Natural Rain

I was out this morning, trying to get an hour's strenuous walk in before the school traffic and 4WDVs hit the tarmac, whilst enjoying the Spring through the beautiful and affluent streets here in Turramurra, Warrawee and Wahroonga.

Everywhere is so green.

This could be partly because many homes in this area may have some sort of water conservation facility in place. This might be as simple as grey water capture, or as serious as whole systems of networked and swithchable tanks.  There are also lighter versions of home-made roof and tank systems and assorted reticulation garden processes. This is good to see.

However, this new wave of aquaphilia has led to a whole new lexicon of garden and fence signage ... and, oh dear ...

Some of the notices and signs are laughable.

Many signs are obviously aimed at advertising the brand of tank or the name of the plumbers. A lot of it though is not so altruistic, it is pathetically the epitome of the full North Shore posturing and chest thumping - a shallow gratification evidently achieved by sentiments such as :

• "Look at us, we are saving water"; or


• "Don't you dare ask why my lawn is so healthy"; or


• "Dob me in and you'll look like a right arse"; or


• "We're using teardrops from heaven, why aren't you"; or


• "I'm actually not using rainwater at all, I thought I would just put up this nice, trendy sign as all the neighbours in this street have got one"; or


• "This notice fits nicely over the faded fence palings previously occupied by the old Neighbourhood Watch and This Is a Safe House signs".

Accordingly, I was delighted this morning to see the sign above, on a fence in Braeside Street, Wahroonga. I thought that the naive hyperbole probably demonstrates that the silly owner was in one of the categories above. Tankers !