It has been a very wet week but an interesting one.
I phoned the Meals On Wheels (MOW) manager last Tuesday to volunteer my services as a driver a few times a month and we arranged to meet on Wednesday afternoon. After filling in the application form and producing a valid driving license I was allocated three runs on the first and second Fridays of the month and the third Thursday as these were using emergency drivers at the time. I was also listed as an on call emergency driver . It was arranged that I should tag along with the emergency driver and her helper on Friday to get the hang of things before being turned loose on my own.
Friday started a a drizzly, dreary day as I turned up at the MOW kitchen at 10.45am. Deliveries are made between 11.30am and 1.00am so the runs are limited to between 15 and 20 homes. I was introduced to several other volunteers as they had a cup of tea or coffee and some cake as we would all be having a late lunch. At 10.00am they began loading up their cars.
Each driver as a list of clients and their addresses in their delivery order. Each client normally receives a fruit juice, a tub of hot soup, a hot main meal, a sweet and a newspaper if required. They can change this within certain constrictions. For instance one client has a sandwich instead of the soup an has a frozen main course which they can heat up later. Another has a sweet specially prepared for a Diabetic. This means that the driver can have a complex list to follow.
My driver, J, arrived last and because she had a helper , G, and her back seeat was full of other things couldn't give me a lift so I followed behind in my little Honda Jazz. J had a Land Rover 4WD and was easy to follow.
As we set out the heavens opened. Over the next hour and a bit we had 50mm (about 2 inches) of rain. At each stop G would hop out and go to the 4WD boot and load up his delivery basket as J called out the contents. I accompanied him as he made the deliveries and there were some surprises.
The first was to the reception of a rather nice resort where two of our clients live. We didn't get to see them as the Resorts Receptionist call a porter to deliver the meals to their unit. Apparently they are quite disabled and unable to care for themselves but had bought a unit at the resort some time ago.
Next we made three deliveries to a Retirement Village where we got lost. Remember J was an emergency relief driver and this was not one of her normal rounds. Then it was off to Gympie Terrace by the Noosa River which was near flood level. By now G and I were soaked to the skin.
Our next client, a lovely little lady, lives in an apartment with a terrific view over the Noosa River towards the river mouth. Unfortunately she lives in an older style apartment block on the fourth floor and there was no lift. I still have problems with stairs but was OK. She uses a wheely walker to get around and told us that she makes it up and down the forty two steps with difficulties.
The rest of our clients in this area live in little streets off Gympie Terrace. By now the road were running with water and we had to paddle through 100mm (4 inches) of water to get to some of the residences. Most were small units, probably bought as retirement homes some time ago, and the clients are mainly confined to them because of increasing infirmities. At one were arrived at the same time as a Blue Care carer who I knew. He had assisted Margaret in the past.
Finally we made our last delivery to an elderly lady who, herself, had been a MOW volunteer for many years before she had to make use of their services. She is a real Noosa local which is a very rare species and lives in one of the original homes in the areas.
Then it was back to the kitchen to sign off.
I will be on my own this Friday.
Apart from this I had to buy a motorised lawn mower as my grass had grown too high to use the push mower. I actually had a period on Tuesday when I could get out and cut the grass before the rain returned.
Apart from walking Louis and shopping I have been confined to the house. I have taken the opportunity to modify my little folding bikes luggage carrying method.
I had originally fitted a full size rear pannier rack and used pannier bags for shopping. These are really inconvenient so I put back on the small rack provided with the bike and mounted an open crate on it. This will hold a large shopping bag, my lock and my rain coat. I'll post a photo later.
I have just checked the rain fall today. It started raining at 6.00am and Louis and I had a very wet walk. Since then it has continued to rain heavily and by 8.00 we have had over 30mm. It looks like another day in front of the TV. Incidentally they are holding the final round of the Iron Man and Women surf series on Noosa's main beach later this morning which is being televised. We can surf in our little creeks at present!
The Queensland floods are still very bad and the Bruce Highway between Noosa and Gympie, about 40km has been cut.
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