So an unexpected storm hit New Zealand on Monday 12 June 2006. Not only was it UNEXPECTED (how can it be? Don’t we have technology that warns us of this stuff?), but it also caused stress and chaos.

Power was out in Auckland City (the biggest and most profitable city in the country) for FIVE HOURS. Causing big losses ($50 million plus) to so many business’s.

The cause was a small earth wire which a wind gust snapped off a high-voltage pylon near the Otahuhu B substation, short-circuiting lines supplying electricity for 700,000 or more people throughout central, east and southwest Auckland.

I was happy that my power didn’t get cut out.. as I am North Auckland, like the only area that didn’t have a blackout.
There were also power outages further south and in the South Island. Even now, tonight, some poor people in the South Island (coldest part of New Zealand) are without power!

We also got hit with a massive rain, wind and snow storm. Which seemed to just come out of nowhere!! It was quite warm and sunny on the weekend. So it’s been pretty dark and cold around here lately.

On a nicer topic, Rob has been informed that he will only be going to America from Friday (16th June) until August 28th. The ticket people screwed up his airline tickets and booked his flight back for the day his Visa expired. Which makes sense now. As the camp only goes for eight weeks and we were all wondering what the hell he’d be doing afterwards!!

Here’s the link for the camp he’s been accepted into.

It’s a boys only camp in Maine. He’s going to have so much fun with all the sports and things going on there. He’s taking my camera, as he doesn’t have one and there’s no point buying another has he wont use it when he’s back - because I always take mine. So there wont be any photos from me for a couple of months!