Storm season is well and truly with us. At the time of writing, fingers are crossed that our luck stays with us – although that storm we had a couple of Saturdays ago was walking a fine line.
I came home from work just as it was brewing up and Old Mate was doing her bird-buffet preparations, getting ready to feed her 25-plus winged friends.
I walked in the door and she said, “Bloody hell! I haven’t got any grapes for the birds, but I probably shouldn’t go out in this weather.”
Like an idiot, I told her I would go and she said, “Make sure they are seedless. The birds don’t like the ones with seeds.”
Welcome to my world. My dad’s favourite saying in situations like this used to be: “It’s not fit for a dog to be out. Let your father go.”
Off I went and just as I got to Coles, the storm hit. I waited about 10 minutes but it never eased. So, I was pumped to be going in and out of the shops. The good thing was, there was no one at the shops as they were all at home (apart from one idiot getting seedless grapes for birds).
When I got back home, the house was in darkness: the power was out. It remained out for quite a while. So, no cold beer, no TV.
Do you have an opinion to share? Submit a Letter to the Editor at Sunshine Coast News via news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. You must include your name and suburb.
All that was left was conversation. Did I mention no WiFi? That meant I couldn’t look at anything on my phone, either, which nearly pushed me over the edge.
In saying that, I hibernated in the garage to console George my dog. He hates storms. So, we were sitting out there, with me drinking lukewarm beer, cuddling my mate, when Old Mate comes out and says, “Why are you sitting in the dark?”
After a while, I went inside to find her reading a book under a portable light. Zero conversation ensued and I was in bed by 7.30pm. As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, about being married for 41 years, I think I have found the recipe for success: “Conversation enriches the understanding, but solitude is the school of genius.”
The power came back on at 7.55pm – much to Old Mate’s delight – but I stayed in bed in blissful peace. What I learned from this experience is that we are way too dependent on TV and the internet and, once again, the team members from Energex proved they are worth more money – having to risk their lives so the rest of us can get a cold beer and watch a movie.
Ashley Robinson is chairman of the Sunshine Coast Falcons and Sunshine Coast Thunder Netball, and a lifetime Sunshine Coast resident.
