Tuesday, January 07, 2014

From the Hermitage.


We've been through a rough time on this island. Power outages. No water. The pump house frozen solid. Outrageous weather of lashings of snow and freezing rain completely outside of the norm for the bay. We usually are all green until February.

I am trapped in my house as the ice outside is severe. I laid down salt earlier, hardly a dent on the ice pack. First time ever I had to cancel my Nollaig Na mBan. But, time and again I realize I am never alone. Neighbours astonish me. Trucks arrive with hot (yes, hot!) water, trucks arrive to ferry me elsewhere for dinner, plumbing genius digs out pump house, runs heater into it, defrosts pump. Blessed water pours forth after another day. I genuflect to my wood stove every night during this. I cook on it and it heats the house.

Perversely, I am glad of these emergencies. They show my 'hood in its true colours, kind, caring, sharing. My chicken lady's husband delivered eggs today. Calls of care and compassion come in. A friend hands me an old fashioned phone to plug in. Those wireless fancy things do not work in a power outage but the old fashioned kind do. Note to self. And others out there.

And all systems are now go again. But I'm wondering about tomorrow, wondering whether I can leave here to head into my office up the road. I am wary of this ice. I have the utmost respect for it.

It looks so damn pretty but I know it hides nasty underneath.

23 comments:

  1. Ooo, is it worth risking a fall and fracture. It does look beautiful though.

    So glad to read that your community pulls together to look after one another. What a great place to live.

    (BTW and off topic, have you come across Maggie O'Farrell's "Instructions for a heatwave"? Similar to The Gathering with a slice of Irish family life in the 70s)

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  2. Pamela:

    Yes, it is an amazing place.

    I find Maggie a hit or miss author. Some of her stuff I like. How did you find Heatwave?

    XO
    WWW

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  3. This is beautiful. I have cold and wind and little snow at the moment and now a slight warming trend. Fine through this weather but do not like the wind when I am surrounded by really big and high trees.
    You will probably come to mind
    tonight - when I have my yogurt :)
    Take care
    and to think I have so much in common with someone many miles away....

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  4. From a repeatedly 'fallen' woman across the pond, please. please take care. At our young age a break can really upset life and put us off the tracks.

    You are indeed fortunate to have so many caring friends and neighbours ready and willing to come to your aid. Stay safe.

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  5. Please be careful when you go out in the snow and ice. At our age, our bones break quicker. Thank goodness for community spirit. The hot water sounds especially nice. xox

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  6. That must have been disappointing to have to cancel your celebration. How nice, though, that your neighbors are so attentive.

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  7. Glad to know you're coping okay with the extreme weather. Great that you're part of such a supportive community. But a shame you had to cancel the Nollaig Na mBan, I know how much you enjoy that.

    I hope you manage to get through the rest of the icy spell without any major problems.

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  8. That photo looks like something out of a horror movie. Be careful on the ice!

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  9. That really looks like a challenging situation. Lucky you have such a good community, where people really help.

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  10. Hi WWW

    Greetings from sweltering Australia. Isn't it brilliant to have lovely neighbours? One of mine invited me and a couple of visiting cousins to a party on their family boat for New Year's Eve. The cousins loved the tour around Lake Larrikin and being parked right next to the fireworks barge at midnight. I'm hoping the singed hair and clothes won't sour their memories.

    Wishing you a great 2014.

    xxx

    Pants

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  11. WWW

    Am halfway through the book and am not getting that authentic richness of characters that makes me care what happens to them....yet. I live in hopes. I really enjoyed her "Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox".

    xxP

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  12. OWJ:

    It is extraordinary how us kindred spirits meet up on the web.

    Now I will think of you whenever I have my homemade yogurt.

    I also use it for making my Granny's bastible bread.

    XO
    WWW

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  13. GM:

    It's damn shame your falls weren't of a more, ahem, sensual kind, missus.

    You have had far too many of the physical. I am being ultra cautious even though the males of or species who sometimes report to me find me a wuss.

    Rather a wuss than a cripple anyday.

    XO
    WWW

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  14. Irene:

    Amazing people and amazing place. I've never felt so well taken care of. Seriously.

    XO
    WWW

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  15. Irene:

    Amazing people and amazing place. I've never felt so well taken care of. Seriously.

    XO
    WWW

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  16. Linda:
    I always look forward to it and plan it about a month ahead so I'm still using up the groceries and had to throw out the perishables :(
    Onward!
    XO
    WWW

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  17. Nick:
    Fingers crossed. I am way beyond cabin fever now. More like a state of desert island dementia.

    I feel like I'll never catch up :)

    XO
    WWW

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  18. SAW:
    Ridiculously careful I'm afraid. I don't want to be too terrified as for sure I'll break something but I hope the weather breaks before I do!!

    XO
    WWW

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  19. Hattie:

    They are exceptional. I still can't believe my good fortune in landing in such a spot!!

    XO
    WWW

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  20. Hi Pants!

    So good to see you and I got your lovely piece of art in the mail about a week ago. I will answer, at length, your newsy email to me, my mind just seems bereft of original thought in the face of this onslaught of nasty weather.
    Unless you want to hear survival tales of which I am bored to snoring.

    XO
    WWW

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  21. Pamela:
    I adored Esme and so did my daughter. I read (I think) 3 of her others and nothing engaged me at all. Quite cardboard in fact.
    so before investing in Heatwave I value your review.
    I will avoid.
    Thanks!
    XO
    WWW

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  22. It is amazing how neighbours come to our rescue when adversity hits us. I have experienced many such kindnesses from mine. In a way I am also surprised that you seem to live in a place with such people rather than in places like some parts of the Northern USA where neighbours tend to keep to themeselves.

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  23. It is surely good to know that you are well looked after by a good community, it does sustain one through other times, where pulling together seems to be the least feeling of the moment.

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