Itsmytime's Journal

In 7 minutes, your life can change. Completely.

We had a hail storm here last Tuesday.

Wow, just a week ago, yet it feels longer.

It destroyed most of the avocado crop that I had not yet picked.

About 30 % is on the ground.

Of what is still hanging, many have large chunks.

The hail was about the size of golf balls.  and bigger.   HUGE

Next years crop is also 90% gone.  All the flowers are gone.  The little buds that would have been next years fruit have been knocked off or bashed so badly they wont develop.

The new foliage flush that protects any buds that are left is gone too.  So what is left will burn.

The house didnt fare too badly, fortunately.

Some minor damage to stuff like roof whirlybird vents and roof flashing.

All my garden lighting is smashed.  The swimming pool cover is covered in holes. And all the solar heating tubes on the roof have been peppered with holes so the roof gets a shower now instead.

The house stuff is insured.

The crop isnt.

I spent the first week mostly numb or weepy.  Yesterday I started to make plans again.

The area will soon be declared a natural disaster zone - as all the farmers in the area have recieved similar hail.  Stone fruit growers and flower growers have been wiped out too....  Very heartbreaking.

So now I have to try to figure out the best thing to do - for the trees, and financially since i will now have no income for this year and next.

Maybe now I have less to do here I can travel more with my children.......