Beau Peep Notice Board => Outpourings => Topic started by: Joan on September 22, 2009, 10:25:35 PM
Title: Funny you should mention dust, Max ...
Post by: Joan on September 22, 2009, 10:25:35 PM
We woke up in Sydney this morning to an eery red glow outside and what looked like mist, but couldn't possibly be as the wind is blowing a gale. Turns out it's red dust being blown in from the West. The whole city and points North and South are covered in it. I made the mistake of going out to take a picture and breathing some in, not to mention getting it in my eyes. No exercise for me this morning! It really is wierd - thickest dust storm we've ever had in Sydney apparently. We're going to have a big clean up when it finally clears, they think sometime this afternoon.
If anyone's still up, you should be able to see some of it on the Today Show for the next hour and a half. I assume that you can watch it from anywhere in the world as we don't have the stupid licencing laws the UK has. I'm sure there will be lots of video and pictures on the site later as well.
Here's the link - http://today.ninemsn.com.au/default.aspx
Good God, you don't even have to watch the ads if you watch Today online!
on the page go to 'Click here to watch the TODAY show LIVE, mornings until 9am (AEST)'
Not only that, but I found a grass tick on me this morning - don't know where it came from, wasn't near any bushes yesterday and when I clicked on my bookmark for Facebook the login page came up in German - wierd day!
Photos here: http://picfog.com/search/sydney
Title: Re: Funny you should mention dust, Max ...
Post by: Diane CBPFC on September 22, 2009, 11:10:18 PM
And it was H.G. Wells day on Google yesterday. Watch out for German accented Aliens crawling from the dust.
Title: Re: Funny you should mention dust, Max ...
Post by: Joan on September 22, 2009, 11:17:35 PM
;D ... Anything's possible today, Diane! 23rd September seems like a pretty innocuous date, though. Was yesterday the Equinox?
Title: Re: Funny you should mention dust, Max ...
Post by: Vulture on September 23, 2009, 05:19:45 AM
Yes, Joan. Yesterday was the Autumnal Equinox, but only for the Northern Hemisphere. I don't know when it starts for the Southern Hemisphere... ??? Maybe it's the same date to keep in line with the equality laws!!
Title: Re: Funny you should mention dust, Max ...
Post by: Malc on September 23, 2009, 06:50:50 AM
I think the dates are the same, but the names of the seasons are reversed. If it's the Autumnal Equinox in the north, it's the Spring Equinox down here. Yesterday.
Title: Re: Funny you should mention dust, Max ...
Post by: Vulture on September 23, 2009, 07:34:25 AM
Thanks, Malc. :-*
Title: Re: Funny you should mention dust, Max ...
Post by: The Peepmaster on September 23, 2009, 02:38:01 PM
There are some reddish photos on the BBC website.
I used to think that Summer was hot here, and cold in Australia, whereas Winter was cold here and hot there.
Now it sounds like the names of the seasons are switched round to tally with the hot and cold parts of the year.
Christmas seems to still be celebrated on the same day mind.
Title: Re: Funny you should mention dust, Max ...
Post by: Malc on September 24, 2009, 06:57:37 AM
Christmas is rotten in Oz. I can't stand the Christmas-round-the-barbie thing, or the mad rush to the beach (not that the beautiful silver sandy beaches here are ever crowded). I go all Charles Dickens at that time of year, hankering after horse drawn coaches driven through snow-covered landscapes by blokes with long trumpets.
There must be quite a few people like me, because the Aussies have come up with Christmas In July (our cold time of year). Yes, because Europeans feel more Christmassy in the colder months, we celebrate a faux Christmas with Santa, spray foam around the windows and decorations. Not that the kids get presents, it's for adults, whinging Poms, Germans and Eastern Europeans who want to build a snowman, even though they never did back home.
By the way, we do get real snow in Australia, with a real ski season down south in the Australian Alps. Only it's pronounced "skoi soison".
Title: Re: Funny you should mention dust, Max ...
Post by: Joan on September 24, 2009, 08:26:32 AM
I'm with you, Malc, though I've never had a white Christmas or celebrated Christmas in July - too false for me. I've never got used to Christmas in the heat, even after 28 years - not the same atmosphere at all. What you're used to, I suppose. I've heard Aussies whingeing about missing Christmas here when they're in the Northern Hemisphere.
Obviously, I've survived our little dust storm yesterday, and the tick, and Facebook in German. (I can speak German, but I don't know how FB worked that out - random, I expect - FB is good at random.) I stayed indoors for the morning, then a friend and I went to a pub with tight closing automatic doors for lunch and by the time we came out 3 hours later, it was clear. We had a lot to catch up on - she's just got back from Scotland and we hadn't talked for 5 weeks. Giving me itchy feet again, all these people having overseas trips. My niece has just announced she's going to South America in November. Hiking (she's not too keen about that, I think her friend is the one who's pushing it) in Patagonia, then up to Uruguay and down to Brazil - half her luck!
