In a bizarre twist of irony Sydney is experiencing the worst storms for 30 years (and I can vouch for the fact they are not terribly nice to be out in) and the rain has battered the garden and the house for the last two days. It is a long weekend here.
And we have no water.
I have coming out of the shower head, a slight, indiscernible trickle, which is not at all shower like at all. The water coming out of the taps is not much better. It's been like this for a couple of weeks, slowly getting worse, and I thought it might just be a glitch and get better, or at least hold out till Mr 6.5st The Handyman Edition returns. But apparently not. It is not the plumbers problem. Apparently. It is not Sydney Water's problem (although I am impressed they came out this evening in this weather). Apparently. It is a mains water pressure problem stemming from the neighbours house, so somebody, somewhere has to fix it (ie neighbour who pays plumber lots of money).
Preferably, soon. Because this afternoon we had no water at all, and I did start to panic. Quite a bit.
And do you think everything righted itself and I won Lotto after my last post? Was the above not clear enough? Because Max decided to push all the snibs in on all the doors around the house so none of them latched. Which ordinarily wouldn't be a problem, but in an old house with little cracks and crevices to the outside world, in the worst storms for 30 years, the doors all bang in the wind. And bang. And bang. So I also went around and unscrewed all the latch plates and unstucked the snibs. Yes I know that is not a word.
And I - in my insomniatic state of sleep deprivation due to anxiety at which child will decide to wake next and when - put the jam jars into the oven with the rubber seals in tact to sterilize. Mmmm. That one smelt really good.
I did buy some nice buttons. And I am loving this combination of wools - Japanese Maple Merino from Axelle (merino very much now discontinued, it was left over from a Clapotis) mixed with a red I can't remember the name of (which was also left over wool from another project) a piece for a friend's little girl.
Tomorrow is another day, right?
Right?
It has to get better....surely?
Surely?
Right?
oh, so very sorry for your crazy day...it is tomorrow now so it is to be better. the buttons and knits are beautiful, could that be a bright spot?
Posted by: mamie | June 08, 2007 at 09:32 PM
I bought a load of spice jars once, and carefully glass painted the names of the herbs and spices they were going to contain. Then I put them all into the oven to set the paint.
Including the lids with the rubber seals.
*%*$ !
Come to think of it - that was when Molly was about 6 months old.
Just blame it on the kids.
Bloody kids.
Posted by: lyn | June 08, 2007 at 09:40 PM
surely! After the rain comes the sunshine. Courage!
Posted by: filambulle | June 08, 2007 at 09:52 PM
with all that is going on it's so nice to take comfort in the small things like the beauty you found and share in your wool and buttons. with sun, some rest, and, of course the basic need of running water things will right themselves.
Posted by: Nancy | June 08, 2007 at 10:23 PM
I hope that Prada bag is REALLY big.
Posted by: Mama Urchin | June 08, 2007 at 11:12 PM
The silver lining in all this? Karma is gonna owe you big. Big, I tell you.
Let me know when you're in the clear for running away. Life has been so peachy here, I might just fly to the other side of the world to run away with you.
Stay strong. That's my new mantra.
Posted by: Sarah | June 09, 2007 at 12:41 AM
it will. I hope. and still the humour is there :)
lovely buttons x
Posted by: Zoe | June 09, 2007 at 01:53 AM
Oh man, it surely will get better! I hope today finds you with sunshine and a hot shower! Sending big (((((Hugs))))
Posted by: Tuesday | June 09, 2007 at 01:59 AM
oh man, it's just coming at you from all directions. Tomorrow will be better!
Posted by: Donna | June 09, 2007 at 02:29 AM
of course it gets better...always after the storm ;)
Posted by: moki | June 09, 2007 at 03:37 AM
It has to get better. It's coming at me from all directions here too, and you and I both are due for a karma upgrade, I think...
Big hugs to you, Alison. May the water find its way to your showerhead very, very soon.
Posted by: Lee Ann | June 09, 2007 at 04:28 AM
I keep coming up with suggestions in my head - answers, quick fixes,but then I realised thats not what you need, you know the answers, you just need support - so here we all are sending supportive thoughts your way - hope things improve soon my friend.
Posted by: Jussi | June 09, 2007 at 06:46 AM
oh dear... i think the prada bag needs to come complete with prada clothing to match! hope things get better soon my friend...
Posted by: sarah | June 09, 2007 at 08:02 AM
Poor you, we too live in an old house in Sydney, although it is the newish extension causing us the grief in this weather. This morning we woke to the rain sheeting over the back lawn and almost in the back door. The angle of the rain had also come in under another door where it was being soaked up by the blue rag rug and in turn up the curtains. I now have the curtains soaking in nappy soaker to eradicate the blue dye.
Posted by: Louise | June 09, 2007 at 09:07 AM
oh no... what a bizarre thing to happen. Email or ring us if there's anything we can do - you could bring the children over for a bath, maybe...?
Posted by: M-H | June 09, 2007 at 12:54 PM
What a horrible week you're having.
I used to think there were signs in consistent horrors like that - now I know sometimes the person in charge just has a poor sense of humour.
Hope things improve soon, and wishing you smiles and a nice hot shower with someone else to mind the kids while you have it.
Posted by: michelle giacobello | June 09, 2007 at 06:21 PM
Oh dear. What a week you're having.
Posted by: ellen | June 10, 2007 at 01:06 AM
Oh it surely must get better after all of this bad luck right?!
I can't believe what a week you are having, and you sound so remarkably calm.....
I totally sympathize with the lack of water...I know it well, my parents well runs dry for about 3 weeks every summer...
I hope the luck and the plumbing changes soon.
Posted by: Laura | June 10, 2007 at 07:15 AM
hello, Today you are chatted about in the weekend magazine thats comes with the Sunday Age. I was sooo excited for you and did lots og OMG OMG I "know" this person which the kids did not find impressive at all. I guess i should really say "I lurk this person ".
Well done !!!! and I hope the weather breaks soon
jod
Posted by: Jodie | June 10, 2007 at 10:39 AM
hi I read about this site in a life magazine at the weekend can anyone join to talk to people who like knitting and craft
denice
Posted by: denice | June 10, 2007 at 01:38 PM
ah. yes. lack of water (or the threat of impending lack of water) would give me the crazies for sure.
I've lurked briefly before, and always wish I could sit and read your blog a bit longer. It is so balanced, so serene. And then to see you clearly have incredibly trying, sleepless days and nights just like so many others? Well, that just made you one of my favorite blog writers ever. Thanks for sharing this bit of your life!
Posted by: Dana Lynne | June 10, 2007 at 02:29 PM
well this is the first time i've come to your blog, but immediately my heart goes out to you. what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. sincerely hoping you have water today.
Posted by: Liz | June 11, 2007 at 07:48 PM
New to your blog. came from Ling's . She sounds so pregnancy tired and overwhelmed. WOn't you leave her some encouragement? It may help you feel good
Posted by: kathy boyer | June 12, 2007 at 08:07 AM
Yes! this too shall pass!
Posted by: Heidi | June 13, 2007 at 08:04 PM
You have a short memory.
The hail storms that hit Sydney in the April of 2000 were horrific and far more damage sustained than this weekend just gone.
Our power was out for 12 hours, hail stones the size of tennis balls smashed the skylights, allowing torrents of water inside the house, the car sustained sizeable dents and our Erskineville streets were under three inches of water.
This weekend just gone compared to that? Not even a blip, my dear. Not even a blip.
Posted by: Breda | June 13, 2007 at 10:55 PM