The Perfect Storm...not

Updates:

So much for the so called "one of the largest storm". More like a whiff of light breeze to me. Those weather men can't be trusted...

Touted by the weather service as one of the largest storms on the planet, "covering an area the size of Australia" is making its landfall today. Just exactly how severe is this storm, we'll see...

The Joy of Work - Quotes for the new year - Part 1

1. Be busy without being disorganised, and weary without being dispirited
2. Be busy but happy, and tired but joyful
3. It's fine to be busy, just don't let it get on your nerves
4. Work swiftly, but don't get tense up; relax your body and mind and never tighten up
5. Work swiftly in an orderly fashion; never compete with time in a nervous flurry
   

Summer is finally here...

After months and months of cold, wind and rain, the skies finally clear and we have such glorious and cloudless days. It's an abrupt switch from winter to summer because this year we do not have the spring season. I was out at 7:30 am this morning and it was already hot and humid. It feels so much like home...those lazy hazy days of summer...

Winter will always turn to spring???

Wrong! Sometimes winter will turn to spring and then back to winter again. Just look at the weather forecast for today and you will understand what I mean. I need extra duvet and electric blanket when I go to bed tonight. Brrrr...

Four seasons in one day...

Imagine you wake up early only to be greeted by a wintry rain followed by a nippy autumn-like morning and then a breezy springtime afternoon and ends with a calm summery sunshine. Be prepared, brace for more four-seasons-in-one-day type of weather for the next few days to come. At least I do not have to worry being suffocated by the scary and menacing red dust. So I should not complain...

Mars weather in Sydney?

Sydney is blanketed by thick red dust this morning. It looks like Sydney is in the planet of Mars. More news here.

Baby, it's cold outside...

Brrrr...It's 1 C outside at the moment. Which reminds me of the delightful song "Baby, it's cold outside" from the movie Neptune's Daughter. Found a video clip of this song performed by the handsome and dashing Richardo Montalban (Ahh...he is soo gorgeous.../blush) and Esther Williams. Enjoy.

Baby, it's cold outside

Lyrics:-

I really can't stay
(but baby it's cold outside)
I've got to go away
(but baby it's cold outside)
This evening has been
(been hoping that you'd drop in)
So very nice
(i'll hold your hands, they're just like ice)
My mother will start worry
(beautiful whats your hurry)
My father will be pacing the floor
(listen to the fireplace roar)
So really i'd better scurry
(beautiful please don't hurry)
but maybe just a half a drink more
(put some records on while i pour)
the neighbors might faint
(baby it's bad out there)
say what's in this drink
(no cabs to be had out there)
i wish i knew how
(your eyes are like starlight now)
to break this spell
(i'll take your hat, your hair looks swell)
i ought to say "no, no, no sir"
(mind if i move in closer)
at least i'm gonna say that i tried
(what's the sense in hurtin' my pride)
i really can't stay
(oh baby don't hold out)

both:baby it's cold out side

i simply must go
(but baby it's cold outside)
the answer is no
(but baby it's cold outside)
your welcome has been
(how lucky that you droped in)
so nice and warm
(look out the window at that storm)
my sister will be suspicious
(gosh your lips look delcious)
my brother will be there at the door
(waves upon the tropical shore)
my maiden aunts mind is vicious
(gosh your lips are delicous)
but maybe just a cigarette more
(never such a blizzard before)
i've gotta get home
(but baby you'd freeze out there)
say lend me a coat
(it's up to your knees out there)
you've really been grand
(i thrill when you touch my hand)
but don't you see?
(how can you do this thing to me?)
there's bound to be talk tomorrow
(think of my lifelong sorrow)
at least there will be plenty implied
(if you got namonia and died)
i really can't stay
(get over that old out)

both:baby it's cold
baby it's cold outside

The first winter storm arrives

I think the sunny and still winter days are coming to an end. Today marks the first winter storm of the season. More to come... :(

The end of summer...

It seems that summer is officially gone forever. This is the 3rd week in a row where we were issued severe weather warning. It's the same usual pattern, gale force winds coupled with torrential rains that come one after another like waves.

The storm intensified as I was preparing to leave my office. Let me tell you that driving a flimsy little tin box (a.k.a my car) in the middle of the big storm is not a very wise thing to do. The winds blew so hard and pushed my car off the course several times that it almost veered pass the central line of the narrow road. Luckily there were not many cars on the road. I managed to reach home in one piece but it really freaks me out. :-S

Well not really much to do tonight, so I would just kick back and relax myself and listen to the rain pounding the windows and the walls of my flat...

Another weather bomb...

After a false warning by the Met Service last week, we are told by those "experts" to expect another weather bomb this weekend. It seems this low depression is going to cover the entire North Island for the entire weekend. Whether it is as scary as the Met Service predicted has yet to be seen. But at the moment, the wind is picking up very fast now with torrential rain lashing with great fury. Sigh..looks that's the end of the summer this year. :(

Actually, I was planning to take a scenic train ride tomorrow. The train track starts in the town and then meanders across the coastal with a direct view of the dramatic landscape. Along the way, the train track actually crosses the sea. But now with the severe weather warning, I think I have to can the idea... :(

Cyclone Innis is coming to town

Oh! You better watch out, you better not fly, you better not drive, I'm telling you why, Cyclone Innis is coming to town...

