It’s hard to believe that a fierce cyclone is approaching. The evening before is so golden and calm.
There is just time for a quick dip before the little one goes to bed. Sleepovers are so precious. They allow time for conversations to unfold:
—’What’s a cyclone?’
—’It’s a fierce storm with wild winds and lots of rain.’
—How do they know it’s coming?
—Because the satellites up in space circle the earth and take pictures. They see a place where the clouds are going round and round – like a whirlwind, and that’s the cyclone. It’s up in the Pacific islands at the moment, and is moving down towards New Zealand.
Time for a warm bath after the shivers that follow a dip in the sea. Then to be wrapped in a warm towel. And a little more conversation:
—Granny, can I lift the plug?
—Yes, you can.
—I want to see the cyclone go down the plughole.
If only the cyclones that sweep through our lives could be dealt with so easily! If we could unplug and watch them spin away, never to return.
We have been warned to put aside lots of water, get batteries for our torches, have a radio handy, food in the cupboards, and not to go outside when the cyclone hits tonight.
When the life cyclones hit, what do you need in your survival kit?
I have a little pouch of prayers, a bundle of bravery, a rumble of resilience, and a fistful of faith.
How about you?
Hi Juliet – Cyclone Pam has struck Vanuatu really badly .. it sounds really terrible. It’s good the little one is learning about the dangers of nature and what it can bring – I hope it doesn’t rock NZ too badly …
Take care – and wishing you all well – Hilary
I need all of those. Stay safe.
I have the same as you, Juliet “a little pouch of prayers, a bundle of bravery, a rumble of resilience, and a fistful of faith”. I do keep a stash of supplies on hand or power outages and we have places to go in our house in the basement should a tornado come. A tornado is our version of a cyclone.
Thinking of you, so far away, and hoping the cyclone blows itself out long before it reaches you.
Dear Juliet — Oh, I hope the cyclone has ‘gone down the drain’ without causing further harm.
Yes, Vanuatu has been devastated. I’m about to make a donation to Oxfam, who are very strong in the Pacific. Lots of flooding on our east coast overnight; winds still to come. Thanks Hilary.
*Gallivanta, may your resource kit be strong.
*Penny, a basement sounds good. Tornadoes must be really scary.
* Vicki, we are still watching.
Gallivanta, Penny & Vicki, good to see you. We had a lot of rain overnight, and the winds are still to come. The east coast is saturated from the overnight rain; very wet here but will clear this afternoon. thanks for visiting.
Prayers for your safety. I like your survival kit…….very good….prayers, resilience, bravery and faith. Just what we need. Take care and best wishes.
Farm Gal in VA
Farm Gal, thank you, and do let me know how to find your blog. The cyclone is passing now.
As we didn’t hear anything to the contrary on the news I assume NZ was relatively immune from the worst excesses. Poor people on Vanuatu. It always hits the poorest hardest.
Friko, it hit our east coast and then the Chatham Islands further south. But Vanuatu took the brunt of it; very tough for them.
I’ve heard about the shocking devastation to Vanuatu. And Australia has pledged a lot of aid to help the nation get back on its feet but I do wish they would supervise the distribution of the aid because all too often, it’s squandered by the corrupt and those in need, never see a penny. I didn’t hear much of NZ being affected so I am hoping that means it had lost a lot of its force before it arrived in Auckland? xx
Hi Charlie, I think we missed the worst of it luckily. I’ve sent a donation to Oxfam to help Vanuata, which is devasted.
Hi Charlie, I think we missed the worst of it luckily. I’ve sent a donation to Oxfam to help Vanuata, which is devasted.
Love the top photo and the sweet conversation with the little one and mostly your items in the survival kit. The can confirm they are the most precious
* Thank you Marja, and I hope you have these items in your survival kit too.