Saturday, August 25, 2012

It's Raining, It's Pouring

 
 
This week we had some rain. I know this because CP woke up and announced loudly that it was raining. And then I was annoyed. Not at the rain, only at CP, for waking me up. He then proceded to tell me every 5 minutes that it was still raining, or (if it was no longer raining) then he would speculate on how much rain we had already had, or how much he was still expecting. As it turns out, the storm was all bark and no bite, and sadly, we only ended up with about 1/8th of an inch.
 
If you live on the east coast of Australia (or in the tropics, or in fact any place where rain is common place) this means bugger all. Firstly, you probably don't even know what an inch is (especially if you are under 50 years of age), or you don't care what an inch is. But essentially, an inch means you hear the gentle pitter patter of rain on your roof for a period of minutes.
 
 
If you live where I live, an inch means something else entirely. An inch (or 100 points, or 25 ml) means our tanks and dams get a little fuller, our stock get a little more feed, and our crops get a little much needed watering. An inch also means that if the dirt road into town (all 20km of it to the bitumen) has been recently graded, there is every chance I will need to put the car into 4WD. And compacting this, is the unwritten rule of the bush that you can't complain about rain under any circumstances. Rain is good. Even when it's flooding. And an inch is perfect. Despite any inconvenience that it has caused me personally.
 
 
I'm not really complaining. (Oh, who am I kidding? Yes I am.) Friends of mine can't even leave their property with an inch of rain. So I consider myself lucky. But I am a city girl at heart, and the mere thought of engaging in any 4WD activity is enough to put a thin layer of sweat on my brow.
 
 
When I was a kid, my Dad was a member of a 4WD club. This seems to give my husband endless hours of pleasure, imagining me and my siblings strapped into the back of a 4WD, high tailing it to some private property; unwilling recipients in my father's quest for excitement. It was actually fun, I think. But now that I am all grown up, it's very different.

 
Hubby would be rolling his eyes and snickering at my apparent ineptness in the world of driving in the wet. And I consider myself a good driver too. (I should be, my father is a driving instructor. But as it has been pointed out to me before, if my father is a doctor, it doesn't automatically make me a good doctor too.) In fact, hubby probably could have handled the road today without the use of 4WD. But not me. My legs start that uncontrollable "knock knocking", my knuckles turn white,and my brow creases for the duration of the trip. I don't breathe properly, and the mere whisper from a passenger is enough to send me off the deep end. I know some of you reading this actually might even get off on 4WD-ing, but it's not my thing. Not with three children in the back. And not even on my own. And even though I am very grateful for the rain, I prefer it on days when I am staying home.

 
In the last three years we have been blessed with 'good seasons' (read; lots of rain). Three floods in three years in fact. On nights when it rains, hubby can barely contain his excitement. He's like a little kid at Christmas, and he wants to share it with the world.

 
And although I am always happy for good seasons, as a mother of three small children, I am just as grateful for a good night sleep.

6 comments:

  1. My hubby gets excited over the strangest things too. I am also a fan of a good night's sleep. I hope you get one tonight.

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    1. Thank you! My kids are mostly good sleepers, but it's that 'sick' time of year that's been causing me trouble! xxx

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  2. I rained up here to yesterday evening, 9ml.Any rain is good rain even if it is an inconvenience. I love going to sleep to the sound of rain but then I grew up in a massive drought that left dams dry for 12yrs so I can't help but love it. I also love sleep and I don't have the kids. I hope you get a good nights sleep tonight.

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    1. Absolutely! Hearing rain on the roof is one of my favourite things in the world! When I first met hubby, they had been in the grip of an awful drought. That drought broke the week we married, and whilst we have been blessed with good seasons, I will take any rain over no rain. It's the way of the bush :) x

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  3. I hear you!!!! Love my sleep - of course, I would get more if I go to bed earlier. Funny that! No better sound in the world - to go to SLEEP to.
    ;-)
    BB

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  4. I am city born and bred and now live in the country. I don't get the 4wd thrill. It is out of necessity not because I want too.

    The noise and light show here were only just that too.

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