Different things

Here is a photo of flood damage to the rail line between Comet and Emerald in Queensland's gem area - it will be sometime before a train chugs along theses tracks again.

SES volunteer trying to fend off this Roo from hopping his way into a flooded river

The king tides are really "scarping" our beaches again

These kids were thoroughly enjoying playing in the surf right up at the Burleigh beach deck yesterday morning.

I do love some of the different sea colours with these king tides.

Last night we had a cyclonic type storm - 31 ml of rain in an hour - poor Brisbane suffered worse and longer - guess it is the tropical wet season, but this year it is all quite over the top.

Sea and snow.

Life is back to sunny blue skies for us, we take off every morning for yet another walk - this time from Kirra, along the board walk to Coolangatta, then up to Rainbow and Greenmount Beach.

This comfortable lookout is situated along the boardwalk from Kirra to Coolangatta.

A rock headland at the end of the boardwalk and the start of Coolangatta Beach

Felt the photographic urge to walk out on this rock headland, and saw a lady with a cat - stopped and talked, this particular cat (and his missing friend Sooty) are wild and live in the holes in these rocks - 2 ladies feed them every day - they have their own bowls (courtesy of these 2 feeders) !!. How they survive the King tides and all the other sea terror I do not know, just hope she finds Sooty - this kind lady was quite perturbed about his non appearance.

Load of seagulls on the cats beach The Brig watching yet another photographer on the rock outcrop, maybe the cats use these trees for safety - Kirra is the beach in view.

Greenmount was popular this morning

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AND IN NEW HAMPSHIRE YESTERDAY!

Glenn even has a light on his "snow blower". Lois asks if we miss New Hampshire - I say YES, but the Brig says NO, not on these occasions!

A lovely weekend for us

This weekend the sun has shone, humid, but lovely for us down on the Gold Coast who have not suffered the loss as the majority of Queensland has over the last couple of weeks.

Saturday morning we went for an early morning walk at Burleigh - the sea was quite choppy and wild, only a couple of board riders out in this dangerous mess.

This canine was staying on dry land

The king tides had created scarps along the beach

And as the surf crashed onto the rocks, there was a huge amount of froth gathering.

We then drove across to see Auntie Nal, taking Auntie Beryl (she lives just 5 minutes from us), the 2 of them played with the horse races all day - a regular Saturday activity for them both, my Mum used to phone Miss TAB every Saturday morning with her bets too!!

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Sunday, the lawn was actually dry enough to mow - did that after our early local walk, then across to Gail and Steve's for a seafood fiesta. Their youngest daughter, Larissa (Lis) and Mitch and their 2 littluns have been holidaying with them for the past week.

Great grandson - Kayd with his Great Grandmother - Auntie Beryl

Young Tahia, so enthralled with what her 2nd cousin Maddie is doing.

Poppa Steve sorted out their "wet n wild" for the day.

A hose and sprinkler

Kept these little characters happy for some time

Kayd below, is in dinosaur mode as he leaps across the water!

The kids have had a ball, think Mitch and Lis have as well, they have been to Sea World, Wet n Wild, off to Movieworld today, and if they can find a stream that is not overflowing Mitch and Auntie Sue will take the kids yabbying. Lis and Mitch took a night off (sans kids) to go to the Outback Spectacular Dinner show, which is stunning - they have a couple of horses, so this arena was perfect for them.

Well - the seafood fiesta - started off with some super Queensland fresh prawns, then that was followed by Mitch's Maltese mussel ragout - recipe is I am informed - a secret. Steve barbequed great pieces of fish and garlic prawns on skewers which were served with some delicious salads and Grandma Gail's cherry tomatoes. Tahia and Kayd helped to choose the appropriate salad tomatoes below - this is one of their special treats, not sure if all those picked actually made it to the table though - these kids love them - a couple of delightful little characters - a real pleasure to have around.

We finished off with Steve's lemon meringue pie, Gail's great berry cheesecake, topped up with ice cream. Not a morsel passed our lips last night - not sure when this diet is going to start?. WE DID TAKE A LOONG WALK THIS MORNING!

The floods move south

The Rivers are overflowing right down the East Coast of Australia now, New South Wales - the whole north coast (which we drove through with the van at end of October) including the Jacaranda Capital - Grafton which is isolated, Victoria - the charming Murray River Port of Echuca is under threat along with many other towns and the Great Ocean Road is blocked with landslides, South Australia near Naracoorte and even Tasmania around Deloraine and Mole Creek (this is normally Tassie's driest part of the year).

Then there is the dire situation with terrible floods around Rio De Janeiro with 500 plus dead so far (we hope our sponsor child and her family have escaped this terror) and then the awful flooding in Sri Lanka. I just wonder how these tragedies will be sorted out!.

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The big clean up started today in the areas where the floodwaters have decreased - the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, and the Mayors of the other affected cities and towns have been amazing - they are leading the way with organisation for the clean up, along with the State's Premier - the SES, Fire Officers, Police, Energy workers and the Defence forces are heavily involved - and literally 22,000 volunteers registered and worked today. Of course there are still many places where clean up can not yet start, as they are still surrounded by flood waters. It will take months of hard work, and a couple of years for the infrastructure to be re-built, and of course so much heartache along the way.

