PDA

View Full Version : The reason I've been away from the Internet ...


Miss K
15th December 2004, 10:51 AM
For those of you who missed it at the Old KT ...
(ok i'm cheating and copying it too :razz: )

I have never had an experience in my life like the last 3 days (well I think it is that long, will work that out as I go along).

Wednesday

Some time Wednesday evening it started raining. About 8-30pm our gutters were overflowing, and creating a pool of water, threatening one side of the house. As lightning flashed and thunder crackled around us, Carmal and I were out in the pouring rain, digging trenches, and filling sandbags to keep the water away from the house.

Thursday

4-00am our pagers go off. I hadn't been to sleep yet cause I was trying to finish a book :blush: Some morons stole a car and drove it into the river. Chase ends in River (http://theage.com.au/news/National/Police-wrap-Chase-ends-in-river/2004/12/09/1102182391460.html)
We finally got home around 7-30am and I think I got to sleep at 9am. Slept til lunch then Carmal came home and woke me, and I drifted in and out for the next few.
About 5-00pm it started pouring with rain again. Once again Carmal and I are out in it, digging more trenches to move the water away. While this is happening our pager starts blaring, 8 calls in 20 minutes. We finally get our place under control and head down to SES at about 6-00pm.
We had 15 tasks all up and ended up finishing about 10pm.
Crews kept busy as storms lash SA (http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200412/s1261900.htm)

Friday

6-00am and I still haven't been to sleep. Seeing as I was up all night Wed/Thur I couldn't sleep. Finally got to sleep and slept til 2pm when I dragged my sorry self out of bed. Got Leighton on the bus to his Dad's and prepared for our SES Xmas Party which started at 6-00pm.
Go to the hotel at 6-20pm. We had checked the weather radar on the Internet and the storm seemed to be going around us, so we were happy. I hadn't even finished my first drink when we got the call to say that it had hit the eastside of Murray Bridge and we were inundated with jobs from 6-45pm. 15 jobs again tonight although far more serious than the previous night. We got home after closing down headquarters at 2-15am (Saturday).

It's now 3.45am on Saturday and i'm not even sure how i'm keeping awake. My body is aching and once the water in the footspa goes cold i'm going to bed.

The worst part is it isn't over. We have to be up to do some Christmas Shopping today, and there are more storms predicted. We also have our group of friends xmas party and secret santa exchange tonight.

:faint:

If you want to see how it's going at any stage take a look here ...

Radar Image (we are in Murray Bridge) (http://mirror.bom.gov.au/products/IDR463.loop.shtml#image)

:eek: Then there was the update ...

:faint: :faint: :faint:

We have just got back from SES ... AGAIN

12-00pm today we had our first callout, and we finally got home at 11-00pm.

All up in 9 hours we had 109 jobs. At the peak time there were 150 people from across the state helping to save people's houses.

I'll grab some more details later on when my brain begins functioning again. I have had 15 hours sleep in 3 days :faint:

On the plus side I also think i've lost 4-5 kilos in the last 3 days (probably cause I haven't eaten a real meal since Wednesday night)

And SES stands for State Emergency Service SES website (http://www.sessa.asn.au/)

:faint: :faint: :faint:


It's now Wednesday night almost a week since it first started and i'm still tired :irked:

Hopefully by the beginning of next week i'll be back to normal.

Rho
15th December 2004, 11:34 AM
You've been a bit busy then?

Hope the rain stays away long enough for you to recuperate, :sleep: , have some :coffee: :cookie: , do some :gifts: and :party: .

Sharon
15th December 2004, 11:38 AM
Wow, sounds like you've had quite a time of it. Hope you get some clear weather and a chance to catch up on your rest.

C_ris
15th December 2004, 12:40 PM
Oh no! HAve a :cookie: for all the help you gave people!
:applause: :applause: :applause:

I hopr you get a chance to rest now!

Calaedros
15th December 2004, 12:44 PM
Wow, busy week :crazy: What does SES stand for?

Cal

ladyholdermara
15th December 2004, 12:51 PM
We're thinking of you in Canada, I hope the rains end soon.

Dawn
16th December 2004, 08:03 AM
Wow, busy week :crazy: What does SES stand for?

Cal

State Emergency Service. I asked the same thing. ;) :D

Wolfegar
16th December 2004, 10:04 AM
:group: I hope you get some needed rest soon. :group:

Calaedros
16th December 2004, 10:04 AM
State Emergency Service. I asked the same thing. ;) :D

Oops, just noticed that!

Cal

Beisla
16th December 2004, 11:21 AM
:group: :group: to Miss K, Carmal and everyone in the storm region.
Hope things stay dry.

prekharper
16th December 2004, 11:27 AM
Awww. . . I hope it gets better, and soon!
:group: to both of you!

Bamy
16th December 2004, 12:09 PM
that sounds as bad as the fire service in wales was on new years night 1999/2000
i was down at my dads and after having worked 4 full 14 hour shifts he had a 48 hour period 'on call' for emerencies. from 11pm on new years eve he didnt stop getting called out till 3 hours before the end of the on call period. it got so bad he was calling ahead to get me to put the kettle on and or make some food and even then half of the time he didnt get back for it!

as you can imagine he slept for about 18 hours afterwards to make up for lost time.

Silvercat
16th December 2004, 12:13 PM
Wow talk about going through the wringer - hope you are both ok and have got some much needed rest.

Take care

Silvercat (alias Dragonmad) :eek: :bouncy:

Miss K
16th December 2004, 01:32 PM
:group: for everyone's well wishes.

It's been a long week, still feeling very tired, but starting to get back into routine now, hopefully will be feeling a little more refreshed in time for Christmas!!

Having said that ... :O

I have my new job's Christmas Party tomorrow afternoon where I can have a few drinks ;) and then we have our SES Christmas Party Take 2 tomorrow afternoon - where I plan to have copious amounts to drink and celebrate such a good job in a time when our community needed it.

Sleeping in both days of the weekend, and when we're not sleeping we'll be organising Christmas presents :bouncy:

Shazza
16th December 2004, 08:44 PM
:group: That's my girls.

For those non-Aussies the State Emergency Service is a VOLUNTEER :eek: provided service. They are instantly recognisable by the fluro orange overalls and spend their time covering missing roofs in storms, carving up trees across the roads and the like. An amazing group.

Mausey
16th December 2004, 08:51 PM
It's so nice to hear that the storms have mostly stopped and you both get a chance to recover. Have a great time at the Christmas party. Don't drink too much, wouldn't want you too :sick: to post here. :D

Jax
17th December 2004, 07:28 AM
I have my new job's Christmas Party tomorrow afternoon where I can have a few drinks ;) and then we have our SES Christmas Party Take 2 tomorrow afternoon - where I plan to have copious amounts to drink and celebrate such a good job in a time when our community needed it.



Hehehe, so how exactly do you plan to be at 2 parties at once Kylie?? You gonna pull a Hermoine or whut? Do tell :D :razz:

Madrigal
17th December 2004, 07:42 AM
LOL, here everyone's flipping out because over the weekend, it *might* snow less than an inch.

You're setting some pretty good examples, there... hope it clears up soon!