Here Comes The Rain

It's been raining hard off and on for the last 36 hours. This is fantastic for us here in Brisbane. We're expected several days more rain, which is even better. While I'm told it's unusual, so far, no one here is complaining. Sure, a little gloomy, but we all understand just how important this is to us. Thursday night, just after sunset, it started, and kept on raining for nearly six hours. There were periods of heavy downpour, so loud on the roof it drowned out all sound in the house. I remember saying, "Now that's a good rain!"

A funny thing about this house, though. There's no tank to collect the rainwater. I just don't understand it. Well, I do, but I don't. I've seen how much water flows off the roof in a hard rain...lots and lots and lots. And to see it all going down the drain (literally) or into the ground is just wrong. I do understand how the owners of the house would feel it's an unnecessary improvement for a rental property, but I sincerely wonder about the long-term viability of any house in Australia that doesn't collect rainwater from the roof. I'd be happy to use it to wash the Landie or water the garden or even to water the lawn. But, no! It all goes into the drainage behind the house, eventually, never to be seen again.

Walking around the neighborhood, it's clear that rainwater collection tanks are the future here. Most homes that have been renovated in the last five years have them. Many homes sport little signs on the fence that rainwater is in use. That's an important detail, actually. Since there are still significant water restrictions in place, having a verdant lawn is impossible unless you are flouting the water restrictions, or you collect and use your own. So, a minor industry has grown up to create signs to assure one's neighbors that you are indeed a responsible citizen and using collected rainwater to ensure your lawn looks like a putting green.

But that just brings me to the ridiculous concept of a lawn in Australia. Even though this is a subtropical climate, there is no way to sustain a lawn, that symbol of British stability. Lawns in the UK make sense, given the climate there...it rains a lot there. Not so in Australia. Most of the natives haven't cottoned to the idea of xeriscaping, using native plants, or perhaps considering other forms of ground cover than Kentucky Bluegrass.

Apart from lawns, one thing that does separate a desirable and sensible home from a silly one is the use of native, sustainable trees and shrubs. Having a house surrounded by trees -- palms and mangoes and gums -- was one of the key factors affecting my choice of places to live. Another was having a timber frame house with lots of windows. Even on the hottest days, most of my home is in the shade. And I can open all the windows to catch the slightest breeze and move the air through the house. Overhangs on all the windows and a deck that is shaded throughout the day are key. I found some fantastic homes, but often they were made of brick or cinderblocks, or sat in the center of an acre of lawn with nary a scrap of shade even possibly touching them throughout the day. Ack! Houses like that would be ovens during hot Australian days and would retain their heat well into the wee hours. Mind you, having some warmth might be handy during the Winter, but Winter is a few months...it's toasty here the rest of the year. And while 30 outside is fine, an interior heated to 35 or even 40 for weeks or months on end is just no fun.

So, anyway, the garden is watered, the house is dry, and the garage is fine. I'm perfectly fine with downpours for the next four or five days. I'd prefer a weekend where I could go outside and hike or bike, but I'll find something to do. And the trees and shrubs, and yes, even the scraggly lawn, drink in all the water they can. I've put buckets outside to catch as much rain as I can store, and we're all looking forward to adding some water back into the catchments and dams.

More Aussie Slang

• Hoon: someone who drives a fast, flashy, loud and/or modded car; irresponsible driver
• Brekkie or Brekka: breakfast
• BYO: restaurant that doesn't serve alcohol, but you're welcome to Bring Your Own
• Gasper: cigarette break
• Bottle Shop: Liquor store
• Daks: trousers; though in New Zealand, daks are underwear
• Thongs: flip flops, i.e. footwear
• Brissie: Brisbane (pronounced brizzie)
  
• Gateway: The Gateway Motorway, aka the M1
• Pacific: The Pacific Motorway, aka the M3
• Sunnies: sunglasses

