Wild Weather Enforces Quiet Time
The wind was so strong here in the last couple of days that I'm sure we were nearly blown to the other side of the world! All of Tasmania was caught up in cyclonic wind conditions, in fact I've heard that a suburb not that far away had a small tornado as well.
Circling wind for sure and it was easy to tell that something special was happening. We had one tree come down, falling towards the East, just missing the house by a couple of feet. The neighbour had two trees down, one falling North and the other to the South. No wonder our eyes have been doing mini circles!
Then to top it, last night, just as dusk fell, the blackout came! Blackouts are never fun but out here in the country (which we are still getting used to) it means... no flushing toilet; no shower, in fact... no water! No power and no heat or any kind, as our gas heater requires electricity to run. Ugh!
There is the fun side though... out come the candles and the gas camping cooktop, and virtually straight after dinner (soup and toast) it was off to bed. Doesn't ever happen that way but last night we became more "birdlike"!
Today they said that virtually all Tasmania would receive a dumping of snow, but we're yet to see that. In fact today was a lovely still sunny day.
Fortunately, just under 24 hours (tonight just before dinner again) our power was restored. Now it's fairly obvious that we'll have to look for some measures that prevent us from being plunged into the total loss of all mod cons... if we stay here.
(Update) I wrote this yesterday but didn't get to post it. The snow did come but not on our side of the island... not even a threatening cloud! The power was restored just before dinner last night so was out for a total of just under 24 hours.)
But why did I tell you all this? Well, when you have no internet, and your mobile phone is asking to be recharged, it throws you into a completely different realm. Here was I in the middle of so much online... and then suddenly nothing. The battery on my laptop lasts only for about an hour, so I didn't go there.
So what did I do today... I brought out the pen and paper - remember... the old fashioned way! I sat quietly and thought, jotting down many things, and in my mind I double checked the direction of where I'm headed with WA and my website.
During this enforced "quiet time", I've managed to get my plans in place. As a result, there are some things I'm going to change... but really... it's so much easier to think when you are away from the computer. We really do need to make sure it's not ruling our life as it seems to want to do.
I use a large notepad and write down all my ideas and thoughts. I like to scribble quickly and relay all the things going on in my head to paper. Then from that I sort it into some kind of order.
In fact, most nights before retiring I find it really helpful to commit to my notebook what is the most important thing I should attend to the next day. That way it's safely on paper and I don't have to worry about it in my head. :-)
How many others find it easier to think when way from the computer?
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Good post. We take so much for granted these days; Internet, phone and all the stuff you mentioned. When it's gone for a period of time some of us panic but some of us remember there is another way. I too like to write things down on paper, makes it harder to lose and nice to have if we do need to re-write.
Is Snow common in Tasmania this time of year? Sounds a bit like Calgary, Alberta where they can have snow any month of the year.
Yes Wayne... in fact it's like my son's throat has been cut! Talk about down in the mouth! Mind you, with the help of the charger in the car he managed to keep his mobile going on some power saver, so really, all that texting they do didn't really stop.
Snow is only normally found on the top of the high mountains but occasionally it forgets to fall where it should and finds other places. For example, a city right on the edge of the water on the north coast (in bass straight) received snow right down to the water's edge. Now that's unusual!
We didn't receive any as it was coming from the west and we are towards the eastern side of the island. It all stopped before reaching us. We did think there was a good chance we would receive it this time. So only the high mountains received their share.
No, I don't think Tassy is at all like Canada. I know a guy on skype who lives in Edmonton (is that how it's spelt?) and what he has related to me is what I call extreme!!!
It is mid winter here so if we're going to get it, this is when it should come.
It just occurred to me where you live, about 600 miles southwest from Adelaide. Extreme southern reaches of Austrailia, so, I can see how you could possibly get a few snowflakes from time to time especially seeing that it IS your winter. Yes, my geography is coming back to me now.
Is it not kool how we can have friends all over the world? WA is amazing and so is the internet.
It's funny that it takes an enforced power failure to find that you can actually work more clearly with pen and paper...you know why? Because there are no messages flashing for your attention...I love Tasmania!!!
Thanks, glad you love it, as I do! Presented with challenges every so often but that's country living!
I like to keep a note pad and pencil at the side of my bed - sometimes I can't sleep because of all the ideas buzzing round in my head - once I've scribbled them down, my head is clear and I can go to sleep
Exactly! That's what I find... gotta get it on paper so the mind can relax! Thanks Kaciesmama!
I love making handwritten notes, and yes, my mind is a hundred times freer and less distracted......
So it's not just me! Didn't think it was really. There is something about getting right away from the computer which seems to have distractions in every which way! Thanks theresroth!
I've been there my dear! Hurricane Sandy was the worst for NYC and surrounding areas. We were without power for 9 days. Other Nor'Easters have left us without power for days too. But I remember the storms as a wonderful bonding experience for our community and family. Plus no laundry duty YAY!
I didn't write at all during these times, glad you could though!
I hope I'm not jinxing myself by mentioning them because we are long due for another major storm :)
Gosh 9 days! That'd be really hard to take. I guess though there are always benefits one way or another. I didn't really write, just made notes.
Growing up in Alaska, we had many days of no power, no heat, etc..you just deal with it. When we moved to an area that we knew would have a lot of outages, a generator became a must. This background stood be well, when I was in a hurricane last fall. We were without power for several days. Except for missing the fans (it was hot), the whole experience was a nice break from the digital world.
Back to your original question. I too think better on paper. Just more tactile.
Have a great week. Enjoy your snow. Linda
See for some it's a normal way of life and I presume that's how the neighbours around here think of it. We're not used to it at all and becoming country bumpkins isn't always what it's cracked up to be. Haha... but there are a lot of positives which I love.
It is all in what you are used to. In the hurricane I forgot to stock up on blocks of ice for the refrigerator! In Alaska that wasn't an issue. All the neighbors ate well for a few days. Life is an adventure. Before you know it you'll be teaching a newbie how to survive without!
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So glad to hear you are okay! I like pen and paper. As a matter of fact, maybe that is what I should do since staring at my computer screen is not inspiring me as of late. ~Gina
Thank you Gina! No we're fine. Apparently though the blackout has done something to our water pump so we're water less at the moment... that is, water through the pipes to the house. We can dip out of the top of the tank which is quite a nuisance. Anyway, my husband has taken the pump into the city hopefully to come back home again with it fixed.
Computer screens can be like that can't they? And there's nearly always something flashing somewhere which doesn't help. Yes, I recommend a nice hot drink, a comfy chair, a pad and pen... just start writing and it will come. :-)