Oh well, I'll just have to make do with going to the local Thai for dinner with some of the ladies in the street. I and a couple of others are being driven up there and picked up, so we can have a couple of drinkies (husbands do have their uses). Should be a good evening, although I expect none of the other customers will stay long, once the nine of us get going. ;D
...and just to prove that we do get snow in Australia, here's a photo of me and Kate in front of the gum trees (snow gums) in Perisher Valley, NSW.
Don't tell Kate I posted it. She likes to approve photos of herself. Kate's the taller one with the pigtail, just in case there was any confusion.
Title: Re: Funny you should mention dust, Max ...
Post by: Joan on September 26, 2009, 12:20:13 AM
Another dust storm is blowing in this morning. Not as bad as Wednesday's, but still getting everywhere, including my eyes! Hopefully is clearing up soon so I can go for my walk - was going down to the beach, as they've been burning off in the bush.
Take a look at this - came from a friend of a friend on Facebook. I didn't put it on Youtube because I don't know who owns it, so have to link to it on Picasa.
dust storm heading for Sydney (http://picasaweb.google.com.au/lh/photo/EOHUPLFGXtUZBQrof1VnTQ?authkey=Gv1sRgCL_bwNmN6Ief_AE&feat=directlink)
Title: Re: Funny you should mention dust, Max ...
Post by: Tarquin Thunderthighs lll on September 26, 2009, 12:36:50 AM
Bizarre footage, Joan - never seen anything like that before. It looked so still. Not at all what you'd expect, hearing reports of a 'storm'.
Title: Re: Funny you should mention dust, Max ...
Post by: Diane CBPFC on September 26, 2009, 02:24:51 AM
How many inches are you left with when it all stettles? Will people have to shovel it up?
Title: Re: Funny you should mention dust, Max ...
Post by: Joan on September 26, 2009, 04:53:02 AM
I think that must have been taken out West somewhere. It wasn't as concentrated as that when it got to us in Sydney. After Wednesday, it was quite thick, Diane - not inches but a good layer. Trouble is, it stays in the air when the winds go down and then settles again. This morning's wasn't too bad - gone now, but we're still cleaning it off the bottom of the pool because it churns up there and then resettles.
This is the one photo I took on Wednesday that came out reasonably - took it about 6.30am looking out on our back garden.
I went outside to take it - I assume those white specks are dust.
Title: Re: Funny you should mention dust, Max ...
Post by: Tom on September 26, 2009, 10:21:50 AM
That photo looks eerie, Joan. Blood red skies and all that.
I remember everywhere here being covered in a layer of sand once, but that was brought in by the rain if I remember correctly and everything looked normal.
Title: Re: Funny you should mention dust, Max ...
Post by: Roger Kettle on September 26, 2009, 06:11:12 PM
I see there has been another dust storm, Joan---it must be really weird to experience first hand. I don't think it will be long before the frogs and locusts turn up...
Title: Re: Funny you should mention dust, Max ...
Post by: The Peepmaster on September 26, 2009, 06:45:27 PM
Things aren't looking good in Manila either, where they've had a month's worth of rain in just a day. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8276347.stm
Title: Re: Funny you should mention dust, Max ...
Post by: Roger Kettle on September 26, 2009, 07:54:19 PM
God, that looks awful. It's not long since I posted on here, complaining about our wet Summer---I think this is called perspective.
Title: Re: Funny you should mention dust, Max ...
Post by: The Peepmaster on September 26, 2009, 08:01:55 PM
It's quite amazing. I have quite a few contacts in the Philippines on my facebook page and there were all kinds of appeals coming out this afternoon - mainly for rubber boats!
We have some clients out there at the moment (in Manila). We've established they're safe in their hotel, and are just hoping they get their flight home tomorrow okay.
Title: Re: Funny you should mention dust, Max ...
Post by: Joan on September 26, 2009, 11:24:13 PM
It's just been on the news this morning here, Peeps, so it must be bad. Immediately wondered if you had anyone there - glad to hear they're okay.
It was very strange, Tom - HG Wellsian - yesterday's wasn't too bad, and went fairly quickly, leaving a thin layer of dust on everything we'd just cleaned up. The dust is just an inconvenience (I don't think anyone had serious respiratory problems from it) and very spectacular for the media. It seems like a lot of fuss for not very much when something like the floods in the Philippines happens. I hope Kevin is going to help them when he gets back from basking in the glory of actually being included in doing something about the world economy.
Title: Re: Funny you should mention dust, Max ...
Post by: Joan on September 26, 2009, 11:34:11 PM
I just went outside and it's like the middle of winter in the wind out there. Lovely out of the wind, but it's still blowing a gale and it's freezing - must be coming off the snow.
