Pop n fizz

At 3.20 this morning I was woken by something exploding outside. Not a big explosion, but a definite pop and a fizz. I switched on the light to check things were okay: no power. Going outside (brr…a hard frost) I could see through the trees that there were no lights down below in the village.

It’s always reassuring to know it’s not just my property. I scuttled back inside, switched on a nightlight to alert me if the power came back on, threw an extra fleece over Bean and another onto my bed, and snuggled down, thinking about how cold and tedious breakfast would be without electricity.

Happily the nightlight came on half an hour later and I slept unconcerned about breakfast-time complications.

Later when I went out to meet a friend for lunch, I discovered the road was completely closed by the local lines company, and I had to take a 13km detour.

There have been three teams of engineers up cherry-pickers, mucking about (I’m all over the technical terminology) with power poles down at the bottom of the hill next to the electricity substation all day. That was presumably the source of the pop n fizz.

Bean and I couldn’t walk past them, so we walked in the opposite direction, up to the top of the closed road and beyond. It was completely quiet.

The view of the Kakanui Range from the top of the hill was wonderful. (Extra.)

We pottered around the Ngapara cemetery which overlooks the village. Bean hooned around at full speed (it is a very empty cemetery) while I looked at the gravestones and wondered about the large concrete graves beneath which couples and families are buried. I assume they’re made to be rabbit-proof. Bean appreciated the thermal mass and had a few moments’ rest.

Then we turned and headed home…