Winds of change

Ever since the tsunami there has been an immediate response and subtle changes in my street. Unfortunately, using it as a speed strip isn't one of them. My neighbours will finally get all their property repaired next week after the last blow out and I have just repaired my garden and am just waiting for it to grow. In this heat? Surely I jest. I try. When the council changed this side of the road to 50 km somehow war was declared and the motorbikes and P platers roar down here with monotonous regularity. The perversity of human nature on both sides. That aside, the street has gone into tidy town mode. It's incredible. There have been numerous reports around the world about differnt things about how this is the first time this or this has happened. Well, I have lived here for quite some time and never have I seen people go into tidy town mode with such an understated sense of purpose. Trees are trimmed, lawns are mown, carports are built. Everything has been neatened, cleaned, repainted, spruced up. I do not live in a post code preferred area. It's a great place though. We have a good mix of professionals, unemployed, self employed, young, old , in the middle. People from different cultural backgrounds. What we have in common is an appreciation of our homes, a respect for each other and a love of being near the hills, beach, wine areas, town. It's a well situated spot for all sorts of good things. You go out the back and see the hills. You drive around and see the hills or the beach. Kids have plenty to do and they do it. Everyone has quietly been cleaning up their homes. Like we suddenly realise we have so much here and it's ours. If we are not careful we shall win the street appeal award because, I tell you, it's looking pretty darn good and once the winter sets in and my hundreds of bulbs are planted and in bloom...it will be a riot of colour.