bits and bobs

The weather still can't make up its mind what season it is, or else I am confusing southern seasons with those of Brisbane. Bill and Judy were here for 3 days last week and it stayed comparatively cool - only reaching 28 during the day. Yesterday it was 35 in our kitchen and we are back top a sheet on the bed and fans on all night.
Some of the city cats are back in action so we were able to do a river trip, which enabled Bill to practice being a pirate. According to Remi he had to look fierce.

The cooler spell let Charles have a good go on the garden - he's put up my Anne Durkin sculpture which I have since planted around with indigenous grasses, and has the vegie garden back in order, with everything growing as fast as ever. Beans up in a few days still has us amazed.

mum's new home

Mum has moved in to her new home and after a few hiccups is settling down to life on the river, though the heat can be a challenge for her. Still, she has an A/C and fans, so if she stays inside it's OK. The river is just across the road, a beautiful spot to sit and commune with nature and whoever feels like a chat.

She still has things to sort through, but is taking her time - some things are better done in cool weather. She has been driving to Simon's only 6 minutes (she tells me) up the road, and driving home in the dark if she's there for dinner. We wnet down a couple of weeks ago and Charles and Same went down last week, and I ring her often.

And the other good news is that Gillian has sold her house and moves out this coming weekend, after having garage sales over the last 2, enough to pay for her move. She has divested herself of lots of stuff and the rest goes in to storage until she moves up here in easrly May. No more winters on the south coast for her. She hates them so and can't wait to get to warmer weather.

We had the most outrageous thunder and lightening storm in the middle of last night, and I woke up levitating off the bed. Sounded like a direct hit across the road. The humidity is pretty thick, 72% yesterday morning.

Remi is loving school. Wednesdays are particularly good as he has music with Mr Williams. Here he is wioth the latest creation, a space helmet.

first day of school

Well, the day finally arrived, after great anticipation and preparation during the previous week. Remi has not been out of his uniform since he got it last Tuesday. At first the top and hat, then off to buy shorts. Bec was waiting at the checkout with 3 pairs in hand, Remi beside her in said part uniform. She looked down and there he was , in his undies, waiting for her to paqy so he could put them on immediately!

This morning was a "keep Remi calm" plan, complete with stories. He dressed, had breakfast then decided his nails needed cleaning. Bec, Remi and Mitchy set off on their bikes at 8.20 and we followed 20 minutes later. Remi arrived to find his "best mate" Cisco there, so his first moment when confronted by the size and noise of a primary school playground was soon allayed. It did not take him long to settle in to the toy corner, whilst we looked on with teary eyes. I know...hopeless.

Despite Birdy's nail biting, the parents took it all in their stride and we went off for a celebratory coffee with the boys waving cheerfully goodbye, but not before a few final instructions.

cleanup starts

I think these photos speak for themselves. The organisatgion is amazing. Places to pick up rubber gloves and cleaning equipment, people leaving tools out for others to use, registration stations for volunteers, while everwhere within cooee of the river is covered in thick, sticky, foul mud. We have loaned out our gumboots and are doing child minding. everyone is doing something to help.

ghost city

Have just been down to Boundary St, West End, usually a buzzing, busy spot where people gather each day to catch up, eat, drink coffee, visit Avid Reader, our wonderful local book shop, buy the paper, listen to music, have a beer abd generally take part in the great community that we love. But today it was really eerie. No shops open, no people, and you could see from one end to the other right down the shopping strip. All services, including doctor's surgery were closed. Only the pub, full of people either celebrating a dry house or drowning their sorrows, was open, a worker sitting on a pile of sandbags just outside the door, having a smoke.

I didn't walk down to Melbourne St, which was full of brown water this morning. I've had enough. Had a fleeting moment of regret that I didn't have my camera with me, but only fleeting. Then went off in search of a shop that sold food and was in luck. Both of the supermarkets we use were flooded - West End and Fairfield - and none of the smaller shops are open. Now I'm home with the television on - again.

moving pictures

...and it keeps on rising

Like many other people this morning, we went out to view what is happening in our watery city. You can see by the two photos above how much the Brisbane River has come up in 24 hours. The patch of green in the right hand photo is the top of the trees in the left.



The river is running incredibly fast, and along with it pontoons by the score that have been ripped adrift; a floating restaurant that has ended up crashing into one of the bridges; white goods; trees; and much much more. And all the while the sides widen, creeping up streets with stealth and determination, submerging all in its path, like Drifters Restauarant on the opposite bank. The street are abuzz with energy as everyone falls into conversation with whoever is nearby. It's almost like a party atmosphere, but with a crappy ending in store that people are determined not to cave in to. The worst is yet to come, tomorrow they say. The house we evacuated yesterday is now under water, with only the tops of bus stop signs in Fairfield showning this morning. By now they, along with everything else, will have disappeared.