I'm off to cook for the fireys. They won't be burning off - probably training courses.
Title: Re: Funny you should mention dust, Max ...
Post by: The Peepmaster on September 28, 2009, 03:25:57 PM
I just heard from Lucy, that her sister-in-law, Alona, who works as our representative in Manila, walked/waded/swam over 4 miles, sometimes up to her neck in water, to get to the hotel in Makati, where we had guests staying. (On the way she had to buy dry clothes to replace those that were by now very wet, although she has little money.)
I'm so tempted to award her "Employee of the Month". However, I'm informed she was 5 minutes late arriving at the hotel.
Title: Re: Funny you should mention dust, Max ...
Post by: Diane CBPFC on September 28, 2009, 04:20:01 PM
Wow, that is some level of dedication to the job!
I know you were also having trouble with your injured mother Peeps, but I worry that this Alona who can wade/swim four miles is fit enought to beat the cr..p out of you. Take care my friend.
Title: Re: Funny you should mention dust, Max ...
Post by: Tarquin Thunderthighs lll on September 28, 2009, 04:30:47 PM
I worry that this Alona who can wade/swim four miles is fit enough to beat the cr..p out of you. Take care my friend.
I'm not sure she'd have to wade too far for some help on that score...
Title: Re: Funny you should mention dust, Max ...
Post by: The Peepmaster on September 28, 2009, 04:41:50 PM
Of course, I'm actually immensely proud of her. The guests gave her a tip (which is customary), of 300 pesos. (That's just under £4). ..0
Title: Re: Funny you should mention dust, Max ...
Post by: Roger Kettle on September 28, 2009, 06:13:41 PM
As a matter of interest, Peeps, what's the average wage out there? Is 300 pesos a lot of money?
Title: Re: Funny you should mention dust, Max ...
Post by: The Peepmaster on September 28, 2009, 06:32:48 PM
I don't really know. I do know that £4 buys you a lot more than it does here in the UK, but there are many people who earn next to nothing, if not nothing at all. There's no social security system.
Just found this via Google:
It depends where you are in the Philippines. As with any country, wages vary widely from place to place. Also it depends if you work. Minimum wage is about 300p ($6) per day. Live-in help will make about 2,500 to 3,000 pesos ($50-60) per month and get free food and lodging and some other expenses. A university professor can make 25,000p ($500) per month. More or less depending upon education and seniority. A taxi drive if he is lucky will clear 500p ($10) a day.
Much of the "wealth" comes from filipinos abroad sending money home to their families. It is a major part of their economy. Tourism is going to play a bigger part of their economy in the future, and rightly so.
Title: Re: Funny you should mention dust, Max ...
Post by: The Peepmaster on September 28, 2009, 06:35:14 PM
Of course, I'm actually immensely proud of her. The guests gave her a tip (which is customary), of 300 pesos. (That's just under £4). ..0
I just thought... She'll probably have been wearing her new company T-shirt, which might have become stained or damaged. That's likely to mean a £4 deduction from her wages.
Title: Re: Funny you should mention dust, Max ...
Post by: Roger Kettle on September 28, 2009, 07:52:36 PM
Hard but fair, Nige.
Title: Re: Funny you should mention dust, Max ...
Post by: The Peepmaster on September 28, 2009, 09:50:40 PM
I've falsely given the impression that I'm a tad callous. I do admire dear Alona's dedication, and will overlook any misdemeanors at this time.
Yesterday was weird. I was getting appeals for help regularly, via facebook and twitter, from contacts in the Philippines, (which I could do little about), but it emphasised the seriousness of the situation, and the fear and hysteria of some affected.
At the same time news reports and various videos were becoming available, some of which I didn't want to watch, as there's no pleasure in witnessing genuine distress.
I was also twittering about the massive Big Man that was over on this island for the weekend. A huge "puppet", that was really quite trivial compared with other things going on. This morning, it took up much of the floor space at the back open part of a ferry car-deck, and mechanically waved to islanders, who in turn waved back.
I'm switching from serious to twee, then back again. It's so surreal, isn't it?
Title: Re: Funny you should mention dust, Max ...
Post by: The Peepmaster on September 28, 2009, 09:58:36 PM
Incidentally, this is the Big Man Walking together with harbour and ferry staff. (The Big Man is the one at the back.):-
Here he is waving from the ferry:- (http://api.ning.com/files/1bSs8Sbec4tOIu8EqMjcmrWr-vDmL-xkZZBvzu*vp*dzpq59TuVzl6AnpCjPOpH9e-uc7TAq4MBuoXNpJCJMnTXhNgC6UQ59/bmw4.jpg)
Title: Re: Funny you should mention dust, Max ...
Post by: The Peepmaster on September 29, 2009, 09:19:50 PM
Getting back to the events in Manila, this video shows a sequence of photographs that show the volume of water that deluged the place.