Posts tagged with "Narrabri"
Monday, 23. November 2009, 10:34:24
Narrabri, life
We've finally come to the end of a week-long heat wave that seems to have really sapped the energy of just about everybody I know. We've had 7 days in a row where the maximum has been 40C or higher. We don't normally get that kind of extended heat in summer much less in spring.
I noticed in church yesterday that people zoned out not long after we started. Today with a bit of humidity lots of people were talking about brains not working correctly.
We've endured a few thermal related problems. Our house air-conditioner isn't working properly and just functions on the slowest speed. Despite this, it has actually made quite a difference to the temperature inside, even if it wasn't quite as cool as we might have liked. I'm hoping the repair man gets here before the next blast of heat.
A few weeks ago, on a trip home from Newcastle, Tim noticed that the engine temperature in the van shot up when the car was stationary. We've had it to the mechanic about 4 or 5 times but they haven't been able to get the right parts for the cooling fan. Over the last few weeks we have really been restricted to just driving the fan around town. The current plan is to replace the entire engine-driven fan with an electric one.
Thankfully, the temperatures should be lower for the next few days and the strain on humans, animals, plants and machines reduced.
Monday, 23. November 2009, 05:48:54
Narrabri, life, Australia
The hot dry conditions are taking their toll on local wildlife.
As the water in the creek is disappearing, the fish are finding it hard to find enough water to swim in. 
Friday, 13. November 2009, 06:50:50
Narrabri, life
I've just finished 4 weeks of exam supervision. It's been pretty well full-time (averaging about 35 hours per week), on top of my normal pastoral duties.
I have enjoyed watching the students go through the process of initial nervousness giving way to a relaxed sense of "just got to get through this." It's also been good near the end to talk to them about their future plans.
There has been a long tradition of christian supervisors at Narrabri High School, so before each session we pray for the students- for their exams, their future, any needs we know of and of course for salvation.
The peace in the hall has been almost palpable- even to the point this afternoon when there was a torrential downpour which caused a waterfall down the front of the stage and the girls hardly blinked an eye.
That was the Higher School Certificate which is the final High School exam for Year 12 students in NSW.
Earlier this week we had the School Certificate exams which are for Year 10. This can be a really difficult time as there are over 100 children stuck in the hall for most of two days straight. The less academic ones really get edgy towards the end of the second day. But we really hit them with some serious prayer and they were the best Year 10 group I've had in over 10 years of doing this. They were getting fidgety towards the end of the time, but they behaved themselves really well. I've been praising them to anyone who will listen because they were so good.
So now it's back to normal, and a few weeks of wondering what we will do with the extra income which will find its way into our account just before Christmas. 
Thursday, 5. November 2009, 10:06:39
Narrabri, life
Another brilliant sunset again this evening.
Monday, 2. November 2009, 09:54:23
Narrabri, life, snakes
We have been seeing a few black snakes around our yard this spring, particularly as the creek has been drying up and the snakes have had t move further afield to find water and food. It's good to know that blacks aren't terribly venomous and they keep the more toxic browns away.
From
Wires
Red Bellied Black Snake
The Red Belly Black Snake ( Pseudechis porphyriacus ) is one of our best known elapid (or front fanged venomous) snakes. It is wide spread throughout the Eastern Parts of Australia, preferring to live near creeks, and fixed water sources. Their diet consists mostly of frogs, although they are known to eat the occasional lizard, and smaller snakes. Although they are venomous, and are classified as dangerously venomous, the toxicity is not considered fatally dangerous. The venom of this genus destroys muscle tissue, but does not effect the central nervous system. Few human deaths have resulted from a bite from this species, and no adults have died from a bite.
They are excessively shy creatures, who will evade humans rather then strike. Its also a fact that if you have red bellies in your yard, you are not likely to have Brown snakes! Red's actively chase Brown's away, as the Red Belly toxin kills Browns.
* Given that stat, you will be amazed to hear (according the Bureau of Statistics) that you are more likely to be struck by lightening or die of a bee sting then you are of a snake bite.
* From the same source, between 70 - 93 % of snake bites are received while trying to capture or kill a snake.
* There has only ever been one recorded death from a red bellied black snake bite, and that occurred in the 1800's on a new born infant. Their venom does not work that way.
* Red Bellied Black Snakes will actively chase and kill Eastern Brown snakes from their preferred locations. (Brown Snakes are responsible for around 65% of the deaths by snake bite in Australia) This makes Red Bellies good to have around!
Wednesday, 21. October 2009, 04:33:30
Narrabri, agriculutre, Australia, transport
For agricultural industries, rail lines to port are an essential infrastructure that over the last few years have been treated by state governments as something of a burden rather than an essential part of our economy.Last year the rail operators were threatening not to carry grain at all as it interferes with their main business of hauling coal- even passenger trains have to give way to King Coal, which is not a good look for whoever it is runs the rail lines these days.Anyway it appears that at last the Government is doing something about it- perhaps it was the threat of literally thousands of extra trucks on the highways clogging the Hunter Valley towns that made them realise that sometimes governments have to look outside the Newcastle-Sydney-Wollongong focus that they seem to think NSW stands for.From the ABC:
Most grain rail freight lines should stay open: report
A federal report into grain rail freight in New South Wales has recommended most lines remain open.
