Weather

The weather in 2010 -2011 has been pretty remarkable all over the world. I guess it is not just the weather but natural disasters. Earthquakes, tornados, floods and it just seems it is one thing after another.
For the past 10 years we have been in drought, Lake Learmonth dried up years ago, followed by Burrumbeet and then Lake Wendouree. That was just within a quick drive foam my house. Lakes all over the country had dried up and even the Murray River. It was disastrous.
Then came the rain, trouble was someone forgot to turn off the tap, it just kept coming. In one way it was a good summer, we did not get the extreme heat we usually got but then we did get a lot of humidity which we were not used to.
So many towns were flooded out to the extreme and Queensland and Victoria took the brunt of the rains. Many people drowned and many left homeless. I had to leave work one day, after ignoring the signs to go in the first place, and a 12 minute drive took 2 1/2 hours to get home because all of the roads were flooded. Our house is up high so it was okay, but trying to get to it was the problem. It was during these times that we would get a months worth of rain in an hour etc. It was crazy.
That day I woke to rain, and knew it had rained most of the night. I checked the internet but nothing there to warn of any real flooding. I knew the forecast was not good but being the optimist I decided there was no reason to stay at home. I got around the corner and nearly ran into the head of a tree that had fallen across the road. Then noticed flashing lights ahead, a man ran up to me and informed me he had just crashed into another tree across the road, he then offered to get the tree I had almost hit off the road as well. I kept going.
I get to the railway station, it was still raining and then noticed the boom gates on the near by road were flashing but going up and down continually, still not taking the hint I got on the train to find it leaking down the window where I normally sit and the roof leaking onto the seat next to me. Instead of getting off, I moved seats. I finally got to work and called Frank.
"What are you doing at work, it is bucketing down here and the roads are being closed off!" I decided I had to get home before I couldn't get there. Getting back to Ballarat was fine, I grabbed a few groceries but then I had to try and get into Haddon. Most roads were blocked.
The first pic is Greenhalghes Road, it was taken from a distance but I was not sure what was happening and not willing to risk my car getting caught, the man behind me took the same hint and we both turned back to Ballarat.
Next was Carngham Road but there were signs up saying no through road. There were also a number of people ignoring these signs but I was not prepared to take the risk. Those cars may have been on the safe side of floods, I had to get through a long way.
I called home and Marc told me not to even try coming along the Western Highway as there was no way from there to Haddon to get through, he had tried it that morning.
I then tried the Glenelg Highway and travelled along there wondering where the best way would be. The radio said that Bells Road was closed so I passed that one. Then went through to Whites Road nearer Smythesdale. It wasn't until I turned into Whites Road that I realised it was prone to flooding most times. I went to have a look and sure enough the creek was now a raging river.

I turned again and headed for another road. Bianca Bone had turned up and suggested another route but then I don't know where she thought this river was going, but she was just sending me to cross it in another spot. As it turned out I believe it had by this time completely washed the road away.
I went back to Haddon Ross Creek Road and was able to get through but there was a river running along side of this road. I had never seen anything like it before.

I finally got to the Haddon Bridge only to find the Fire brigade there sweeping away debris and water flooding around the Bridge. I was told to go through and follow the white line. What white line? I asked then told just imagine where the white line would be. "Do you guys realise this is the only way into 

Haddon?" "yep!" 

but there was more to come, I got through but then had to get through Haddon School Road, not as bad as the other places but there was plenty of water.

I got home, 2 1/2 hours but I got home. I also got there easy compared to many. There were reports of people ignoring signs and getting stuck in high flood water. I think they just could not understand, after years of drought that when the road is blocked because of floods, it means you cannot drive through. What I have shown here is mild to what many people suffered and I still find it hard to comprehend what they would have gone through.
How did our ancestors cope with this type of disaster? I guess it was a lot different in many ways and in some ways easier and in other impossible. I do not remember any of this when I was young. I do remember there was a drought at one time and some heavy rain at the end, but it is funny it was like one shower and I believed the drought had broken, not sure how the rest of the state saw this.
I see myself as being very lucky at this time, we have avoided bush fires, but just, the flames could be seen through the bush as Frank and Daniel left the property, and the floods have slowed me getting home, although I had to stay in Melbourne one other night as all trains were out and the city was a nightmare. I just cannot imagine having to try and cope with major disaster as many have suffered no an hour's drive from me. I guess we just will if we have to.

