Cyclone Debbie and her lengthy, seemingly
endless aftermath brought devastation and heartache to thousands. After
she finished throwing her tantrum in the northern areas of our wonderful state,
Debbie decided she wasn’t satisfied. She wasn’t finished playing her
games. Cyclone Debbie may have changed her methods, but she continued spreading
havoc far and wide. Turning into a relentless, unforgiving rain depression
Debbie dumped flooding rains, not caring where they fell.
From Tuesday forth, the destructive
weather system engulfed a wide area of Queensland, extending from north
Queensland, through coastal and inland areas down to the southern Queensland
border, into northern areas of New South Wales.
Thousands throughout Queensland and areas
in northern New South Wales are still suffering from the cyclone’s catastrophic
effects. Five people are reported to have lost their lives. Three are, at
time of my writing, missing. The number of animals - pets, native and
livestock - that have perished is unknown...and I don’t want to know.
The ex-tropical cyclone was forecast to
turn into a low pressure system and move inland, taking along with her heavy
rain. But no one expected how fast or how far south it would reach, or how much
rain it would dump on those areas in its path.
Debbie brought wind gusts of up to 263
km/h an hour and widespread wind damage and coastal inundation due to storm
surge when it struck the Whitsunday region of Queensland and surrounding towns
on Tuesday. There are not yet precise estimates of the damage bill, but it will
be in the billions, most likely.
In 48 hours, Springbrook, in the Gold
Coast Hinterland received 900mm (35 inches) of rain. Here on
Tamborine Mountain we received a similar amount of rain (400mm/16 inches) in a
24 hour period on Thursday last.
We were/are very fortunate up here on the
hill...we’re not suffering the flooding and destruction many other areas are.
Beaudesert, a country town 34kms (21 miles) south-west
of Tamborine Mountain is presently surrounded by floodwaters.
In 24 hours, Lismore
in northern NSW received in excess of 400mm (16 inches approx).
My heart goes out to those people
everywhere who are victims of Debbie’s callous behaviour.
To
continue with my new post......
Being the age I am I was brought up in the old
school of imperial measurements.
A friend pointed out to me the other day that I
always use inches, etc. She didn’t mean
it in a rood way, though, unlike Nauti Cal. He’s purposely rood all the
time.
My friend didn’t realise she’d put her foot in it. I
didn’t give her comment an ounce of thought - not furlong anyway.
The young ones today are in a league of their own,
aren’t they? There’s a ton of things they don’t know. If they knew a quarter of what we do how much
easier everything would be. They create a rod for their own back because
they’re not interested in the tonnes of useful information we oldies have
stored in our brains. I’ve just about
given up trying to fathom them.
The comment made to me by my friend was but one
brief link of a chain of pleasant moments.
At the time we were sitting in the yard talking
while sipping on a pint or two feeling like we were miles away from everything
and everyone. We had a gallon of matters to discuss, but we’d only touched the
tip of the barrel when Hectare from across the way, like a beady-eyed raven
sitting on a perch, called out to me, his rather square foot tapping the
ground. I began to inch away.
Hectare can be such a pest. I wanted to pick up a stone and throw it at
him, but that wouldn’t have been a very neighbourly thing to do. Instead, through gritted teeth I smiled and
waved. I then proceeded to ignore him,
giving his annoying behaviour no currency.
Hectare is a prime example of “give them an inch and
they’ll take a mile” – or - “give them a centimetre and they’ll take a
kilometre”. See what I mean? Hence, in my defence, the former statement
makes far more sense than second convoluted one.
Succinct, unlike imperial in this country, is not
extinct!
I’d had enough.
My head began to pound thinking about the acres and acres of chores
awaiting my attention. The mere thought
of what needed doing made me feel like I had a hundredweight hanging around my
neck. It was time for a cup of Bushels
tea (sic).
When I attended school, primary and secondary, I was
taught the imperial system for measurements - the system inherited from the UK
(blame Dampier, Cook and Governor Phillip, not me)!
Decimal currency wasn’t introduced to Australia
until 14th February, 1966 (St. Valentine carries the weight for that
one, not me)!
No longer a scholar, I’d already been working for
six years by the time the holler for an Australian dollar was heard and
obeyed. In for a penny, in for a pound –
and, not giving tuppence - it was out with the penny; out with the pound, and
in with the dollar and cents.
From 1970 until 1988 when the total conversion was
completed in its entirety imperial units were finally withdrawn from the
mainstream, but not entirely from my brain.
Other than it being what I was taught, I give no excuses for still
thinking in the old system.
Unashamedly, I admit I’m old-fashioned - too old to
change. For younger readers of this
article, perhaps, a translator will be necessary.
Old-Fashioned
Pumpkin Scones: Preheat oven 190C. Line baking tray with
baking paper. Sift 2c S.R. flour into bowl; mix in 2tbs raw sugar; using
fingers, rub in 2tbs cold butter until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add 1
egg, 1tbs milk and 1c mashed cooked pumpkin; fold through. Turn dough onto
floured surface; with floured hands pat it out to about 2-3cm thickness (1 to
1-1/2inches – not a mile). Use floured cutter to cut out rounds; place onto
tray so scones are just touching. Gently pat excess dough together; let it rest
a few minutes; then pat out and cut more circles. Bake scones, 10-15mins or
until golden.
Nana’s
Cranberry Scones: Preheat
oven 190C. Combine 1-1/2c plain flour,
1/2tsp baking soda, 1/4tsp salt, 2tbs sugar and 1tsp cream of tartar. Cut in
3tbs cold butter cut into pieces, rub in the old-fashioned way, using
fingertips until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in 2/3c dried cranberries
and 2tsp grated orange rind; add 3/4c buttermilk; stir just until moistened.
Turn dough onto floured surface; knead 4-5 times. Divide into 2 portions; pat
each into 5-inch circle on prepared baking sheet; cut each circle into 4
wedges; don’t cut through to bottom. Sprinkle evenly with sugar. Bake 20mins or
until golden.
Coconut
Cream Pound Cake: Preheat oven 162C. Coat a 10 cup bundt pan with
non-stick spray; lightly dust with flour, tapping off excess. Set aside. In the
bowl of stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment beat 1c butter and 240g
cream cheese on med-speed until smooth; add 3c sugar; mix 2mins until light and
fluffy. Add 6 eggs, one at a time, 2tsp vanilla extract, 1tsp salt, and1tsp
baking powder until mixed, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary. Turn mixer
to low; add 3c plain flour, mixing until just incorporated; stir in 2c shredded
coconut. Spread batter into pan; bake 70-80mins. Allow cake to cool in pan
10-15mins; invert onto wire rack. Glaze: Whisk
2c icing sugar and 2-3tbs milk until smooth. Pour glaze on top of cake
while it's still warm.
