News from the Frozen North - Views from the Sunny South

Luckily we are currently in Sydney enjoying reasonable weather as much of New South has been declared a disaster area with the current level of flooding being the worst in fifty years. Co-incidentally the news from Scotland is much the same with the highest levels of snowfall for over half a century with troops apparently deployed on the streets of Edinburgh to assist with snow clearance. On a personal level the severity of the weather came how to us in a strange, round about way. Whilst casually browsing the Internet I came across an interesting set of photographs of something that I recognised – our bathroom ceiling. Or perhaps I should say LACK of bathroom ceiling – where once there was a ceiling there is now a large hole.

Our son Jon and his family are house-sitting while we are in Australia - not wishing to worry us whilst on holiday he didn’t tell us that the bathroom roof had caved in! However this did not preclude him from posting photos of the disaster on his facebook page from whence we got the bad news. A quick video-call confirmed the worst – or so we thought!

Today, when on our way to the beach for a picnic, we received an email with phase two of the disaster. The house roof was covered in snow cum ice and a massive weight was poised over the flat roof of the kitchen at the back of the house. The kitchen roof has a large glass skylight and, anticipating the worst, Jon had protected this with planks of wood - however to no avail. The weight of snow, plus the caste iron gutter which the falling snow dislodged, obliterated the skylight and punched a hole through to the kitchen below. Here’s hoping our insurance cover is adequate.

We tried not to let news of disasters from at spoil the sunshine, hot weather, great beach and amazing views of boats cruising round Sydney Harbour - the problems of home seemed a million miles away.

Sandra is doing the second of her Sydney Markets today (Sat) so I went along with her at 7.30 am to help set up stall and buy breakfast. I then returned to Johann’s house promising to return later – however I am currently trapped in the house as two enormous vehicles have appeared and have started drilling a hole in the pavement and, as the vehicle is jacked up the workmen are totally unwilling, and probably unable, to move. My car is stuck – I hope they are finished in time for me to get back to pick up Sandra and her stall.

Tomorrow is the big day – Anatalia’s christening. No doubt the next blog will have some appropriate photos.