Hello? Is there anybody out there?

Well, if you’ve been reading this blog for a while you might already have guessed why there has been no blogging activity of late…currently my home town of Kerang is cut off from the rest of the world by flood water.

We did evacuate from Kerang earlier this week to my family’s holiday house at Lake Charm (15 mins North of Kerang) to escape the water. Then Jem was called in from leave to work in the Disaster Relief Centre at the High School in Kerang. So the kids and I stayed at the lake without him, thinking it was safer.

Apparently it wasn’t. All the water is coming from 2 separate rivers which join up at the North end of Kerang and heading towards Swan Hill, which is now on high alert for a major flood. Lake Charm lies directly in between Kerang and Swan Hill. After talking with the SES and CFA, no one could give us an expected flood level- all they could say was ‘It’s going to be bigger than anything ever seen here’.

Then a family friend who was sent out this morning by our Shire to estimate the flood level, came by to warn us that it really didn’t look good for houses directly on the low side of Lake Charm.

So we evacuated again, this time back into Kerang. So now we are home again, completely isolated and waiting for the flood waters to subside.

While we were on the ‘outside’ I did manage to snap a few pics of rising flood waters and I’ll do my best to explain for you where they were taken.

This is a smaller levee bank about 200m past the twin bridges on the west side of Kerang, on the highway to Swan hill. The line of trees at the back of the photo is Kerang. The tractor in this pic was running a pump that was trying to empty this side of the levee back into the other side. As you can see, it was a losing battle. The next morning, all this was under water, including the road.

This is the road in to the picnic area on the south-east side of Reedy Lake (5 mins North of Kerang) The next morning there was no bridge and everything was half a meter under water.

Some sand bags that apparently couldn’t be used quick enough before the water came.

This was some hay on the Boort rd. on the west side of Kerang.

This was the North side of Reedy Lake yesterday. The outlet of the lake couldn’t be opened any more than it already was and the lake was about to burst its banks. So the farmers who lived right beside it took it upon themselves to make another outlet.

This is the Ibis rookery, on the south side of Reedy Lake.

Residents mailboxes who live on the ibis rookery road.

And this is the flood waters we drove through on the Murrabit rd. to the North of Kerang.

A poor farmer’s house, engulfed by flood water.

And this is coming back into the North end of Kerang, where they are building another levee on the actual road. This is to hold out the Pyramid Creek which is now coming from the east side.

 

All these machines belong to some very good family friends. They live out of town but decided to help the town by bringing their own equipment in to build the levee, also donating their countless hours of driving.

There are so many people helping out and doing their bit. Those who cant sand bag are feeding everyone else. The community spirit is really something to behold!

Ok I’m off to sandbag! I’ll show you some of our efforts tomorrow!

 

When I kick the bucket…

 

Not that I’ll be kicking any buckets soon I hope. It just occurred to me that if I should happen to up and die, my husband doesn’t really know what goes on in our house to keep everything running. So I’m making this list of things he should know.

(This is still in progress and maybe you guys have suggestions for additions?)

My list starts with:

- My internet banking passwords. Along with a list of all the accounts we have, fortnightly payments, etc.

- My blog and facebook usernames and passwords… you know, so he can make the announcement and let you guys know I wont be posting much :)

- Details on how and where I store all our digital photos. (If left to him I know he would never even think about these again)

 

Then come the smaller details:

- A small reminder that the dog is a living creature, thus she needs to eat or she may not be living much longer. Remember to feed her every day!

- Aus doesn’t like yoghurt (a fact Daddy forgets often)

- Bin night is Tuesday night

- The rates come quarterly

- I switched power companies and we are now locked in to a contract so tell any door to door salesmen to bugger off.

- Remember to take Austin to the toilet before he goes to bed.

 

Then there are the things I know he will do- that if I was around, wouldn’t even be contemplated…

- Aus is not to get a motorbike before age 7!

- Don’t let the boys go outside to wee on the grass, when there is a perfectly good toilet present!

- Don’t be fooled by the old ‘I can’t go to sleep because… there’s a spider/moth/ant/mozzie in my room’ act.

And lastly…

- Remind the boys how much I loved them and how happy we all were together, and that I want them to find peace and happiness in their lives.

What am I missing?!

 

The particulars

Well, I better start off by telling a bit about myself...

I'm 22... almost 23. My name is Kristie, but everyone calls me Kris. I'm a Building Designer in Northern Victoria, Australia. I love my job and I also love to create. My grandmother tells me that I was never happy as a young'un unless there was some type of creative implement in my hand. That is still true. I don't get as much time as I would like to create, so there are many later nights before work in the morning...
This is my little fella- On here I'll call him 'Aussie Bob', which is his nickname at home. I don't usually dress him like that but we had a 'rock stars' themed party and he was Freddie Mercury... obviously. Of course the lightening strikes make the outfit! :) He's 18 months old and the center of my world...
That is of course except for my soon to be hubby... I'll call him 'J'. He's sweet and kind and gentle... and a sports nut. Doesn't matter what sport, he loves it. Even GOLF!! How could he?! We're getting married in Oct, on his Grandparents 55th wedding anniversary. His grandmother is very sick though and we just hope she makes it.
Well, I think that's enough for now, next post I'll put some photos up of some things I've been making lately. Ta ta!