Central Plateau, North Island

Central Plateau, North Island
View from a friend's farm

Thursday 25 June 2015

Too Much or None at All

 

We have had flooding in our area, and all round, our home was safe, huge amounts of water on the lawn, 187mm , or just over 7.25 inches, according to the rain  gauge.  and the Tutaenui Stream at our boundary was a raging torrent. In some areas, people are stranded,  families  will not be able to return home for a month or so, only by helicopter now, and many homes are uninhabitable, and have to be demolished.  Fences, trees, roads and bridges are so badly damaged in many places.The power stayed on, but no Internet for days, and then I had to reset the modem router. So a lot of catching up to do, probable no comments until I am back to  normal .We have so much to be  thankful for .

Here is the track to the stream, January 2014, when Ginger Boy first came to our place

Ginger Boy down the track

This was  last Saturday, the water came up to where Ginger was standing

Flooding June 20th  Eel corner covered

When the water drained away, we were left with a wonderful sand bank.

Sand by the eel corner

Latest update, this week I had a visit to the Ophthalmology  Clinic, cataracts are starting, but the glaucoma is not a worry at the moment. Huge relief.

Wednesday, a long trip to Wellington Hospital, a lengthy and so thorough, Anaesthetic pre-assessment. This was 2.5 hours long, and it is all go from now on, and hopefully not too long to wait. Hugh is relieved, maybe a little,  maybe quite a bit…apprehensive. Several days stay down there, and recuperation, they didn’t suggest any time-frame at all.

We have sunshine today, after some cold mornings, but in  the South Island, record low temperatures,   photo and data from the internet.

Minus 20 Celsius at Pukaki, near Mt Cook, on Tuesday  22nd June. Aucklanders complained, needing puffer jackets and thermal underwear, as they had a 3Celsius morning. A bright spark on TV told them to harden up!!!

Here is frost at Tekapo, inland South Island

frost at Tekapo

COLDEST RECORDED NZ TEMPERATURES

-25.6C, 1903, Ranfurly, Central Otago
-21.6C, 1995, Ophir, Central Otago
-21C, 2015, Omarama
-19.8C, 2015, Pukaki Aerodrome
-19.7C, 1943, Ophir, Central Otago
-18.9C, 1878, Bealey, Canterbury
-18.6, 1939, Manorburn Dam, Central Otago
-18.3C, 1918, Ranfurly, Central Otago
-17.9C, 1968, Omarama
-17.5C, 1930, Manorburn Dam, Central Otago

These temperatures are all taken in habitable areas, so  it would be a lot colder in the peaks of the Southern Alps.

Quotation of the day, author unknown

“ You will miss the water, only when the well runs dry”

Greetings from Jean

20 comments:

KB said...

That is an incredible amount of water. I'm glad that your house stayed dry and that you are safe. I hope that others are able to recover quickly.

I am glad to hear the health news... and, although Hugh may be apprehensive, the surgery probably will help immensely. Thinking of you both.

TexWisGirl said...

oh, i'm so sorry to hear of the flooding and devastation for so many! i'm glad your place was safe, even if surrounded for a bit. and good on the appointment so hopefully hugh will be cleared for go! thanks for an update!

Georgia said...

Happy to see you're staying safe and dry and taking things one at a time. Love to you and Hugh and your furry family. G

Linda said...

Jean, nice to hear that your appointment went well. Your photos are lovely!

eileeninmd said...

Hello Jean, the flooding is horrible. I am glad you are safe but sorry for those who can not return home. I am sure Hugh will feel much better when the surgery is completed. Take care and enjoy your day!

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Glad you stayed safe and dry. I am sorry that so many around you are having to deal with so much loss.

It's good to read your appointments went well.

Enjoy the rest of your week ~ FlowerLady

camp and cottage living said...

Sure glad you didn't get flooded, Jean, and that you received a good report about the glaucoma. You and Hugh remain in our prayers

Inger said...

