Tuesday, January 11 2011 (diary)

Torrential rains have hit us at the Sunshine Coast these last few days, causing much damage and flooding.
An "inland tsunami" hit Toowoomba, Dalby and surrounding inland villages : powerful waves of muddy water roaring through the streets at high speed carrying cars and debris with it. At least 8 people have been killed and another 72 are missing at this stage.
The major coastal highway from Brisbane northwards is blocked. Babette was the last car this morning to get through to the city. Several low lying main streets in Brisbane are under threat of flooding, and Babette has closed her school for the next two days at least.

The roof of the Mooloolaba Surf Club is leaking at several places, but at ThreePonds we are sitting high and dry, although the garden has become a complex network of rushing waterways, the three ponds are overflowing and the water fall has become a loudly roaring beast.

Wednesday - Friday, January 12 - 14 2011 (diary)

We have had fine weather for the last few days. The flooding of Brisbane was undoubtedly severe, but fortunately not quite as high as back in 1974. However the city has grown considerably since then and this present flood's impact has been considerably greater.

16 people have been confirmed dead, another 50 are still missing and around 20,000 homes and businesses have been flooded. But the flood waters are receding and Brisbane has started the clean up with great efficiency.

I must say that the resilience and organisation of the SES (State Emergency Services), police, army and numerous volunteers are absolutely magnificent and a shining example to the rest of the world.
The various State Government Departments are right on top of the issues with an enormous show of professionalism. It appears to be in stark contrast to the Katrina debacle in the USA a few years back.
Public transport is slowly getting back to normal, electricity is being restored after safety inspections and businesses in the city centre are reopening again. Babette's school too will reopen again on Monday.
The overall clean up and restoration and rebuilding of homes will take weeks and months however, but the determination and community spirits are there to make it happen. Australians feel rightly proud of their country and of their fellow country men.

Saturday - Thursday, January 15 - 20 2011 (diary)

Saturday Babette prepared a delicious birthday dinner for me of mussels, and of course we had plenty of bubbly and some French cognac. Sunday morning I felt the effect of that, but as the day wore one and I had my swim in the surf I started to feel better.

A huge work force, including well over 10,000 volunteers showed up in Brisbane over the weekend for a major cleanup exercise and by Monday most of the Central Business District (CBD) was operational again.

The Central fruit and vegetable market (the largest in the Southern hemisphere), which had been badly damaged, was also operating again and so was most of the Public transport.   All in all a truly remarkable effort, widely applauded around the world.   Babette too opened her Brisbane school (right in middle of the CBD) again on Monday.

Apart from reading, swimming and lazing about I am working on a new html version of my Blues Course. I have had several cracks at it over the past few years, but it is now finally coming together in a format I feel happy about. Another week should hopefully see that project completed.