It was a sign from above. The Bride said “I do” in Saint Paul’s Cathedral. Day turned to night. Hail stones the size of golf balls fell and then ... it rained. I found myself wondering at the message being sent to my nephew and his new bride.

Water was cascading down the inside of the cathedral walls and pooling on the floor.

Taking refuge in the other famous Melbourne ‘Cathedral’ on that particular corner, Doug and I discovered the heavens don’t discriminate – Y & J’s had a water feature in the stairway and a trip to the ladies room required a paddle! Thank goodness ‘Chloe' was safe and sound in the top bar.

Fighting our way out of the Melbourne CBD we noted the mundane perils associated with city living when nature takes its course. Subways were flooded, public transport at a standstill, shops closed, roads inaccessible putting the whole place in gridlock. And all those city people being city people.

Made us realise that despite a similar event occurring at home in Newstead, the locals at least didn’t have to contend with the congestion and confusion. The water could go somewhere – preferably the river. Via the pub and the IGA unfortunately! But at least the water could be swept away and nobody had to concern themselves with traffic jams, unrelenting sirens and multi-story car parks advising ‘evacuate’ despite water lapping at the boom-gates.

Aren’t we lucky in the country – in trying times – country people live here!

I’d asked Mum to set up for the Produce Exchange while I was away. Reports suggest that the usual green thumbs had turned up with the usual fantastic garden produce. One local was overheard wishing the weather would turn and bring some relieving rain for the garden.  That’s the irony of country living. One minute ordering a tanker load of water for the house and the next looking at the hole in the side of the hill above the dam where the top paddock used to be. Needless to say, all the produce
exchangers were pretty happy to see the rain fall on their veggie gardens – it certainly made digging the initial stages of the community garden a little softer!
 
At our place, whole new congregations of Soldier Beetles hatched since the rain and now worship in the tomato patch. Some of the congestion of the big city did follow us home after all.
                                                        
As for the bride? Taking her cue from the country boy she’d just married, off came her shoes and down the  church steps she went. Barefoot....without slipping on a hail stone once.

Next Produce Exchanger Easter Saturday, 10.30am

Liz Bell 5476 2380