Difficult times seem to bring out the extremes in people. Some become afraid and seek safety, understandably so.
Others seem buoyed by the arrival of danger and want to push the edge.
Yet others rise to the occasion, if you could call it that, to help those in need.
The flooding this week – which hopefully may have stopped by the time you read this – has seen numerous rescue workers put their own health and lives at risk to help others in dire straits.
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They’ll tell you it’s what they signed up for but still, one has to admire and praise the work they do, often out of the limelight.
Others are helping folk fix homes, providing food and clothing, while others have lent moral support through visits, prayers and messages.
It never ceases to amaze me how people rally to help others. It’s a time to consider the less fortunate and well done to those who make it their duty and business to do so.
On a different note, before the recent rains started I noticed a team cleaning the barriers on the Mzimkhulu River bridge.
It’s spelt Umzimkulu in the writing on the bridge (see pic), so I guess the correct spelling is one for the historians, linguists and politicians to debate.
I’m not going to mention the man and his team because there are so many like him doing their best to upgrade and improve our towns along the South Coast.
In fact, it has been very encouraging to see all this happening and the people involved know who they are.
But I mention this bridge example because the situation on this bridge has been a particular bugbear of mine for a long time, as I drive across it almost every day.
The drainage on the bridge is appallingly bad and during rain like this, becomes more than a bit harrowing to drive across.
We’ve written letters to the authorities responsible for fixing this, but despite promises, nothing has happened.
Anyway, the work this small team has done in high-pressure hosing it, has seen the bridge barrier look a lot cleaner, well at least the parts they have worked on.
And, I’m not sure if it’s my imagination or optimism but the puddles on the bridge seemed smaller and less threatening this week.
Looking ahead, I’d like to wish all those celebrating Easter a peaceful and dry weekend. Hopefully our visitors won’t have been put off by the bad weather, although the predictions don’t look too good for the weekend.
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