My Spring Carnival

My Spring Carnival this year is rather tame. One member of the family has been studying for exams the last 5 years each Melbourne Cup weekend, so they are focused inwards. The "other half" runs his own business and never takes the Monday off. Quite often I have been working the weekend before Melbourne Cup. So yesterday, I watched the rain fall from the "comfort" of a busy library. Wiping rain soaked book covers and laughing at people huddling drenched outside the doors when we closed.

Our rain gauge at home has now measured more than 65mm from Friday night - Sunday morning. A decent soaking - so much so that I wondered whether we would have some minor flooding. However, the agee pipes have done their job well.
I was on holiday in outback NSW recently. While visiting the Menindee Lakes I met several hardy souls camping beside the lakes. As one does in the outback, we stopped to have a word or two. The Murray Darling Basin plan had just been released and people were concerned and outraged. With the Lakes full many expressed total disbelief in any "Climate Change" theory. And the recent rains here in Melbourne will just accentuate this view.

But time will tell. After all one year of weather, does not climate make. Whether or not the scientists are right, moving towards a low carbon economy will have great benefits.

But not for everyone. Some will lose livelihoods and more. It happened when my parents moved from their small town to a small city whilst seeking a better life.

Relief at last - rain!

I don't know about the rest of Melbourne but I found the last 2 weeks trying. The heat was welcomed initially, then quickly became oppressive and continual. Thank goodness for the air-conditioning. At least we all have been able to sleep reasonably well.
Hopefully the electricity used by the air-conditioning  has been offset by our old solar hot water system, where we have turned off the electric booster for about 3 weeks. Showers have been piping hot all day. We shall see how we manage the next couple of days now that it is cooler.

And still no sign of my solar power-

AHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Today the dried off plants in my flower and vegie garden look much better. Our makeshift rain gauge shows 59mm of rain fell through the evening til 6:30am this morning. What a wonderful total. I haven't been down to the nearby wetlands to see how the creeks and pools are faring, but so far no flooding around me. The rainwater tanks are now overflowing - all 12,000 litres. They were down to half full on Friday and I was getting worried that we would not have enough for the summer. Our friends tell me their 200,000 litre tank was less than half full yesterday - I'll bet its nearly full today.
I must look at the weather forecast for the next month and see if the November record heat is forecast to return for December.
Perhaps I'll get time to read about the ETS soon - I haven't had the fortitude to do more than read part of the summary of the draft report. The Liberals antics have provided much more fun- even if it is the nature of black comedy!

Hooray we have rain

The last few days have produced a wonderful release from the long hot dry. Rain has fallen and in sufficient quantities to almost fill the water tanks, release me from watering the garden and encouraged me to bring out the cool weather clothes. It will be interesting to see if the garden responds by budding back into life, though its time to start ripping out the tomatoes and rejuvenating the vegie garden for winter plantings.
Whilst driving to work the other day I did notice more than usual numbers of dead animals on the side of the road. Looked like possums and the odd cat. I was wondering if the wet and cold weather have pushed some of the animals into death and whether this is normal for March, or whether the hot and dry have created a lack of food and habitat for some animals.
It was fun watching the scenes of the Sound Relief concert in Melbourne over the weekend and seeing the drenched but happy faces of the music fans. Paul Kelly and John Farnham sang as well as ever.
Midnight Oil seemed also to be as good as usual, dancing in that signature way on stage. Just shows you Oil's are Oils!

Also very pleased to send half the proceeds to the Queensland disaster relief effort as they also need lots of funds. Perhaps the drenching rain was a good omen for the future of both disaster sites.