How awful with all that water. Good you are safe, but how sad for those who were not and lost everything. Sounds like all is going well for Hugh with the appointments.

Hannah said...

Good to hear from you Jean, I'm glad the flooding didn't affect your house. My brother and nephew's families in Houston escaped the flooding too. My husband had cataract surgery in one eye in February. You don't say if you are having one or both eyes done. With one eye done, he now can see the distant clock at the swimming pool for the first time since he was 7. However his ability to see close is gone in that eye. So in his non-operated eye he still needs a lot of correction but can see very close without glasses, like to get out a splinter. There are problems driving with glasses since the 2 eyes are seeing different things and he gets double vision, so if he wears a contact lens in the non-operated eye he can see better for driving. The other problem is lifting. The operated eye is weakened and he initially couldn't lift much weight, but it slowly gets stronger and he lifts pretty heavy stuff now. But the doctor told him it takes a year to reach 80% of former strength.

It does get quite cold in New Zealand, it would get to -25ºC in Denver for a few days in January, and our car wouldn't start, so we actually rode the motorcycle to church on snow-pack! Young and foolish. Here, it usually doesn't get below -10ºC. Best wishes for your surgery!

Hannah said...

Oops, I feel really silly, Inger's comment makes me realize the surgery is for Hugh, not you. I hope you won't need cataract surgery for quite a while. Sorry.

Nancy J said...

Thank you all for lovely words and care. Hugh's surgery is for his spine, and mine, when it does happen, will be for cataracts, and maybe laser ( only if the cataracts cause this to be a problem) for the narrowing channel??? that happens before glaucoma really develops. I understand that they do one cataract at a time, although I know a friend who had both done, one eye, out for a cup of tea and biscuit, 20 minutes wait, then the second eye, and her eyesight is wonderful. Hurrah to the "older age" group, when so much happens. The flood waters have almost gone, a mess everywhere, but our place is fine, just the stream bank littered with debris. Thanks, Hannah, for some extra explanation, makes me feel a lot happier about the future.

Carol Mattingly said...

Between water and snow it's hard to know what to think. Stay safe. So glad your glaucoma isn't a big issue and tell Hugh hang tight. Relief is on the way. Stay well Jean and Hugh. Carol

Barb said...

So much water - and I know it can cause such damage. Glad you were high enough to stay safe. Thank goodness Hugh will soon feel relief from pain - I hope all goes well. Keep us informed. Thinking of you!

Barb said...

I keep thinking of you, Jean, wondering if you've heard any more about Hugh's surgery. I hope you're drying out and people can get back to their properties. My Bob was diagnosed with cataracts in the fall, but is hesitant to get the laser until maybe this fall when he doesn't want to be so active. I don't think the recovery is long. He's encountering some fuzziness now when reading. Hugs from CO!

Our photos said...

Wow, a lot happened. I hope it will be ok soon !

Allie-oops Designs said...

Wow that's a lot of water - so glad you stayed dry! Praying for Hugh. My mom had both eyes done a couple of years ago, she can see just fine and a few weeks after surgery she was seeing wonderfully. Stay warm, hon!

bj said...

Thanks on the update on Hugh..hoping all goes well and swiftly.
Sorry for the flooding...glad your place was safe.
Just looking at the cold photo made me cold...and it's a 100 degrees here. Sooo hot and humid.

Tanya said...

Glad to know that you are safe... Water, water everywhere! And I thought Japan's rainy season was bad!

Hope your cataract surgery will go well and your husband's spine surgery... That sounds scary. I guess I'll pass on any kind of surgery! Stay healthy!

Jenn Jilks said...

Climate is such a challenge for many. I'm so glad to be in summer.
The frost scenes look lovely. I don't mind the changes or variety. By the end of the summer I've had it with gardening!

Flooding is a different story. mY goodness.

Craig said...

An amazing amount of water. I'm pleased that your home was not threatened.