My Mother

Monica Barwise 

14 March 2011. It was a public holiday, however I still needed to get up and go to work. As I drove down the road I remembered I had forgotten my mobile phone. Not a huge user I shrugged it off thinking "I probably wont need it". I was wrong.

I had been at work less than an hour when I got a message on my screen saying my sister was on the phone and I may want to take the call. I also had the fellow next to me stand up, at the same time, saying "I have your daughter on the phone". I called Maureen who tells me that the nursing home is trying to get a hold of me, so I called Gary, only to be told "Mum has had another collapse, the ambulance is about to take her to the hospital now and it would be a good idea to come home straight away."
Maureen was going to Ballarat that day to see Mum as she was leaving a few weeks later to go overseas. I called her and told her what I knew so she came and picked me up with Adam and Mabel and we set off back to Ballarat.
When we got to the hospital, Tara was walking along the road with Zali in the pram and Shakira running along beside her, there was no rush. However when we got inside Maureen and I were pulled out the back and told, "We have taken out the incubation tube and she is breathing on her own now, she is comfortable and now it is just time really." Maureen and I took this as positive sign and I expected when we walked in she would be sitting up smiling and saying "Hello". The nurse looked at both of us and remarked, "You do realise she is going to die, she is not going to survive this one?"
I looked at Maureen who looked at me, shocked, she remarked "I didn't expect you to say that!"

They took us into Mum who had an oxygen mask on and was in a coma, although her breathing was a bit laboured, she was comfortable and there was no sign of her being in any sort of pain. We were told that she had scans and to just talk to her. People were in and out, Tara came in, Adam and Mabel came in and Ian (Tara) came in. Then we were trying to work out who had been contacted, who needed to be contacted etc. I was worried for Andrew, he lived at Clunes and we were trying to get hold of him to get in as soon as possible.
Just over an hour after getting to the hospital, we were told that Mum would be moved up stairs. This would be more comfortable for her and the family would all be able to be in there. However as I signed the papers, to allow this, Mum simply stopped breathing and she quietly slipped away.

We spent some time with Mum, and other family members came to say their goodbyes. My five children and all the grandchildren were there at the hospital. Andrew finally got there with a photo of Dad and spent some time with her, saying his goodbyes. None of us was really sure what to do next.

Finally we left the hospital and went and had a coffee and something to eat. We then went to see the funeral director. Margaret was great, explained what needed to be done and what they could do to assist us. There is so much involved in arranging a funeral, Death certificate details to be filled out, who was going to do what, flowers to be arranged, newspaper notices etc etc. For the rest of the week I don't think my phones stopped ringing, both landline and mobile and my head was spinning.
I also put together a DVD of photos of mum from when she was a toddler until her death. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEHbCSVA2F0
The Funeral went well with Mum's only sister Pat being present along with three of her daughter's, Sharyn, Julie and Wendy and son Michael coming from Queensland to be there, Sharyn's daughter Nicole and her daughter Bri were also there. Aunty Pauline, mum's sister-in-law was there with her daughter Colleen and husband Paul and also mum's cousin Des and wife Joan.
There were friends and carers also there along with friends of us seven children, friends who had spent time with Mum in one way or another over her years.
We have so many to thank for their support and assistance during this time and many to thank for the care and support they gave Mum, particularly in her final year and months of her life.

