saved by the tulle

We have survived The Great Rains with slight flood damage to one shed.  My toybox (yes) got damp at the base.  I've just unpacked it because the sun is now shining so I put the toys and books out to air.  At the bottom of the box was a thick layer of scrunched pink netting which I bought once for a Breast Cancer Girls Night Out do and kept with Sarah in mind.  This elevated the other contents and kept them dry.

And to my astonishment I learned from the local ABC news that yesterday was World Tutu Day.

There, you never know do you?

there's lovely

I was going to tell you a tale of simpler Christmases, when a tin of Quality Street toffees and chocolates was a luxury.  'Keep the shiny papers,' my Grandma said, 'and put them in a bowl. When the light shines on them, ooh there's lovely'.

Last night I watched 'We'll take Manhattan' and now am smitten with Aneurin Barnard who, I've just discovered, is another boy from the Valleys.

Google him yourself.

Smelling Wales

We have survived the Great Storm with just some water damage in one shed.  I won't air it out yet as more heavy rain is forecast.  As I walked to the waterfront and around the town to inspect the damage, I realised how 'St Davids' it felt: warm, moist air swirled with a sea tang.  Heaven.  I shall read Richard Flanagan's 'Wanting' this afternoon with all the doors and windows open.

Rain

It's raining like I've never seen before.  Possibly a la monsoon, but I've never been privy to that. Lightning and rolling thunder with occasional direct hits. It's easy to believe the gods are gaming on Mt Olympus.  Fortunately our house is small so the usually petrified Sis is taking it all in her stride with us all huddled together.  I feel for less favoured animals and humans frightened by thunder.  And the campers next door.  Tents look abandoned.  Our garden is flooded and appears to be benefiting from a wash of topsoil from the caravan park.  I was going to the gym this morning but decided to savour this event.  Steve brought me coffees in bed and I alternated between listening to the rhythms of the storm and Classic FM.  Eventually I had to get up to view the panorama of  water and the cascading birdbaths.
This rain started yesterday afternoon and is forecast to continue today and tomorrow.  We were lucky to have some gentle rain on Tuesday which moistened the drought dried soil and, hopefully, made it absorbent prior to the flooding. I reckon the tank is full.
I'm wondering what is happening at the archeological dig at the Marine Barracks.

Catch up

I'm not proving too good at getting back to this blogging lark.  But it does play on my conscience, if that is of any help.  I have a cuppla stories to relate.

I finally have a pair of Crocs.

Sarah, who does not like to have her photo taken, was very pleased:  'Now you can get a different pattern on your feet'.

Not yet though.

The real reason I have wanted Crocs is that David and Frances in St Davids swear by them and live in them.  There was a memorable morning when I followed Frances around the cliff tops to fetch the Sunday paper and, the path being narrow and requiring concentration, France's Crocs and swishing skirt imprinted on my brain.  So now I've got a pair for my own cliff walks.

It's not Caerfai but it is very, very beautiful.

Ta ra the $1 Post has come

I should have known that putting the cost of postage up to a dollar would result in a better quality of letter received.  Two gorgeous letters in the letterbox and no bills.  Our new postie also gave me a super friendly wave.

Facebook moment

Lunch today.  First of the garden tomatoes with home grown basil and Steve-made bread.

OK

Thankfully blogging is not one of my NY Resolutions.  Sadly that's New Year not New York but the day will come.  Not that I'm complaining about Tribes.  I'm getting over my guilt at not working and my consequent terror of not earning any income.  It occurred to me last night that I am beginning to feel fortunate.  I have known for a long time that I am in a most fortunate situation.
Last night Steve and I and most of Triabunna / Orford filled our nearly refurbished Community Hall for the Orford Odeon's screening of Paper Planes. This Australian film did not meet with great critical acclaim (so I'm told) but if you have the chance to watch it with zillions of kids in the audience, go for it.  We pranced home buoyed by bonhomie and childish spirit.  Luckily the Orford Odeon is to be based at the Triabunna Community Hall which is an easy stroll for us. Minions is screening next Thursday if you're interested.
This morning I walked part of the cliff walk at Spring Beach.  The path was blocked by a father and son who were replacing a geocache (listen up Heths) they had cleverly located.  As I patiently gazed seaward through the pale blue brush stroke of water,sky and island, an arm appeared from the depths, Lady of the Lake-like.  A beautiful image to capture by a dumb Triabunny with no device on her.  It was, of course, a strong and confident swimmer slowly stroking across the bay.
I walked back via the road to check out a shrine to books which you can help yourself to.  Lots of interesting titles.  I chose

I have read a Han Suyin before, a true epic about the Himalayas, and I'm looking forward to this one, apparently autobiographical.

May be

I'm thinking of resuming the blog.  I've managed to sign in.  Everything gets so tricky with zillions of different email addresses and passwords but so far so good.  There is the trauma of uploading / downloading photos yet to come.  I have been pondering making the blog more reflective / essayish. Fleurieu Floozie is not in favour of this approach but we'll see.