Ailsa challenged us to post about leading lines this week and I’d love to do a series, but it’s hot, and I want to go to bed. So instead of an array of leading lines from exotic, tropical Sri Lanka, I’m drawn to the crisp, cool air of a Swiss autumn afternoon, when my friend S and I went for a walk on the Schneibelhorn, and I marvelled at the precision of the grazing tracks across the hill opposite. I think these were among the most dense cow tracks I ever saw, and they seem to accentuate the steepness of the slope.
I’m sorry it’s taking ages to catch up on reading your posts and answering your lovely comments. You see, another power plant has broken down and electricity is being rationed by power cuts in 56 of the larger towns across the country, including Colombo and suburbs. So, in the morning, when I normally read posts and check out my notifications, the internet’s down. And it seems my internet provider’s cut is in the evening, because there’s been no bandwidth the last few nights. It’ll get sorted – but now I want my share of power to turn on the air conditioner and bask in the cool …
The Wanderlust Gene 
No apology necessary. Sounds like you are doing good to respond to this challenge.That is one steep hill.
Sure is – the cows would get back ache if they were to graze up and down!
Power outages are frustrating at best. But they’re usually a good reminder of how good we normally have it. I’m still amazed at how quickly so many of us have become dependent on internet access….
Me included – and a fan, I find a fan makes such a difference here!
But you’re right about outages being a good reminder of how good we have it in the west – I’m amazed they keep coming up with enough power to meet demand – maybe they should do some strategic outages to remind people, and to save a bit of power too. Can you imagine the furore???
Poor you. I well remember about a year of 3 hour power cuts by rota every day when we lived in Seychelles. We had to go and plead with the Government to ensure power for external exams at the Polytechnic where I was teaching, in particular, for IT exams, but also for the fans to make the heat bearable.
It’s not as bad as that yet, Viv, but we’ll have to have rationing like that if we don’t get enough rain to fill the Victoria Dam – the government just can’t afford the cost of oil for the new generators they’ve had to buy to meet modern demands.
Yikes! No air conditioner or internet? Come on over. I have both!
I can cope without the internet for a while, but no fan, or air conditioning at night, for a decent sleep – that’s the killer. Luckily it hasn’t come to that yet and we’ve had a bit of rain this week, but not enough to fill the dams yet … So I may yet be over, Robin 🙂
Hope that air conditioner’s up and working soon, Wanderlust. I wish you cool.
We seem to be getting reprieves Kate, just in time – just when you think ‘I can’t cope much longer’, on it comes again! I don’t mind so much in the day – there’s always a cool shower, and a spot somewhere in a breezeway, but at night, without a fan – or that blessed un-PC air conditioning – then it’s sweatily miserable, especially toward dawn, when the mosquitos start grazing …
One year, in the war – drought and no money for oil – we had severe rationing – two blocks of four hours each day. Played havoc with our lives, but it was necessary and affected us all, and was so extreme it engendered a sort of hearty esprit de corps I’ll always be grateful for experiencing.
I don’t suppose you remember the power cuts in England in the early 70s? The same sort of thing – it became a sort of adventure.
Yes its all part of the adventure. Makes it all more worth it in some strange way.
stay cool, the world will still be there when the power problems are sorted!
Too true Christine 🙂
Hope everything is fine now. Thank you for thinking about us while dealing with your frustration.
Got my fingers crossed this morning! We need rain, though – badly, and a couple of trillion dollars to buy enough oil to run the new generating stations … 🙂
No response necessary. We’ve been having our share of internet problems and power outages here too…but thankfully I have had my power on all summer. I can’t breathe without my air conditioner in this hot muggy air. We’ve had heat wave after heat wave all summer. You are not alone…. Glad for the choice you made here… just thinking of the Swiss Alps makes me feel cooler!
Glad you basked in the cool autumn air!
Where are you, Merrill? “Hot muggy air” … that’s what it’s like here in Sri Lanka, of course, so you know what I mean about getting a bit drained, and tired by the end of the day if there’s been no fan – not that it’s been that bad so far, only a couple of hours at a time, but somehow you never seem to cool down properly afterwards, without that night time reprieve of the air conditioner to send you off to a cool, cool night’s sleep!
Power cuts! Ha, we have plenty of experience of those! Always at the wrong time… I do sympathize… That’s a heavenly photo. I am looking forward to some cool weather when we go to the UK next month!
It’s sure to be cool, Petchary – unless of course they have their five extra days of summer while you’re there!
Oh, please don’t talk of power cuts. I have just been juggling our building accounts (I am the secretary) and our largest outflow has been on diesel for our genset. The poor monsoon doesn’t bode well at all.
But you managed to meet the challenge pretty well despite your woes! Love that image 🙂
Glad you liked the tiered hillside, Madhu. I was amazed at the hillside pastures that were accessible because of this traversing technique the cows have.
We’ve had a bit of rain this week, but not nearly enough to fill the Victoria Dam – or the paddy fields, either. It’s a worry. And all of us – people and counties seem to need gazillions of dollars to buy enough oil to power our lives these days. That’s an even greater worry … So no, i won’t talk about power cuts Madhu 🙂
😀 Counting my blessings though! Was just reading reports of some of our North Eastern states having power only for a few hours a day!!
Heavens! A few hours of power a day? That’s massive. Years ago during the war, we had eight hours of cuts a day, divided into two four hour sessions. That was difficult enough but eighteen …
Great example for the theme. They look like “ripples” in the side of the hill.
Yes, you’re right – they do look like ripples!
Oh boy, power cuts are no fun at all, especially if you’re having the kind of weather that requires air conditioning. Hope it gets switched back on soon! I love the lines of the grazing tracks rippling across the mountain. Wishing you cool breezes and an icy cold beverage. xxx Ailsa
Thanks dear!
Hope you get your air conditioning back. That’s such a beautiful picture of lines. 🙂
I found them fascinating – couldn’t seem to get enough pictures of them – so it was great to have an excuse to post one!
Great image. There’s always something. Here we have power etc but life gets busy and takes me away from my blogging world. We’ve all been there one way or another. We’ll know you’ll be back soon 🙂
Hope you’re having a fantastic weekend away in the country 🙂
Stay cool, you can catch up later.
Slowly getting up to date on the comments, Michelle. Then it’s only a week or so backlog of marvellous posts to read!
Beautiful pictures. Sorry about your power rationing. I hope things are back to normal very soon.
It’s not looking good – there’s talk of increasing the length of the cuts … So fingers crossed please, they don’t institute night time rationing, that will be hellish.