Gosh, That Was Exhausting!

 

“We were all feeling that bit shagged and fagged and fashed, it having been an evening of some small energy expenditure.”
― Anthony Burgess

Hey, Lovelies!
Well, we survived Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Hooray!

But, here’s the thing…

We’re all just a bit strung out and exhausted.

Before the Cyclone we were all busy pulling in all our outdoor furniture, potted plants, anything that may be used as a projectile. We were busy filling containers with water and making sure we had torches and batteries and candles and powerpacks and gas for the barbeque and petrol for the car, and 10 days of medicines, and pet food and enough groceries and toilet paper. We were checking on our neighbours and trying to get jobs done in case the power went out and stayed out. We were filling sandbags and taping windows and making sure we knew where our important documents were.

Then, we were all prepared, and there was nothing left to do but wait.

Waiting is its own kind of stressful. Nerves get stretched as you wait, listening to the howl of wind, waiting for the rain, wondering if and when things will intensify. Worrying for friends and family and neighbours. Worrying for your own safety.

Alfred dragged on, and his time of landfall kept getting delayed. More stressful waiting and nights of not really sleeping.

Then Alfred arrived, did his damage, and left after a final dumping of rain and howl of wind.

It was exhausting. But we were mostly okay.

And now?

After the high-adrenaline rush, we are flat-lining.

What’s more?

Now we have to put it all back. All the outdoor furniture and potted plants and building supplies and outdoor things. We have to move the furniture we dragged inside from the deck back outside. We can use up all the extra water we bottled, and the barrels of water we stored in the bathtub.

There’s as much do do now as there was before the cyclone. Plus picking up broken branches, raking up leaves and debris, chain-sawing timber, doing a dump run or two.

But we’re already exhausted.

If you’re on of those affected by Cyclone Alfred, or whatever other kind of storm you are experiencing in your part of the world (which could be economic, political, environmental or something closer to home), know that it’s okay to prioritise your wellbeing and mental health, to take things slowly, to not feel you need to get ‘back to normal’ in a rush.
We’ll be taking it slowly here this week. I hope you get the chance to catch your breath too!
Hugs, love, soggy carpet, and the joy of electricity, Nicole xx