Queensland: down, but not out

Suddenly for all the wrong reasons, the world knows where Queensland is.  Still mopping up after the disastrous floods, now we are visited by Cyclone Yasi. 

Here in Brisbane it was a typical February day - hot, humid and uncomfortable.  Up north all hell broke loose.  On radio and television this morning, tough men broke down and cried when describing what they had gone through overnight.  I have just walked away from the television - you can only take so much bad news.

Cyclone Yasi swept boats ashore at Hinchinbrook Marina in Cardwell.
Photo: Paul Crock

But in the midst of all this turmoil, little miracles occurred.  Three babies were born in the affected areas.  How wonderful is that?  In Cairns a baby girl was safely delivered.  An English midwife who is celebrating her 25th wedding anniversary on holidays in Cairns, delivered the baby girl who will be named Lucia.  No, Yasi was certainly not on the name list!

There is concern for two missing men, and we are all hoping and praying that they are safe.  Apart from that, there were no fatalities.  Another miracle.

The Premier of Queensland will be including the cyclone affected areas in her disaster appeal and as a tribute to the little girl born in Cairns, I have put this bunting for a little girl's room up for sale in my Etsy shop.

It measures three metres including the tie ends and it has ten reversible flags.  All proceeds of the sale will go to the Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal, via BrisStyle's Handmade Ark Appeal. 

There are also two dresses in my shop with all proceeds going to the Disaster Relief Appeal. 

Party dress, Size 5



Fully lined dress, Size 3

Many other members of BrisStyle have so generously donated proceeds of their Etsy shop items to aid those affected by the disasters.  If you search brisstyle ark on the Items button, you will be sure to find something you can't live without and you will be helping out the victims of the Queensland disasters at the same time.

Traumatic times.  Oh, and it's our wedding anniversary.  Happy anniversary Mr Fudge - may the next forty-one years be as wonderful as those just passed.  

Thank you

My computer has decided to throw a hissy at the most inconvenient time, so I have "borrowed" Mr Fudge's Notebook to type this post. 

Like most members of BrisStyle, I have been blown away by the generosity and support our flood appeal has engendered. The  bunting has sold, but the two dresses are still available with all proceeds going to the appeal.

Despite being caught up in the flood, widely read Kid Independent has thrown her weight behind our appeal - what a trouper. 

Our suburb is slowly returning to something resembling civilisation with the Army helping out, and bus loads of volunteers arrived this morning to assist in clearing away the debris.  Our street is unscathed (we live in Lagoon Crescent, which made us a little nervous), but less than a kilometre away lives have been left in tatters.  It makes me feel a little guilty, which I guess is a natural reaction in these traumatic times.

When our family was young we literally ran from a bushfire in Sydney - again our house was saved.  A couple of years back a light plane crash-landed into a house a couple of hundred of metres from ours.  They say things come in threes - hope they're right!

So please keep up your support - I'm sure you know how deeply it is appreciated.

Random Acts of Kindness

It may not look much, but this little collection reduced me to tears a couple of days ago.

As the world knows, our State of Queensland is emerging from the most devastating floods.  We were among the fortunate ones, our house here in Brisbane was saved - but we were left without power for several days and were cut off from the rest of the city by flooded roads and a river ferry which broke its cable spectacularly.  Our landline telephone didn't work - needed electricity of course.  Our two mobile phones were our only means of communication with the outside world.  We had calls and text messages from all over the country from concerned relatives and friends.  They obviously knew a lot more than we did, sitting here without any television coverage. 

However, we are blessed with wonderful young neighbours who made it their mission in life to see that we were OK (don't tell me we've reached that stage of our lives already!).  On our second day without power, one next door neighbour who with her husband and three young children was staying with relatives up the road (they still had power) dropped by and lent us their primus stove and came back later with her father-in-law with a dozen eggs, some cheese, a large packet of cashews and some cucumbers.  A little later two young mothers on the other side of us knocked on the door, one with freshly baked banana bread cooked on their barbecue (I am in awe), while the other neighbour gave us some long-life milk.  After they left I had a little cry - these are young families with children and babies to care for and they took the time to check up on a couple of old fogies. 

But we were fine, thanks to those battery operated lights bought for the BrisStyle Twilight Market in December.  Wine looks so beautiful under twinkling lights and we tried it ignore the fact that it was warm.  Pity the same couldn't be said for the main course of peanut and sultana sandwiches.  However, the dessert of mini meringues which the grandchildren didn't eat at our Christmas lunch went down a treat.

A Little Night Reading - I can see the musical now.

The power has been restored, the roads are open and this morning we drove miles to find fuel for the almost-empty car and food to re-stock what had to be thrown out of our fridge and freezer.  It was the first time we had an opportunity to see first-hand some of the devastation left by the flood.  We have so much to be thankful for - our family and friends are all safe.

The BrisStyle committee has quickly swung into action with an appeal linked to the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal.  If you would like to contribute, please click on the handmade ark appeal button above, where you will find all the necessary details. Please spread the word among your friends, as every little helps.  I have some items in my Etsy shop, with all proceeds going to the appeal.  

Come again another day

It's my fault, I know.  I should have known better than to put up a bright, sunny banner for Summer.  Perhaps it's not too late to change it:

We drove through this water over the main highway a couple of days ago on our way home from Sydney.  A little further on we crawled gingerly through Cunningham's Gap, an "interesting" drive at the best of times with its precariously steep drops on one side and sheer dirt and rock cliffs rising above you on the other. Add to this one section of the road half-closed due to partial road collapse.  We diverted our gaze to the other side and tried not to scream, only to be confronted with a huge waterfall cascading down the cliff, threatening to take out the remaining bits of road.  We looked back at the partial road collapse. I was too stunned to even think of taking a photo.

Thankfully we arrived home safely and our hearts go out to all those poor folk throughout Queensland who have been devastated by the enormity of the flood waters.  It's hard to believe that this time last year we were in the grip of a drought.

The local bird life is providing us with our own personal weather forecast.

Two days ago

One day ago

Today ... oo-er!

Where's Alfred Hitchcock when you need him?

Spare a thought for the thousands of flood victims who are in dire need of our help.  Members of BrisStyle will be launching an appeal through their Etsy shops over the next few days.  Please stay tuned for details - every little helps.