Storms and power

After just experiencing 5 days with no electricity it made me think about how countries are different, in ways one would not expect. Africa is wild and untamed, yet for all my 26 years living there, I never remember a 24 hour period with no electricity. But it is possible it happened and there was less that was affected, and certainly we are more reliant now.  

The reason this storm was so bad is it was heavy, wet snow in October, so the might oaks and maples still had leaves...so huge limbs just broke under the weight...It was the trees and not the snow that caused power issues...

Here are some of the things that made the last few days hard, in annoyance order.  And this tree limb probably bounced of my roof...

1. I have my own well.  This meant no running water, and also no water to flush toilets.  No way to wash dishes.....or of course shower
2. Limited heating.  This was a winter storm so the first few nights were cold.  We couldn't keep the generator running all the time, but we did "take the chill off" each evening.
3. The generator gave us some lights but it's impossible not to walk into a dark room and flick the switch. 
4. Tree fell across the driveway and took the power lines down....and my car was trapped...(but unlike my neighbors at least the tree didn't fall on the car). 
5. And of course no phone, TV, internet...Facebook updates on my phone so I knew a little of what was happening...And I work from home so had to find somewhere else to go....
6. Fridge, freezer lasted a few days then had to throw out, eat or relocate.  Fortunately beers kept cold in the snow...

And my memories of power outages in South Africa...some times from a thunder storm but often because some eejit drove into the substation at the top of our road..... And the only time I know we lost power in London was the unexpected hurricane...

Good news is now I know how to get the generator going....!

Preparing for Winter

Steps to prepare for Winter in Durban, South Africa.

1. Place 1 thin blanket on bed
2. Unpack 2 sweaters
3. Close 1 window

Steps to prepare for Winter in Bolton, MA USA

1. Place all garden ornaments and pots in basement
2. Disconnect outside hoses
3. Turn off outside water
4. Remove or cover any lawn furniture
5. Turn heating on and get furnace serviced
6. Remove screens and lower double windows
7. Book snow plow man
8. Place ice scraper in car
9. Protect any delicate plants (from ice and also the deer)
10. Find gloves
11. and scarves
12. and boots
13. and ski gear
14. and jackets
15. and ice "stabilizers"
16. and ice skates
17. and roof rakes

Wild Animals

Having grown up in South Africa I often tease people about all the wild animals I had in my backyard growing up – aka “Out of Africa”.  The truth is a little different.  In the suburbs of Johannesburg as a child, the scariest animal was probably a chameleon!  I remember being told that the locals feared and respected it because it had the power to change color.

Later in Natal we did have vervet monkeys in the trees behind our house.  The biggest challenge was stopping the dogs chasing them, as if cornered, were told they could disembowel a dog.  Fortunately, never had any issues and I love seeing them jumping from tree to tree.   

There were a number of poisonous snakes, and I can tell a story of walking in a private game park and jumping away from a 10 foot black mamba – that WAS truly scary and could have been lethal. 

 

Then a move to the suburbs of Boston, MA – a little rural I admit, but regularly I have to chase white tailed deer away from my flowers, and have seen coyotes, foxes and of course the one moose!  In Maine my friends have had bears eating from their bird feeders!

So, USA is more wild than Africa!

Biltong and Mrs Balls

It is interesting how the food you grew up with stays with you as a major part of who you are.  Especially when stressed people reach for familiar, comfort food, and that really does vary all over the world. Comfort foods always have that element of nostalgia.  I guess there are 2 categories - snack foods versus a meal. I don't think of ice cream or peanut butter or Buttermilk Fried Chicken or "goulash"...

Most South Africans can tell you that that they miss biltong, bobotie and of course Mrs Balls chutney (which is essential in the bobotie and other curries). Hey I just found out I can buy it on Amazon - who would have thought!

http://www.mrsballschutney.com/History.html

And of course biltong - always miss it.  I tell friends it it like jerky, but honestly that is being rude to the wonderful taste and texture of biltong.  It is dried meat and I was always partial to the ostrich which is a little drier than the game biltong. As wiki says, biltong is salty not sweet like jerky which is definitely the appeal to me.  Why would you sweeten cured meat?


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biltong


As this image says "bledie lekker"...very good!