So far we have been lucky. Friends of ours have had 8 hour electricity cuts every day for weeks on end and have lost TV's, a washing machine and computers during the power surges.

Ok, got that off my chest! My computer is back and life is looking a lot more cheerful.

[shanak]

Those are really wild pictures....I can only imagine what it was like!

[Charlotte Rains Dixon]

Hi Robyn, Glad all was okay with the flooding, great photos.

Charlotte

[DJ]

Robyn,
The pics are amazing.
I am so glad no one was injured or threatened during the flood. You mean so much to us here at CCS! Please take care of yourself.
Love & Laughter,
DJ

[RobynG]

Most of the outages last 2 to 3 hours at a time and not much happens to the freezer as long as I'm not opening it constantly. The electricity then comes on for a while before going off for the another 2 hours. We have only had 1 a day but friends have had 4 a day which added up to 8 hrs in one day.

[Susan Hosken]

Robyn,
What happens to the frig and freezer when the power goes. Mine are quite frosty and there would be water everywhere.
Lots of love from Susan in Australia

[Lin Neiswender]

Glad you are back with us, Robyn, I was worrying about you. With cause, based on your post! I'm such an internet junkie that I jones being without a computer for a week, get cranky and not very nice to be around! My dogs are glad when the puter comes back from the repair shop, that is until Mom is on it too long and runs over into dinner time. In which case Lacey jumps up at my lap and starts slamming at the keyboard with her front paws, letting my know enough is enough!

I couldn't function without power and air conditioning. Don't have much of that pioneer spirit in me I guess. I admire you for managing it...

[Mary Hicks]

So sorry about your horrid week, Jules! And here I was complaining about the cold...there's nothing worse than fighting water.

Keep your chin up (out of the water!) and hopefully your internet access won't let you down! I've "wasted" my whole day just surfing...and I haven't gotten wet yet!

Be well.

[Susan Hosken]

Glad that the floods didn't get into your house. I am a computer addict as well...every morning when I get up I am on and visiting CCS and other places.
The power surges and blackouts sound a real problem.
Thanks for posting this blog entry. It's good to see you.
Lots of love from Susan in Australia

[RobynG]

Barb, that sounds terrible and to think it might have started a fire if you hadn't been there. Glad the insurance company paid up.

[RobynG]

Oh poor Jules with water seeping through the floor! The smell must be awful!

The weather is definitely odd. Usually Feb is the most hottest month ever. The heat seers! But this year its not as bad as usual. In fact I can distinctly feel a wonderful Autumn nip in the air this evening. It makes me feel very creative knowing Autumn is around the corner.