Of rain and winds

Over the past couple of days, Perth has been experiencing severe rain and winds. The sidewalks around our suburban apartment has been littered with thick tree branches that have been snapped off by the winds. Garbage and recycling bins that used to line the small streets have been blown over the rubbish strewn across the floor. 

One of the consequence of this extreme weather is the tarps that are used to cover the strawberry plants have been blown over. Some of the iron pickets locking them in place as well as the metal rods holding them in place along the lanes have also been blown out of the ground.

Actually when I last went to work on Monday (longest work shift of 11.5h ever, omfg), there was already a short inkling of the damage the weather could cause. On that day, the rain was pouring down, visibility was low and everytime the winds roared we all crouch down in between the lanes with the plastic tarps slapping into us. The noise of the tarps palpitating from the wind together with the howling of the winds and rain is truly terrifying. I actually made a decision then, soaked in a mixture of rain and mud, wet feet and all that I was not going to work on Tuesday. If anything I needed at least 1-2 days for the inside of my boots to dry. I had, later in the day, gone through 3 pairs of socks and I also needed time to wash and dry them. I am going to self-declare Tuesday as my off-day.

That evening, the winds did not stop. The clattering of the windows and shaking of the front door woke us up every few hours. I wondered then what it must be like for the homeless folks in Perth. We are just about entering the cusp of winter and the drop in temperature at night together with the rains and winds must be an absolutely miserable experience if you had no shelter.

Anyway, Tuesday afternoon, the lady boss sent me a message informing me that there will not be any picking until Friday. The damaged tarps meant that the boss had to fix the tarps and that also meant that I will have no work until Friday (i.e. no pay until then. This made me ponder about the wages of a menial labourer, the lack of security of income and how it sometimes really isn't dependant on whether one was willing to work or not.) But frankly, if this crazy weather persists for the next few days, I can scarcely see myself being able to go back to work on Friday.