Weathery stuff

[vilakins]

I just got back from a day out to find that some of you lovely people were worried about me because I haven't posted since the tornado that ripped through West Auckland. It hadn't occurred to me that anyone would be, but I do apologise for not posting earlier. I was busy yesterday and too tired to post in the evening, and then we were away today.

The tornado was one of the more destructive ones, killing three (workmen crushed by the wall they were sheltering by), injuring 27, and making 250 homeless; the SPCA has gone into the cordoned-off area to find pets left behind in the panic to get out and reunite them with owners. West Auckland is the usual place hit by tornadoes for some reason. All we experienced over here in east Auckland was sudden bouts of torrential tropical rain, one of which soaked me to the skin from the thighs down despite my huge umbrella in a just few minutes while walking one block from my car to work--that rain bounces--and the power being out for a few hours.

After all that, it's been a stunningly gorgeous summer weekend. Yesterday I put up the tree of light (not that it actually has any lights what with the shortest night approaching) with the usual glass planets, stars, and the Liberator, and cooked the stodgiest batch of latkes I've ever made. I blame Greg for saying I should add more matzo meal. Eating those things was probably what made me so tired I staggered off to bed early. :-P

Today since it was so nice again we decided to got to Waitomo Caves to see the glow-worms as Greg had never been there and I'd bought two half-price vouchers. This meant that I drove two hours there and two back so yeah, I'm tired once again. On the way down we passed a convertible with a Santa and very unseasonal snowman in the back seat; Greg took photos with his phone. Silently floating on the river through the glow-worm caves was as magical as when I went with my mother and made me think of dwarves and Gollum and adventures.

What else? Oh yes, we took Jasmin and Ashley to the vet for their annual check-up and inoculation. Jasmin has put on 400g though she's still slim and sleek, and Ashley is still only 3kg. They're both in excellent nick though so she's just a small cat; the vet remarked that their fur is beautiful and in really good condition. He was really taken with them both. :-)

Anyway, hugs to you for worrying about me; sorry I didn't post earlier.

Comments

[kalypso]

I'm sorry about the damage done elsewhere, but am glad you are safe. And that Jasmin and Ashley are in good shape. Rosie went to the vet last week for a blood test, and her thyroid count has dropped from 51.4 three months ago to 21.6, which suggests the increase to three pills a day is working. Her weight is slightly down, but he's not going to worry about that until the next check-up in March.

The glow-worm caves sound exciting. And you've got The Hobbit this week, haven't you? We're hoping to go on Boxing Day.

[vilakins]

That's good news about Rosie, and an excellent reading. How's Tabitha?

The Hobbit is tomorrow night (or really very early Wednesday morning). I should have caught up on sleep in preparation but I've rather neglected to. An early night tonight perhaps!

[kalypso]

I think Tabitha's OK - her thyroid count was much lower last time round, so she doesn't have to go back for another blood test until March. She seems happy, and is currently trying to climb on to me despite the fact that, for complicated reasons, I am kneeling up rather than sitting down, so there's nowhere for her to settle!

[feng_shui_house]

*hugs* Glad to hear you're ok!

[vilakins]

[hugs back] Thank you! And belated birthday greetings too. I am so behind on stuff, sorry.

[mab_browne]

While I'm not sure of your absolute AK location (I'm imagining your sigh of relief *g*), I was pretty sure that you weren't in the area affected, so that's something. I hope that the weather has decided to do something nice for the folks north of the Bombay hills. :-)

[vilakins]

It has! This is the third summery day in a row!!!

[snowgrouse.livejournal.com]

Glad you are okay! *hugs*

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Thanks! [hugs back] A guy I know said he thought is was tornado weather with the "three dubs: wet, warm, and windy". Mind you, that's apply to a lot of days here. :-P

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

Glad you and the cats are safe and well!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I would worry so much about them in a tornado or earthquake; if they were frightened and hiding, I'd never be able to get my hands on them. I hope all those who had to leave theirs behind find them.

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

Aww, yeah, I worry about what would happen to mine, too, in some kind of emergency like that. Fortunately, I don't live in a very natural disaster-prone area, but there's always the possibility of someday having to evacuate due to fire.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

At least you'd know where yours were and you're all on one level; mine could be inside on any of four or out in a garden full of hiding places (a cats' adventure playground). :-(

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

Even on one level, my cats are remarkably good at finding hiding places. Especially Happiness. There have been times I've found myself wondering if she'd somehow gotten out of the house, because I could not find her anywhere. Fortunately, she'll usually come when she's called. Although she might not if something was freaking her out.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

They can teleport, you know, as long as it's not through solid walls. Claudia used to get her coordinates wrong and end up behind the venetians.

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

It's good to hear you were only nearly drowned, rather than blown away. I'm slightly spatially dysfunctional and tend to think (subconsciously)of all places being like Abercarn and you can see the West End of Abercarn from my doorstep.%D

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Auckland's one of the biggest cities in the world in surface area. It was the biggest but Mexico City passed it about 15 years back. It can have quite different weather in different parts. Often Greg or I will say it poured and the other had no rain at all where they were.

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

. It can have quite different weather in different parts.
Size has nothing to do with that, I've stood on the hill in blazing sunshine and watched the rain hammer down in West End and the other day I set out in the car with the dogs to walk them in a snow storm. I went down the valley about half a mile and there was nothing not even a frost. Weather is wierd

[ultrapsychobrat.livejournal.com]

So thankful you are all fine, and the cats are healthy.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

They're absolutely fine! They regard the rain as a personal affront but I think they rather enjoy the wind in their fur. :-)

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

I'm glad that you're OK, and it's always good to hear from you. I hadn't heard about the tornado; it sounds as though it was pretty nasty.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

This one was pretty bad. I remember years ago looking at the yellow sky and saying it looked like tornado weather, and hearing not long after that there's been one in west Auckland; that one took part of a friend's roof off.

I sometime worry, being on top of a hill, but we don't seem to get them in this part of town. There was one once that did one street and left everything else undamaged.

I don't suppose you get a lot over there. :-)

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

They are actually quite common in the UK, I think usually associated with the passage of an active cold front, but they are very rarely severe enough to be life-threatening.

[threeoutside.livejournal.com]

So glad you're OK! I did wonder, but I'm not sure where exactly you're located, so I didn't say anything.

I live in Nebraska, USA, and we have always had a lot of tornadoes. It seems like when I was growing up, it was mostly down through the middle of the US, but they are becoming more common *everywhere*! I believe they say now that only Hawaii (and maybe Alaska?) has/have never had tornadoes. Dreadful things.

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

Great, I am really glad you are all right!
Also I liked your post about the glowing worms and of course about your lovely cats.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I was slow picking up on why you were worried!

This page (http://www.waitomo.com/waitomo-glowworm-caves.aspx) shows the caves and boat we were in. :-)

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

The cave sounds really interesting

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

It is! Floating silently underneath what looks like a starry sky is just magic.

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

I'd love that

[thisbluespirit]

I hadn't even known about the tornado (*blush*) but it's always good to hear people are okay! ;-)

Anyway, the caves sound v cool. And I love that you have planets and the Liberator as decorations. That's wonderful.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

There are stars too, but six-pointed ones don't seem very astronomical. :-)

[luinielle.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you and the cats were safe. :o) Weather can be so unpredictable - it will be snowing just across the river a few blocks away while it's raining here.
eta: Also glad to hear the cats are healthy!