It seems that where ever I go, or whatever I plan, extreme weather follows me in my life. I’ve gone from one of the dampest countries in the world to one of extremes in every way.

Brown, brown, brown…..Over the last few months we have been through a drought. The grass was dying, grey and brown. The ground was concrete, cracked and dusty. The cattle were hungry and the feeding of our precious hay had started in earnest. The creeks were dry, the river had been drained to mud in places and the threats of cutting off the water had begun. Our sugar cane crop and livelihood was browning in the fields and the only green was down to our irrigated areas which we are so grateful for. However watching the irrigators go 24/7 was a double edged sword, yes we had water and could save the majority of our crops for now but every hour they were running our profit margin shrank horribly and they had been running for a long time now. Further down the river the water to other farmers had been shut off and we were next in line. The rainy season was over and the outlook was dry for months, or so everyone thought. So much depends on the crop this year, not only for a precious income but for our residency visa too. The pressure and anxiety was building and at every glance out of the window the dryness was getting depressing.

There was rain around but it was always out of reach. We could see the beautiful dark clouds but they kept splitting each time they went over. I used to stand outside and pray for it to come to us but also I never begrudged those that were getting either. We were all desperate! All anyone could talk about was the rain. At the bus stop, the shops, local farmers, the pub, even the super market cheque out. ” Have you had any rain yet?” Or “How much did you get?” was bandied around constantly. Jeez my mum and her friends even offered to do a naked rain dance for goodness sake! Anything to get the bloody rain to fall!

The irony is, that anyone who knows me in the UK also knows that I attract the rain. When ever I held a party it rained and not in a small amount either. I was famous for it in my family! My 21st was a prime example, just as the first guests were arriving the heavens opened, the drive way flooded, the marquee fell in on the band and the power blew. Then my wedding, again torrential rain, as we said “I do” it bucketed down, black clouds, lightening the lot. The guests were drenched and my wedding photos were all taken with us in our wellies! However we all just put our boots on and kicked our heels up and partied the night away. They say rain is lucky at a wedding and in some ways it was I married Tom! (Soppy I know can’t help it)

Then we moved in to a beautiful house on the River Teme in Worcestershire and guess what…..it flooded and so badly we had to move into a caravan at the back of the hop sheds for 6 months! I will never forget carrying Sam, then only a baby in my arms in waist deep water, not knowing what was around me and so scared of dropping him. What followed was a test of character and a half or as my dad would say a ‘management test’! There was the craziness of trying to save what you could of your belongings and the camadrie of a disaster that brings people together. Of helping each other and trying to find light in the dark moments. Memories of people dancing on the bar in the local pub, then diving off it and swimming around! The pub was underwater too so where else would you go in a disaster? I think we all deserved a drink that day!

We tried to make the caravan a home but it was winter. The cold and damp was horrendous and I can honestly say I have never been so cold before or since then. I still remember walking over to the old house in my duck pajamas and wellies every morning with a bucket to fill with water, just so we could wash Sam and have a morning cuppa. Of a cow giving birth just by the front step and of using the dog pen as a play pen for Sam to keep in safe in the yards. Then one day a family were walking past (we were next to the foot path so no privacy and we looked like squatters!) and the little girl saying “mummy, daddy why is that man keeping his family in a cage!” Over those 6 or so months we had so many adventures and quite a few miserable moments too. We eventually moved back in to our renovated house, stronger and with the knowledge that our new marriage had past a test successfully and survived! Oh and I had some lovely new carpets and furniture which helped!

So I used to live in fear of the rain in the UK. There was a certain sound and intensity of rain on the roof that would put me on edge I couldn’t sleep. I can’t say how many times we watched the water creep towards our back door over the years and prayed the waters would not come in this time. I used to be so stressed at these times. So now what a turn of events to find myself looking to the heavens praying for it!

And true to Tara form a big event, well big for us, arrived…we moved house and yes it’s on a hill! So that’s why you haven’t heard from me for a while, not only am I still recovering from my broken back but we have also been building a house! A couple of dry days to move would have been handy but of course the rain chose to arrive then! The problem is as much as our new house is wonderful; it’s still a building site. We are basically surrounded by mud and with the rain we have had to build walkways of timber planks to get into it! Currently we have a beautiful moat of mud around us. With 2 boys and a menagerie of animals trust me it’s been fun keeping the mud out of the house! The garages can’t go up as it’s too wet at the moment so our boot room is chocca! If there’s anything I do know about though it’s mud. I’m a British farmers wife for goodness sake, I’m an expert at mud management!

But oh! I’m not going to moan and winge I’m a lucky lady and know it so bring on any amount of that mud! IT HAD RAINED! The relief!! We danced out in it and watched it pour from the gutters. I can only imagine how it feels for those in the outback when it rains after years. The grey grass that had looked so dead for months sprouted green in hours and represented the typical resilience of this country.

However nothing subtly happens here and everything is extreme and true to form so was this rain event. Whilst we were literally crying with relief, for others it has not been so welcome. The rain came with the force of Cyclone Debbie and she has caused so much damage and destruction to many and continues to do so as I write this. Our thoughts have been with everyone effected and all they have lost. For we know how it feels for Mother Nature to rip through everything you love. Whilst we have been happy to turn off the irrigators and see our dams and creeks fill and watch the landscape turn green again, others have been watching their crops go under flood waters, being knocked off trees or falling over in the field. Unfortunately the extremes of Mother Nature is both a blessing for some and a disaster for others. Never the less I am grateful for the rain we have had and now I’m keeping my fingers crossed the River Mary behaves herself and doesn’t get too big for her boots and floods. But if she does we will deal with it and get on – what else can you do? Like the grass here it’s resilient and so we must try to be too. I have to thank Australia for curing me of fearing the sound of rain on the roof….for now I love it, it’s like music and I’m so grateful for that!

P.s. Cheers  mum and her friends for doing that promised rain dance back in the UK!  You ladies must be good…. Boy did it rain!