I am super exhausted but determined to complete #Hiveblopomo, an initiative of the awesome bizzy Queen Bee @traciyork, encouraging all Hivers to write a blog a day for the month of April, and this is Day 13 of course!
Those of you who read my last post on Adrift in the Storm will understand this exhaustion.
We took a walk to see whether there was any more damage to the two buildings smashed by a mudslide to the right of our home after a severe storm that we've now learned actually is the subtropical cyclone ISSA.
The greater Durban must have been at the eye of the storm, as we're hearing of homes being flooded, filled with mud and of course many damaged beyond repair as with my neighbours.
What amazed me is that both these families can still smile and say they're not concerned about the material loss, as they are thankful that they're at least alive and well.
We accommodated the one couple plus their two furry gal pooches and the most gorgeous Peaches Pather who disappeared after the storm damage, but returned home the next day and was found by a friend, so we were full-house last night!
This very special couple who lost their super-talented daughter to suicide about a year ago, made a statement that once you've lost a child, nothing else that happened thereafter, could be worse.
The Mom is really struggling with depression following this awful loss; something I can identify with, as the exact same thing happened to me many moons ago, after my brother took his own life.
But, to lose a child, is just so much worse!
However, the Mom still lights a candle every morning and evening and 'talks' to her angel daughter. She said that on that fateful morning, she said something to her that she's never said before - 'please watch over Dad & I.'
Their angel definitely was watching over them as there have been many deaths already with people being buried alive in mudslides!
The Dad was on a ladder in the kitchen, checking the DB board after their power went out. When they heard the loud 'explosion,' they were on the right side of the house and could get out. It literally took seconds for that mudslide to hit their home, smashing right through their brick and tile home.
We learned that the house below was totally destroyed with their pool full of furniture; that is the strength of water and soil!
We've not seen this as we cannot access the public lane that runs between our neighbours.
The images below are our friends' home.
This is where the mudslide began, from the top of the steep bank on one side of the school property.
Our property is intact, but our only concern is a powerline that broke off from a fallen light pole where the mudslide happened, and is now hanging across our gate. We have since lifted it higher, but this power cable could be live, yet the authorities have still done nothing about it!
Our neighbours could salvage their refrigerator and freezer as it was on their garage side that still seems stable; they have managed to move their cars to the neighbouring complex just in case of a further mudslide.
These two appliances were filled to the capacity with foodstuff, some really exotic ingredients, as this lady is an excellent cook and loves experimenting! Even though there was no power, the frozen goods had not defrosted, and the refrigerator contents was still cold.
My freezer got hit by a power surge a while back, and they immediately said they will have theirs brought to us to keep everything frozen. They then went on to give me all this food, enough to keep us going for a long while, even though I kept on saying I could not accept all this food, especially after they had lost everything they owned!
I said they should take it with to their friends who offered part of their home for temporary accommodation as they have a bigger garden for their furry 'girls', plus more space for them, but they simply said that they are so thankful for the love and caring which meant way more to them than the material things they were giving us!
I was so overwhelmed and touched, that the tears could not stop flowing!
Here are two people who have lost so much, but have big hearts to give away the little they could salvage!
That act, and the way the community banded together, has really restored my faith in humanity; individuals opening up their homes for those who have lost theirs; school halls being turned into temporary accommodation and organisations providing meals free of charge with the help of generous benefactors, has just been so heart-warming.
The rain slowed down and the sun tried breaking through the clouds yesterday, and when our young guest returned, she pointed out the sunset.
I have never seen the trees across the road being lit up in this colour; they are green, but the angle of the sun going down, gave them this beautiful golden look!
A sign that things will be good again perhaps?
We can only pray so, as they are forecasting more rain for this Easter weekend.
I do believe and earnestly hope that it will not be as intense and last so long, but, I have never experienced anything like this in my life!
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