Rain and Unexpected Kindness

I wrote not so long ago of the sound and smell of rain as it falls at the end of a long day.

Now the rain has not stopped falling. From drought to flood; so quintessentially Australian. (Yet bushfires still burn around the country, and many areas are still in drought.) I’m currently flooded in. A small causeway crosses the road near the house, and the water is too high for my mini. The creek is tidal, and usually it floods for half a day or so; the worst has been for a few days. Should that happen, I’m contemplating building a raft with empty wine bottles.

As my dogs and I lay in bed contemplating watching movies all day, a neighbour’s daughter’s boyfriend popped in to check on me.  He was heading out of the valley in a 4WD more suited to the weather, and wondered if I needed anything.

Such a sweet gesture – especially since, as my daughter says, he’s not yet family. The elder sister’s boyfriend I’ve known long enough that he is family, and the tow of them often drop in to say hello and leave five hours later. This one just needs another month or two. Since my husband died, the most unexpected people have emerged to look after me, while many of the expected have faded away.

Part of the joy in striving for (relative) self sufficiency, is that I won’t go hungry. It’s still summer, and the daily harvest bountiful. A future son-in-law keeps me supplied in fish (currently kingfish and bream), and I trade my home-roasted coffee for eggs.

It may be a while, however, before this gets posted. The power has just gone. If it doesn’t come on overnight by tomorrow the sound of generators will fill the valley, as well as chain-saws removing falling trees. Every now and then I hear the thunder as a massive branch cracks and falls.

But for now, a glass of red as I contemplate dinner, while appreciating the unexpected kindness which helped me get out of bed and face the day.

The power came on around 11pm. A thank you to those souls who work in the darkness and the rain.

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