Monica with 2 of her g grandsons Lochlan and Jackson 2008

One friend passed on a dream she had the week before Mum's passing and one she had told Mum about. She dreamed she ran into Dad, he was asking her where Mum was as he had not been able to find her, He was told to go over there, that he would find her there. He went off to find her as he had not seen her for some time. A week later mum had gone to join Dad and we believe he had been looking for her and it was her time to go with him.
May you both rest in peace Mum and Dad

Christmas and Traditions

Yesterday was Christmas Day and present were four generations of the family. When I was little there was a tradition set and although it has changed slightly it is still there in many ways.
We had to go to a Christmas Mass, I remember Dad coming to Church with us early in the morning, while Mum stayed home to cook a Christmas lunch, later we would all go to Midnight Mass leaving Christmas Day free. This is one Tradition that has died, we do not go to Mass or even Church any more, mainly because I cannot understand the reasoning behind it all, I believe I live a good life and have taught my children strong morals, and teat everyone the way I would want to be treated.
However, when I was a kid, we would wake up on Christmas Morning, very early, and go out to find our santa sacks filled with bits and pieces and a main present. After Mass, (before the midnight ones started) we would come home and have a huge Chistmas Lunch, this always consisted of chicken roast, followed by plum pudding. The plum pudding would be studded with thrupeny pieces (3 pence), before decimal money came in when then would be swapped for 5cent peices (you could not put the new money in the puddings?)
After lunch we would have to wash dishes. This was always a drag, who wants to work on Christmas Day and wash roast dishes of all things.  But after this chore we would all gather in the lounge room and Dad would hand out the presents from under the tree.
Christmas shopping of course was all part of this. Mum would take us all into Coles in Bridge Street. Back then there were no shelves, and help yourself then go to the register, back then there were rows of counters with ladies and girls behind them and everything was laid out on the counters. We would pick out something we wanted and pay for it as we went. I am not sure when this changed but I remember finding the ideal gifts for each of my grandparents, parents and siblings. Then I would take them home and wrap them to go under the tree for the afternoon Chistmas ritual.
Dad's method, now changed, was to read out the card on a gift, give it to the recipient and that would be unwrapped and everyone would get to see what it was. Then the next gift would be handed out with the same ritual. It would take the whole afternoon, and happened every year for almost 40 years for me.
Then Dad passed away. That first Chistmas was awful, I fronted it with dread, and it was not until the the day that we all sat around the tree and said, who is going to be Santa? Bianca was 7 at the time and not to be left sitting she took the job as no one else wanted to try and replace Grandpa.
That was when it changed, she simply read out the names and handed out the gifts. I found this a bit frustrating, as I did not always get to see my gifts opened nor see what everyone was given, but now there are too many and it would take all day.
Over the years we all grew up and met partners or left town as families can do. For some time Mum would have a tea on Christmas Eve so we could then go to our in laws for Chistmas Day. We would only have Dinner, so this gave us the chance to have our own family time, then go to see Mum and Dad before going to the Reynen's for Dinner Christmas night.
Now we have all the family come for breakfast, they then go to thier other families (in-laws) for lunch then we would all meet for Dinner, either with the Reynen's or, when my mother-in-law goes to her son in Queensland every second year, we would be at home.
This year Kevin arrived unexpectantly a couple of days before Christmas to join us for Christmas. It was good to see him after a number of years and we also had Mum there, (she is now in  low dependency care) and also another brother Andrew along with all my children and their partners and my 6 grandchildren and a step granddaughter. In all 21 members of the Family. Once again the Tree was surrounded in piles of gifts and we feasted on a breakfast of baked ham and cheese on Croissants, Pancakes and capacinos.
After the giving of gifts some went off to other families while we had 9 stay for lunch of pork and chicken, roast potatoes and pumkin, orange honey mint carrots, zuccini and bean bunches. this was washed down with the traditional fruit punch. We had ginger breads and fruit cake for snaking on in the afternoon. For tea we had sea food, garlic prawns, pickled calamari, home made pork and prawn dimsims, and rice balls, then chocolate ripple cake and mango cheesecake. We all had to get together the next day to try and finish off the food.
In all it was a great day, with all being very tired and pretty much physical wipe outs on boxing day.