Some Australian Slang

• Tradie: a tradesman
• Sparkie: an electrician
• On Offer: for sale
• Trading Hours: Hours of Operation, for retail outlets
• footy: rugby, Aussie Rules, soccer, a ball used to play those sports
  
• Ute: utility vehicle; nearest US equivalent is the Chevy El Camino
• Motorway: freeway
• Ta: thank you
• Esky: cooler
• Landie: Land Rover
• EFTPOS: ATM system, debit card
• Digger: member of the Army
• Filthy: Angry, unpleasant

An Amazing Animation

A friend pointed out this piece of art: http://www.blublu.org/sito/video/muto.htm

Autumn is Here

Yesterday, we had a pretty big set of thunderstorms roll through the city. It was real weather, with big, splashing rain drops. The roof, which is corrugated steel, was clanging with the force of the drops. The nearest lightning stroke was less than a kilometer (half a mile) from the house. It was a strong storm, with high winds, and it took nearly an hour for the squall line to pass over us. For several hours afterwards, I could see lightning off in the distance.

A few hours past midnight, I woke up to hear the windows rattling and a fierce wind blowing. The house, built to Australian standards, leaks like a sieve, and I could feel drafts as the wind found its way through the house. The trees surrounding the house were creaking and the palm fronds thrashed against the roof.

Overall, a fairly big storm. I assume the jet stream was passing over Brisbane.

This morning, the temperature has dropped about 5 degrees C (that's about 10 degrees F) below normal, and is now in the 60's. There's a chill in the air, relatively speaking, and shorts and T-shirts are gone, in favor of long pants and layers. We're approaching the Solstice, so Autumn is here.

I had just cut the grass, and set out some buckets to collect rainwater. Perfect timing. But, it is kind of funny to think of weather in the high teens/low twenties as chilly, and be disappointed to have to put on long pants and long sleeved shirts. Ah, life in the sub-tropics.

In other news, the Aussie dollar reached over 95 US cents in currency trading yesterday. It's practically on par with the US dollar, and is expected to reach parity within 6 months.

Cleveland Point Lighthouse

Cleveland Point Lighthouse,
originally uploaded by BrisbaneBryce.

I found this classic lighthouse on a drive to the coast the other weekend. It's no longer used, but makes a pretty landmark. The real navigational light is mechanical, and about 50m away, but certainly hasn't the charm this one shows.

The Magpie

magpie,
originally uploaded by BrisbaneBryce.

The magpie is a protected species in Australia. The coloring of its feathers is very beautiful

On a bushwalk (hike), I came across a flock of them, which I'm told is unusual. They were hunting, and I had disturbed them. Most of them flew into a tree, but one was clearly on guard duty. The calls from the flock changed as they moved away from me. They were clearly foraging among the trees. Once they were far enough away from me, they glided to the ground and began foraging. The guard kept calling while I was still within range, and once I moved another 10 meters away, stopped the guard call and flew away.

It was charming and fascinating and stopped me in my tracks.

This photo was taken at an AFL Queensland game in Hawthorne, a suburb nearby my house. I looked away from the game during a break and caught this beauty looking my way.

A Brief Whinge

I'm having a moment. I say this to warn you of an impending whinge.

Whinge is a fine word, and means to complain in a particularly annoying manner. It's commonly used in Australia. A good whinge once in a while is OK, so long as everyone knows one's coming, and you keep it short.

Greedy people irritate me. I've had chances recently to see some rather naked displays of greed, and it really has bothered me. I have no problem with profit or folks making money. But when profit-taking becomes gouging, I draw a line. When a lazy person demands a reward for their sloth, I draw a line. When someone charges way more for their services than they are worth, and know it, and could take less, I draw the line.

No doubt I'm an idealist. Fortunately, I don't think I'm a complete cynic, just yet. But, greedy people bother me.

I'm reminded of a bumper sticker that was popular in Santa Cruz, California some time ago:

Mean People Suck