Fires and Floods

Well Oz being Oz we lurch from one natural extreme to another.

While the south (Victoria) is still battling wild fires the north (QLD and NSW) are now facing near cyclonic conditions and flooding rains.

At my Mum's place in northern NSW there have been 350 millimetres (14 inches) in the rain gauge since Saturday night!

The house there is well above flood levels but towns in the region are facing floods as are many cities in Queensland.

Well the secret is out!

Well my WIIW initially stumped everybody.

But following my clue yesterday Jennifer (aka Old Kitty) worked it out.

It is indeed a windmill. This is the Callington Mill at Oatlands in Tasmania.

Originally built in 1837 it has been fully restored and is now a working mill (as well as a tourist magnet).

Apparently it is the only functioning mill of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.

Now before I go: Tomorrow I will be on the road most of the day so I am unlikely to post.

In fact over the next two weeks or so posting is likely to be an infrequent event.

Deb and I are making some huge (hopefully positive) changes in our lives.

I know it is a bit unfair to leave it at that without saying more, but I promise I will bring you up to date during coming weeks.

Al chalks one up!

Well this piccie I posted for WIIW has stumped everyone!

So a clue is in order.

I have posted a piccie of the object this is cropped before.
It has nothing to do with transport.
Is a large object that is old (this one is was built in the Eighteen Hundreds) and used an ancient technology.

In Which Al tries again

Well despite my efforts to be trickier last week Susan guessed my WIIW in the first round (with a little help).

So this week I am trying again to put up a WIIW that stumps all concerned.

Without further ado what on Earth do you think this might be?

Fitzroy Town Hall

My piccie of the day is of one of Melbourne's many grand public buildings.

The Fitzroy Town Hall and Public Library.

Syd Harb

My piccie of the day needs little explanation.
Given the Aussie predilection for abbreviating  everything Sydney Harbour becomes "Syd Harb"

I took this piccie quite some time ago. I went for a walk across the "Coat-hanger" (the Sydney Harbour Bridge) and pointed my camera at the Opera House.

The ferry is probably a Mossman Ferry (the Manly ferries are bigger and it hasn't come from under the bridge)

Hilda XXI: Doug

Well the cooler weather continues for the moment.
Many of the fires across the country have been contained. But the heat is forecast to return in the next few days.
A waiting game really.

In this week’s Hilda scene: Hilda has gathered the courage to go back up to Lieutenant Tilley’s room.

1914
The cup of cocoa rattled on its saucer as she carried it back to his room on a wooden tray. A plate of biscuits and her candlestick stood beside the cup. Balancing the tray on one hand she knocked with the other. She waited an instant before opening the door.
He’d changed, sitting now on the edge of the bed in a dressing gown. That was something she supposed, perhaps he was pulling himself together. ‘Here you go sir, a nice cocoa.’
‘Thank you. Hilda wasn’t it?’
‘Yes sir.
‘You said you’d chat for a moment.’
She hesitated, there did not seem to be any malice in him, ‘For a while sir, I have to be up early.’
‘Have a seat.’ he gestured at the chair by the desk.
He waited until she’d turned it to face him, ‘You see,I don’t know I shan’t go into a blue funk the moment we face the enemy.’
‘You won’t.’
‘How can you say that?’
‘I don’t rightly know sir. But, in respect of the fact that you are facin’ your fears now I imagine you will be alright when it comes to it.’
‘You see, there is so much I’ve never done. I’ve been in the Army since I finished high-school. I’ve done nothing, I’ve had no time for poetry or literature, I’ve never traveled outside England, I have no sweetheart to write to, or to grieve for me, I’ve never kissed a girl.’
A moment of doubt, was that what this was about? A ploy to bed one of the servants?
She glanced at him, no she didn’t think so, his eyes were downcast,focused inward. He wasn’t dangerous, she thought, rather he was frightened, pathetic. Helpless was closer to the mark.
‘I’ll write to you if you likes.’ She was amazed at herself, he might take such a thing as very forward, ‘While you’re over there I mean. I…’
She stumbled to a halt, his eyes were fixed on her. ‘You would?’
‘I would sir.’
He surged to his feet, ‘I should introduce myself properly. If you are going to be… going to be my friend I can’t be “sir” and longer.’
He held out his hand, ‘Doug Tilley.’
Hesitantly Hilda held out her hand, ‘Hilda, Hilda Attewell.’
He took her hand, ‘Pleased to meet you Hilda,’ he brought her hand up, bending forward he brushed it with his lips.