So be prepared to be blown away. Looks like we are going to have a very wet weather for the next 30 hours according to the forecast.

A stormy Valentine's...

The warm and balmy weather ended abruptly in a very sour note today. Ever since mid day, the weather took a nasty turn and all hell's break loose. So we are having a wet and stormy Valentine's Day. I guess the heaven must have cried for all those lonely hearts out there. Yeah right! :)

Warm and balmy weather...

Ah...the fine and sunny weather decided to linger a little longer over here. For the second week in a row, we were basking under the glorious sunshine with temperature hovering in the mid 20s Celsius. With humidity ranges between 50% to 60%, this is the perfect weather for me... :D

As for my local counterparts, they have been bitching and moaning that the weather is too hot for them. I will playfully reprimand them that they should count themselves lucky to be blessed with such mild and warm weather. Still, they could not see the bigger picture and carry on wallowing all day round. Sigh, most people here I encounter do not appreciate the things they currently have at all. With such a narrow minded and petty mindset, it's little wonder this country do not progress much and still lagging behind the rest of the world. ;)

Anyway, the recent bout of warm weather just brings back the those sweet memories I spent in an island resort 6 years ago. That time, I took my mum for a vacation on the resort for a few days and we spent our afternoons by the beach and lying on the chair under the coconut tree shade sipping coconut water while looking out at the sea. The cool sea breeze brushed over over body and it was a total bliss. :)

This summer especially gave me a sense of nostalgic feeling because I kept revisiting the good times I spent with my mum. It makes me feel like I am still at home. Anyway, I couldn't be bothered to join those whiners complaining everything under the sun because I am out enjoying the weather when I can. :)

To conclude, I would like to share this delightful piece with the title called "Summer" performed beautifully by the talented Joe Hisaishi. Enjoy... :)

The storm before Christmas...

It seems like we are going to have a big "spring cleaning" on earth before Christmas. This is what it will look like for the next 24 hours...

The storm...

Seems like history is repeating itself. We had a direct hit in July last year and now this...





Looks like I am going to be stranded at home for a day or two. Sigh...

Another storm...

The forecast says it all...

Heavy rain warning again...sigh

Another depression is heading towards us again. That means we will get dump with buckets of water in the next 24 hours. Which means I can't dry my clothes and I can't go out to the shops...sigh

Windy Wednesday...

Still alive. The roof of my flat still intact and survived through the hurricane force winds. Now have to go to work and assess the damages. More later...

Stormy Tuesday...

Finally, I reached home cold and drenched like a wet dog 45 mins ago. Actually I should be at home more than 4 hours ago, however the management refused to let us go back early despite the weather conditions turning from bad to worse. Eventually they RELUCTANTLY let us go after the we received an evacuation notice. To tell you the truth, I was so appalled with their attitude. I just can't understand what they are thinking, they seem to place productivity on higher priority than the well being of the the employees!

Just when I thought I can go home, we got an emergency call from bean counters complaining that they cannot wire funds to the bank and demanded us to fix immediately. WTF??? Of all the days they got, they rather choose a shitty day to wire funds? Can't they just delay for another day? No they can't and they demanded someone must go and attend to them at that very moment. These people clearly had no common sense at all. So I hurried along in strong winds and pouring rains to their offices and try to figure out what went wrong. While troubleshooting the problem, we got hit by a few power outages which was very annoying. After a few false starts and some tweaking of the files, we managed to get funds wired across and it was all sweet. However the power fluctuations were affecting our server room rather badly so we ended up shutting them down just for safety purposes.

Once we made sure everything settled, we flicked the switch and went home. On my way home I have to drive ever so slowly and at the same time dodging flying debris from the roads and from the sky. Luckily I live not far from my work place so I managed to get home in no time.

It seems there is no end in sight and the storm is getting stronger as the night approaches. It would be a long, dark and stormy night...

Blue Skies

What a big difference in today's weather compared to yesterday's. Yesterday it was all strong winds and lashing rain and yet today it was all sunny, bright, warm and breezy. So much so I want to sing out loud "Blue Skies" to the top of my lungs. Of course I would not want to contribute to the noise pollution and risking myself being pelted by rotten eggs, so I let Mel Torme do the job, which he did beautifully. So here it is, enjoy the song.

Blue Skies (click the title to listen to the song)

Blue skies
Smiling at me
Nothing but blue skies
Do I see

Bluebirds
Singing a song
Nothing but bluebirds
All day long

Never saw the sun shining so bright
Never saw things going so right
Noticing the days hurrying by
When you're in love, my how they fly

Blue days
All of them gone
Nothing but blue skies
From now on...