"GLOOM AND MISERY EVERYWHERE - STORMY WEATHER ..."

 I've been out and about the house yesterday and this morning, preparing for the 'big blast' that might come in the form of Cyclone Gabrielle who I guess is the female version of this joker:

Gabrielle then might be bringing a message from God. I wonder what it is?

No doubt it'll be like those spam messages or the phishing you get on your computer and phone or, one of those phone calls that come after hours from some bogus bank or IT company telling you that you have a problem that needs to be fixed urgently or someone trying to sell you something.

🔔RING RING RING🔔

ME: Hello.

GOD: (in an Indian accent) Hello, dearie me, I'm telling you that you must be repenting and ...

ME: Hey! Who is this?

GOD: It is being me you naughty fellow. God. Your God and all nice people's God. My good friend and admirer of Mary's shape, Robert the apathetic sanctimonious sinner and toilet cleaner has been giving me your telephone number and ....

ME: No thanks, we've got one.

*CLICK*

I went up onto the roof and cleaned the gutters and ran water down the downpipes to ensure that they were clear. I anchored down anything that was movable on the deck (no more chairs to worry about) and moved the wheelbarrow and tools into the woodshed. I firmly bolted the basement doors which, in past storms have been ripped open and put wedges in to hold them.

I noticed neighbours doing similar things.

Maybe it's overkill but 'better to be safe than sorry'. With luck the cyclone will by-pass us but the forecasters are saying this could be the worst that we will have had for some time and on the scale of the Wahine storm in 1968, Cyclone Bola in 1988 and others as reported here:

10 OF THE WORST STORMS TO HIT NZ

The wind is starting to pick up now even though the cyclone is forecast to start hitting tomorrow with the worst for Northland on Monday.

The Old Girl was scheduled to fly back to Whangarei tomorrow evening but changed that to today. She left Wellington at 6AM and is currently waiting in Auckland airport for a 1.30PM flight.

Stay safe and dry (but you can have a glass or two of wine).