The day started out with beautiful blue skies and sunshine, it was quite warm for this time of the season, so off we all went – to our respective jobs.
Everyone in the office was commenting on the lovely weather and saying “well, maybe the Bureau of Meteorology were wrong”, for they had predicted a really bad storm was going to come our way. We all looked at the blue sky – with not a cloud visible – and laughed…
An hour later I looked out the window and the blue skies had turned to gray…the storm clouds were rolling in, but we didn’t realise at that time how mighty this storm was going to be.
Then the rain and the wind hit, the skies were a dark gray – almost black, but we were dry in the office and thought nothing of it. The lightening was spectacular and the thunder shook the building it was that loud…. sent tingles up my spine!!
It wasn’t until 3.45pm that the power just went out… Computers, lights, lifts in the building etc., at that stage I didn’t know if it was just our block or if was wider.
There was nothing for me to do but leave work (as I normally leave at 4.00pm anyway), 5 flights of stairs down to the outside of the building and out into the rain. My thoughts turned to people who may be trapped in the lift and I messaged my work colleague Jan, who had left a couple of minutes before the blackout, to see if she was trapped in the lift…luckily she messaged me later to say she was OK.
Paul was waiting to pick me up and then we had to try to get home. Then I realised that it wasn’t just our block, but the whole city… Trying to negotiate road junctions with other nervous road users, people taking silly risks and not being patient… I was so glad to get home.
We found out that the whole of South Australia’s power was down – and the Power Company didn’t know when it would be back on either, stating, “that it could be down for a long time”.
Lucky for us we have a gas cooker, so we have been boiling water for hot drinks and we have had a good old standby – bacon & beans with toast…. just to keep the chills out, all by candle light. Then Paul stood there with a torch whilst I did the washing up…LOL…
So we have been lighting candles all over the house (It’s kind of romantic), playing music on an old tape deck that runs on batteries, all rugged up with blankets and hot water bottles.
Outside the storm still rages, but it is eerily dark everywhere – no street lights, no lights in neighbour’s houses…all very spooky.
I stepped out in the back garden and could hear sirens, alarms going off, and even what sounded like gun shots.!!
This concerned Paul who made us get a few weapons of choice up together just in case – he believes there will be trouble tonight – maybe not here, but it is always good to be prepared….and would we use our weapons to defend our property….you better believe it!! We have locked the front gates, pulled down all the front roller shutters and secured the garage and side gate…. The only way into this house is through the roof, and if you get in that way – good luck to you because we have a pitbull… I bet he can chase someone down no matter how scared they are!!
We have no idea what is going on as the Internet is down and Vodafone has gone to SOS mode only…
So here we are, back in the dark ages – well that’s what it seems like, the earth has stood still for us – not a lot to do (unless you have a laptop and can write a blog in Word…LOL)…. It is charming to sit in candlelight and listen to lovely music without the noise of the world coming through at you from everywhere.
I have to wonder whether I will be going to work tomorrow if the power is still off…. There won’t be anything for me to do and I doubt if I will be able to get in the building…
The other thing I worry about is the $500.00 worth of food that I have in the freezer, which will spoil if the power doesn’t come on soon. The power has been off for just over 5 hours now. (I know, first world problems)
We are lucky though – we have a roof over our heads, clothes and blankets to keep us warm, food & drink, and the ability to have some light… I have to wonder about all the homeless on night’s like this – I bet all the hostels and refuges are full to overflowing….so sad..
I have predicted that the power will come on around 11.00pm – we shall see if my prediction is correct – or I am a fraud…LOL… (PS – writing the next morning to tell you that I am NOT a fraud – the power came on at 11:01 pm)
Here is a poem I wrote in the silence of the night:
In the darkened, brooding skies she did wait,
To cast her rage against those who betrayed her in the earth below.
Out of her finger tips vivid strips of cracking light refracted through the clouds,
Her tremendous roar being heard like an earthquake throughout the land.
Tears streaming from her saddened eyes flooded the plains below
As her fire and ice breath circled around through the trees.
Enduring her pain she cast a spell to those who betrayed her heart,
Absorbing all their power from below, leaving them in the dark and cold,
The land is laid baron and forlorn,
Retribution has been made..
And she moves on…
They call her STORM!!
Cheers,
DARKWENCH