[AG-EQ] JB calling from a soggy Gore

[Jewel]

Sam Duthey rang me last night to enquire if the Civil Defence people had come to see me?  they were 
visiting all East Gore and telling the populace to be prepared for evacuation.  I told him that they 
hadn't, or if they had, they did it very quietly, not coming into the hall and singing out:  I turn 
the light on at night.
I wasn't going to evacuate, well, not if I could help it.  The bank, orat least the part that runs 
through The BlanchRanch has never been breached and it was heightened by another  18 inches after 
the flood that washed the Mataura township away in 84, or thereabouts.
About 7 this morning, there was a lot of banging on the backdoor, and there they were:  the civil 
defence, saying that I must evacuate!, protest as much as I could!
I didn't take anything with me as I was determined that as soon as I could, I would be back.  Sam 
had said, when he rang me last night, that I was welcome to stay at the Duthey Hacienda which is 
towards the town end of Huron Street and is on a hill, so all I took with me was Guideon.
I stuck it out until about midday and then asked Sam to bring me back here.  He agreed with me that 
I, really, was in no danger, despite the fact that longterm Gore residents said that it was the 
biggest/highest flood that they had seen;  but what about  Civil Defence?  "to hell and glory with 
Civil Defence:  said I, well, I didn't use those precise words, having note that he  was a clergyman 
of sorts, albeit it a presbyterian one!  They could go and sail their paper boats on the river. 
If they found out, he could claim that as I am 44 years his senior, what else could he do?  She has 
a wicken feather duster should she choose to use it!!  so here I am, safe and dryshod with a flock 
of contented sheep on top of the bank:  they too are in no danger of having their feet swept out 
from under them!