Fluffing around with the layout and design of blog.

Wet - Avoca Beach.

This could take some time.

Love the root system of this fig tree

 along the banks of the Parramatta River in Sydney.

On the second day of 2012 we are enjoying another
 hot, dry day after months of rain in 2011.

Avoca Beach Clubhouse, today.

The Children's Rock Pool

One lone surfer sits on the beach observing the waves

In the water are several surfers battling the unruly, churning waves.

We have had extreme torrential rain here on the Coast and it will continue until the weekend. Some areas are flooded and around Tuggerah Lake are sandbag stations to help householders keep the floodwater from entering their properties.

Ash cloud from a Volcano eruption in Chile

has crossed the Pacific Ocean and

is now passing over New Zealand's South Island and Tasmania

Monday Jobs - Storm Damage

1. Empty bucket under hole in ceiling
2. Continue to dry out carpet - fans - towels
3. Ring roofer to inspect roof for leakage
4. Ring work - day off - domestic leave
5. Inspect yard - front and back - dropped branches etc
6. Re-Wash basket of clean clothes that was under ceiling :-[
7. Wash towels that were used to dry water-soaked carpet.

The ceiling in my bedroom now has a hole in it as a result of the horrendous deluge of rain we have had these past two days in Sydney and the NSW Central Coast. More here

Thank goodness, I was in the lounge room on Twitter reading the Tweets from Ausblogcon2011 when I heard a thump sound, going to investigate I found my carpet and dressing table awash in water and bits of plaster which had fallen from the ceiling. Whoops!.

It looked like the gutters had not been able to handle the amount of water rushing into them and it had backwashed into the ceiling cavity. So calls to SES and my insurance company while trying not to stress (brief meltdown) but it looks like I will be off work tomorrow while I call in a roofer to check roof and plasterer to replace part of the ceiling.

Update

The SES (State Emergency Service) came climbed up on the roof

- no broken tiles -

so cleaned out some of the guttering, no tarp to cover,

let me take their photos, packed up their truck and left.

I have edited this post and put my AusBlogCon2011 post on my other blog. Here

Watching television footage of Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.

http://bit.ly/hL8MjG

Truly horrendous.

Watching a whirlpool developing offshore.

More survivor footage.

http://media.smh.com.au/national/selections/tsunami-survival-heroics-caught-on-video-2238767.html

We have had a week of extreme heat of 35+ with yesterdays temp of 45C. This afternoon the weather has turned and a slight shower of rain has come to cool things down. Lovely.

Something Different

Thats the way to travel.

This video was found on this wonderful blog.

http://kittystampede.blogspot.com/

Wow, Its raining in Australia

and there is lots more to come this Summer.

My usual view of this boat

which I drive past on the way to work.

So with all the rain we have had this year

they have built a low sea wall along the shoreline.

Another thunder storm is on its way to the coast.

Cat and dogs have taken up residence inside the house.

Looks like the mowing won't be getting done today.

Message to the Sun above Sydney, Australia.

Can you please take the shades off your face

and burn away those clouds.

Thanks.

St Marys Cathedral, Sydney.

Its cold

Ok, not northern hemisphere cold

but cold for Sydney.

Tuesday and Wednesday mornings of this week

were the coldest-1celsius (=30.2F) in

60+ years with ice on my car windscreen.

After the humongous electricity bill last year

I am determined keep this year's bill down.

I am wearing a woollen cap and have a rug

across my knees while typing this blog post.

Today arrived sunny and breezy, so like a flash I was up and the washing machine was in overtime, two loads are now on the clothesline outside flapping in the breeze. Lovely.

Then it was off to the local shops to buy some batteries for my flashlight, I have a LED torch that you only need to wind up to charge but I like to have a spare on hand. Picked up the Sunday papers which usually takes me most of the week to read, paid off a layby, bought some hair conditioner, pet food and a new dog blanket for the dogs bed (warm and cosy).

Listening to the weather channel giving update reports on the storm going through the south coast of New South Wales -a state in Australia-, 6,000 without power, shattered windows and roof damage. The storm is heading towards Sydney but hopefully it will have blown itself out by the time it heads further north.

Hunter Rainfall Forecast

Rainfall is expected for another 6 days.

I will have developed web feet by then.

I was listening to the radio today when weather reports of hail and rain in the Sydney area were announced, by the time I got home the storm had already gone through leaving behind no electricity to the house, a sodden yard and scared dogs.

Luckily soon after I bought in my groceries and attended to the dogs the electricity came back on, so I didn't have to get out the candles and torch to see my way around.

I wandered off to the local beach to update my new header photo. The walk down to the beach is quite steep so will head back for more photos when there isn't a threat of rain.

I had planned on going along to Shelly Beach which is just south of The Entrance but there was a branch carnival held today Sunday, 7th February. All available parking was taken so will head back on another day when it is not so crowded

Today,my son Michael is at the

100th Big Day Out
music festival in Sydney.

(www.novafm.com.au BDO photo gallery)

It is very hot in Sydney today,

 Twitter posts from the festival say 40C (100F+).
My Weather Pixie on blog reads 41C at 3pm

Amazing Photo of Snow covering England

as NASA’s Terra satellite passed overhead.
Snow covers most of England

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=42237

Its HOT

The last 3 days the temp has been around the 38-41Celcius. Too hot in the house for the dogs to get some relief,  at least, outside there is a breeze coming off the ocean on the other side of the hill.

Today, I drove up the F3 Freeway to attend my niece's baby shower,

Rachel and Colin 
where my sisters and other female relatives were going to enjoy a lovely girls afternoon. Rachel is due in 3 weeks and is feeling the heat. Her husband, dad, brothers and male relatives decided to stay and enjoy the cool air-conditioning.  It was rather :-) to watch them holding up and commenting on the tiny, tiny little clothes and a lot of (My Goodness!) so much stuff needed for such a tiny newborn.

 
Some relos.

Tomorrow and the rest of the week, the low 20Cs are predicted until the weekend when its back to the 30Cs.

Thank goodness, I like the heat and the hottest day can find me ironing, cleaning out cupboards and other energetic activities around the house.

CRAZY WEATHER


The temperature dropped drastically overnight

it is now 4.02pm with a temp of 19C. Weird.