I was wondering why I felt a little as if I was drowning but now that I write it down, it makes sense. And I haven't even factored in catastrophic fire conditions, anger at politicians in the midst of the crisis or the installation of a new fence last week which was quite stressful given that the neighbour insisted it be done on his schedule and in his way, leaving me with an expense I wanted to defer and a problem containing the dogs.
Did I tell you the pantry is full of moth? Insects will have the last laugh.
I live in deep suburbia so I am not afraid of bush fire but I can't discount the risk completely. In last Tuesdays extreme conditions there were expectations that embers could be carried up to 30km from a fire front, which would make pretty much the entire metropolitan area susceptible. Fortunately, the fires which did start on Sydney's outskirts were quickly controlled. Schools were closed and people were urged to have a fire plan, radio stations interrupted regular programming to talk about the fire risk and politicians stated that climate change is irrelevant and they didn't want to politicise the fires which inspired a state wide state of emergency.
We are now at the very beginning of fire season and there has been more loss already than would usually happen in several seasons. If that's not a poliitical issue, I don't know what it could possibly be.
Saving the best for last: I have applied to study Chaplaincy next year. We had a cohort of Chaplaincy students on campus this week and as I walked past the classroom at one point I heard the teacher say "our job is to provide hope"
I'm cautiously excited about having that in my future.
I've been following the news of the Aus wildfires with concern. As you say, they're already a lot more serious than any previous year and there's no doubt more to come. It's hard to see what can be done about the fire risk except to contain the fires once they've started.
ReplyDeleteExciting that you've applied to study Chaplaincy. A new string to your bow, I guess, that will open up a lot of new opportunities.
Nick,
DeleteThe severity of this season is directly linked to drought and extreme weather, which is directly linked to climate change.
Bushfire is part of the Australian ecosystem but this kind of extreme is not normal.
We could influence this, not quickly or easily but with consistent, committed, intelligent effort.
I look forward to chaplaincy, it's a chance to bible bash the vulnerable 😆
All kinds of unusual climatic conditions have been reported around the globe and even skeptics are now coming around the view that climate change is for real and the world has to do something about it.
ReplyDeleteI hope that you successfully navigate your way around getting your chaplaincy. My best wishes that you do.
The predictions made decades ago about severe weather, rising sea levels and shrinking glaciers is all coming to pass while people refuse to address it for fear of hurting their egos
DeleteWell, Kylie, I wish you the very best of fortune in your quest. You are obviously a person with a desire to do good works so I hope you find a way of delivering that service and satisfying that need within you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Graham!
DeleteThis situation is called stress. Sometimes it just seems to pile up. The fires seem to be unbelievable.
ReplyDeleteThe scale of these fires is unprecedented. And yes, stress. I didnt realise it was bugging me until I was exhausted. A weekend off and I'm all good again
DeleteKnowing the problem is the beginning of solving problems. It is like knowing the name of the monster serves to inform you of the defense.
ReplyDeleteWhat fence? Have i missed something?
Congrats on learning and entering chaplaincy.
You didnt miss anything. The fence atthe back of my place has been gradually falling for a number of years, I knew it had to be replaced but there's always something higher on the list! New neighbours insisted it be replaced and gave me only a weeks notice. I'm stunned at the lack of consideration. I told him I can't possibly pay now so he insisted it be done and I pay when I can. Lets see how long that "generous" offer lasts.
DeleteWell, I misread or misunderstood the part about politicians just before the fence part. I thought maybe you got involved in the fence across AU. S, who is going to pay for the fence? Him? I would get that in writing.
Deletethe law requires me to pay half and i will .....eventually
Delete"I look forward to chaplaincy, it's a chance to bible bash the vulnerable"
ReplyDeleteThis illustrates my belief that the best stuff is sometimes in the comments. Surely your tongue is planted firmly in your cheek on this one! As Starshine Twinkletoes (Michelle in the U.K.) might say, hahahahahaha.
Yeth, tung ith in teek.
DeleteCouldn't resist the urge to wind up the hymn book burner
We all need some hope in this newly minted climate affected world. Good luck to you in expanding your own horizons. the fires are frightening and depressing so many Oz bloggers.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
The fires are terrible and there is no hope of them being putout any time soon.
DeleteI hope the fence-insister is as good as his word and turns out to be a worthy neighbour :)
ReplyDeleteThe fires in your country are heartbreaking and frightening, even to those of us on the other side of the world. If it's this bad this early, what will be the eventual costs for the season? (costs to life/limb, people, wildlife, infrastructure, as well as all the other costs)
As for your son's wedding, your hair is so gorgeous just as it is - if I were you I'd go natural and enjoy the comfort of no pins, no hairspray, no worries! (I use a piece of jewelry to "dress up" instead :))
Yes, I'm very concerned about the eventual cost of this season....and the ones to come. If we're not careful we will lose all our tree cover and have instant desert.
DeleteThanks for the vote of confidence!
I'm excited about your chaplaincy program.
ReplyDeleteWhy did you feel the need to build a fence that appears to have given everything to your neighbor and nothing to yourself? I've lived in this house so long that I've built two fences between me and my three neighbors (they bought the supplies and I did the work). The last time, a neighbor who hadn't been there for the first fence said she couldn't afford it. Because she spends money lavishly when it suits her, and because she made no offer to reimburse it sort of put the icing on the cake as to my opinion of her. relationship with her.
We needed a fence, the existing one was going to collapse in the next storm and if he wanted it, he would do the work of organising it so I was happy with that. I would rather get it done pre-emptively than have a storm and have the dogs escape and try to manage that situation...
DeleteBUT I expected some negotiation on timing. I told the neighbour I might be able to do it after Christmas and he said he wanted it "next week". When I hit the roof he said he would pay and I could sort it later. So, thats how it came about :)
The law here states that the expense of the minimum required fence is to be split between the parties. If one party requires something more expensive, they are to pay the difference
I would never have imagined you would be excited about the chaplaincy!
DeleteIt's a bit of a big deal to me. Of course doula-ing was a big deal to me but I never managed to make a go of it. It is still something i love to do and I hope i do it again
Oh you are becoming a Bible Basher?? Great! Love it. Good luck with the studying.
ReplyDeleteI hope you find the perfect outfit for the wedding, you'll look great.
My neighbours one side wanted to put up a fence (my back yard is completely open) but I just said hey the other side have a hedge and you want a fence on your side. Plus I had other expenses anyway so shot that down. And even though I claim not to feel stress I guess the sometimes continually dripping tap can get to us can't it. And congratulations on both the chaplaincy and your son's upcoming wedding!
ReplyDeleteI have visited places without fences and like the feeling of space but in deep surburbia where i live it wouldnt be acceptable. I also need a way to keep the dogs in
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