Wild weather

Yesterday we had some major wind action. At the next suburb over (Kelburn) there were 120 kph winds, while over on Mt Kaukau they got up to 160. In the morning, the children and I went out to Karori to do various bits and pieces. Being rubbish and recycling day, after bundling the children into the car I had to retrieve our rubbish bag, the neighbour's rubbish bag, and our recycling bins from our front lawn. I then reloaded the recycling bins. I managed to wedge the neighbour's bin and bag into their new boxing by their letterbox - suitably visible for the workers to collect, but hopefully secure enough against the gale. I wedged ours in next to our letterbox.

Once in Karori, we battled the gales (and were lucky to find a park very close to where we were heading). The wind was so strong it blew Aidan basically off his feet and into me - fortunately he was holding my hand!

Back at home, the recycling people had been. I found our recycling bin in the empty section next door. The rubbish collectors were yet to come, but our bag was nowhere to be seen. I hope it had just blown down the road where it would be collected in the fullness of time....

Later that evening, I had to drive to Tawa/Porirua for another course (extending children's thinking). It wasn't too bad on the motorway as the wind had died down a bit by then - but it was still wet and the wind rocked the car in the twilight. I believed I was driving to the conditions, keeping at about 90-95 kph. However, the vote of the majority was that I was granny-driving, given how many passed me and at what speed they continued off down the road! The good thing about a decent two-lane highway is that you can afford to do a bit of granny-driving, as you are easy to pass.

Today we even got some sun.