The first of 18 recommendations is that conditions on nine rail
freight lines be stabilised at a level that meets the minimum
requirements of industry.
That includes the North Star to Moree, Walgett to Burren Junction and Merrywinebourne to Narrabri lines.
The report says the State Government should pick up the tab for the
upgrades but advises reviewing access charges along those nine lines
when the work is finished.
The type of co-funding agreement reached to keep the Weemelah Line
open is suggested for the Boree Creek to The Rock and the Cowra to
Demondrille lines, but if an agreement cannot be reached the advice is
that those lines should close.
The report also advises identifying and developing a network of roads for grain transport.
Article
Monday, 5. October 2009, 09:16:16
life, Narrabri
If you define a day off as one when you do what you want to do, then today was not one of my better attempts, but it was interesting nonetheless.
It started off with time to do something I love- gardening. I picked a few peas, planted some more vegetable seeds (tomato, broccoli, watermelon, lettuce and cauliflower) and moved some of those beautiful petunias that we had in tube for the wedding.
It was while I was pruning a melaleuca (I think that's what it is!) that this butterfly came to check out what I was doing to his food source:
It was at that point that Margaret's cousin Wayne and his wife Debbie dropped in for a quick cup of coffee that lasted two hours. It was lunch-time then, and after lunch I got to back to the gardening. I found time to plant out some of the bearded irises that were meant to provide much colour for the wedding but sadly failed.
After fixing some weirdness in Margaret's email software, I was about to go for my much-loved but sadly missed daily walk when our mate Lew from Moree turned up for another quick cup of coffee that went for another two hours. The peas I picked in the morning went nicely in the evening stir fry!
It is great to catch up with unexpected visitors, even when they disrupt our plans!
Wednesday, 26. August 2009, 08:13:55
Narrabri, life
Today I was surprised to see a bird which at first sight seemed to be a cockatoo sitting high in a tree. It appeared in the light to be almost all white but it was lacking the comb and its face didn't look quite right. Then I thought perhaps a hawk or an owl but neither seemed appropriate.
This is, in fact, the black shouldered kite, Elanus axillaris, which is reasonably common around Narrabri. You can read more about it and see more (and better photos) here
As I walked past the railway yards I was struck by the afternoon shadows and the way the power lies were glowing in the reflected light of the sun. I've touched the photo a bit to increase the contrast. What I should have done is fiddled with the camera settings but I wasn't really thinking too much about real photography.
Friday, 21. August 2009, 07:46:43
Narrabri, life
The reeds around the lake form a feathery field with the most wonderful textures. On overcast days such as today, there is less glare so that you can appreciate them more.
Wednesday, 19. August 2009, 07:33:32
Narrabri, life
What an awesome day it was today weather-wise.
The birds seemed to enjoy it also.
Tuesday, 18. August 2009, 10:36:53
Narrabri, life
It's amazing how something you see every day just seems to leap out at you unexpectedly.
I must have seen and not noticed this magnificent jacaranda tree hundreds of times. Today, its golden foliage just stood out.
Friday, 14. August 2009, 07:31:01
Narrabri, life
The weather today was just magnificent.
Here are a couple of photos to testify to the grace of our Father. They were taken on the Newell Highway just a little way out of town.
Wednesday, 5. August 2009, 23:22:11
Narrabri, humour
Looks like next Wednesday might set a few records in Narrabri, if this is right. Firstly we have not in recorded history had snow showers and also I think snow is unlikely to fall in temperatures over 6 degrees.
The same forecast at the weatherzone web-site shows Wednesday forecast as being "Showers"
Monday, 3. August 2009, 06:18:11
Narrabri, church
I've just uploaded some photos that Josh and I took at our recent seminar and procession.
Click
here to view the album or check out my
facebook page.
Saturday, 25. July 2009, 08:29:59
Narrabri, life
Sunday, 19. July 2009, 06:37:14
Narrabri, church
One of the joys of being a pastor in a small church is that you can never be sure how many people will come on any particular Sunday.
If you're in a biggish church, say over about 70 people, statistical laws come into play so that while there is some variation the variations are not that large, or else are predictable.
With a small church it can only take one or two families to be away and that's a big hole in the people actually attending. While numbers aren't important as such, there are practicalities that you have to think about like how many communion cups are needed, how high to fiill the urn, whether you get the 2 litre offering bucket out or the 50 litre one 
So today with Margaret & Tim away, along with the Misons and the Nashes, Gary & Tania it was starting to look like a big hole in our usual high 20's congregation was going to look decimated. The Coopers were supposed to be away, and Margaret Baxter came along with another bunch of likely absentees and it was starting to look like a bad night at cell group!
By the time we had finished the praise time we had 20 people. We had nearly all of our "likely absentees" present and the Coopers had decided that they were too crook to go to Newcastle so they came and shared their germs with the family- nice gesture guys! We also had a bunch of people there whom we weren't expecting, so it was all a pleasant surprise.
I'm sure that my sermon was hard to listen to because my voice is very scratchy right now and by the end of the sermon I thought my voice had given out completely.
We had a great time of fellowship afterwards also with people hanging around for quite some time.
On the surface it was a pretty ordinary morning. But it's often in the ordinary that God starts moving the extraordinary.
I wonder what night church holds tonight?
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