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The brave and stoic attitude of the people who have been flooded, and of those who have moved in to save has been wonderful. I found a couple of "during and after" photos from this dreadful situation.

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"The little tug that could"

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A huge piece of Boardwalk - 300 metres long and weighing around 1000 tonnes broke away and started to surge down the Brisbane River at about 10-12 knots, a Tug Captain heard this on the radio at 4 am in the morning and he and his engineer raced to his 50 foot tug, Mavis and fired up the 8000 horsepower engine, and ventured out into the surging river in the attempt to steer this walkway away from the supports of many bridges over the Brisbane River, specially the largest - the Gateway Bridge. He knew this now floating debris was a massive thing, as when it was originally installed, he and his tug helped put it there.

The Captain's comments afterwards were - very nonchalantly "We went up and straighted it up and sheparded it through the pylons of the bridge, and guided it down the river keeping it clear of all the marinas and pontoons -it wasn't much harder than that - it's what you gotta do."

A couple of happy chappies who averted disaster by steering a huge chunk of floating debris saving just a few of Brisbane' s bridges, Captain on the right and Engineer on the left (both are 65 years old)

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"Little Montannah"

This little one was picked up and saved when the floods peaked at Forest Hill and they had to evacuate. The crew in the Black Hawk saw Montannah and her Mother in a field and went in to pull them up to safety - Montannah's mother had already written Miss M's name on her arm for security. Her mother remembers, the hard rain, the intensity of the moment and a white knight dressed in camouflage all coming together.

When the floods subsided, Montannah and her mother were flown back to Gatton, and met up again with Wo2 Young, the crewman, (who has a young son the same age) and who had whisked her up to the Chopper away from the floods.

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"More Help from across the Tasman"

To assist with the clean up - the Kiwis are sending over hundreds of gumboots. These are definitely needed to wade through the thick silt, and trying to avoid infections from the clean up.

I found this photo of some Kiwi gumboots on a fence at Waiharara in the Northland of NZ - just love it.

The helpless in these floods.

The coverage of these floods is constant on all our TV stations - 24 hours per day. Tonight the lovely Cotton growing town of Goondiwindi, south of Warwick is in big trouble - we camped there in the van 6 weeks ago.

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The photo below of a little one's lone teddy bear floating in a flooded street says it all really, just so much suffering!.

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Then of course there are the animals - below is a horse in a terrible situation it does not understand - you can see in its eyes that panic is setting in.

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Then of course is our wildlife - representing "Our Coat-of-Arms".

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And below those that can help themselves!

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a snake who has the ability to swim to safety, and a petite green frog hitching a ride on its back - this frog would normally be part of the snakes menu !

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Informative Videos on the Brisbane and Ipswich floods

I have just found the following websites on Channel 7, there are quite a few of them here which you can click on and watch from this web below (they are all on the same introductory page and follow on to a second page by clicking on the right arrow at the bottom of the first page). All of them start with a short "Head and Shoulders itchy scalp" advert - then follow on with a video report. Really worth watching each one if you have the time. Grant's are very informative. http://au.tv.yahoo.com/sunrise/video/-/watch/23826968/battle-save-gateway-bridge/ As the Brisbane River curls and winds around the suburbs till it reaches Moreton Bay, many things have been washed away, it has so many bridges, which are being closed - so much more worry about what is surging down and around this River into the Bay - boats, floating restaurants, they have their eye on a car cable ferry right now which has broken off one of its cables - it's Captain has boarded it to try and work it to the edge, with a huge anchor being flown in - if that doesn't work the Army will detonate and sink it.

An interesting Brisbane "potential" flood website.

Today, the rain stalled a little here, but most of our time was spent watching what was happening in Ipswich, Brisbane and many other places - plus the Brig's aircon was installed, they have not been able to install it for the last few days because of the rain!!!. We also took Auntie Beryl over and back from Auntie Nalda's for a few hours - looked like they both really enjoyed that and also Ails could take a walk, swim and a few other things. http://video.perthnow.com.au/1737205952/Amazing-3D-animation-floods-Brisbane-CBD?area=videohighlights2 Okay, let's see how this goes.

The Flood news gets worse

As mentioned in the blog below, the news gets worse, now many other Cities are in dire straits - Warwick where we were 5 weeks ago is split in half and roads are closed, Ipswich - 1/3 of the city to go under water, Gatton, Dalby,Gympie, Condamine and so many others, then of course there is the upper part of NSW. I have just also heard that Cairns 1200 kms north of us is also bracing itself - a real freak of nature.

Below is a site where there is an amateur video taken by some people in Toowoomba yesterday - goes for about 5 minutes, breaks up every now and then, but worth watching as it shows the "fury" in the water flow. On this same page there is another video from Channel 7 news "Devastating floods wash away towns" with some information.

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http://au.news.yahoo.com/qld-floods/a/-/article/8624762

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Obviously, apart from the fact I have a lot of time on my hands during this situation, I am also putting this together for all our overseas family and friends. As my kiwi flat buddy, Col, said today, keep it up so we get more information, and try to understand the depth of it all.

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Then tonight I get a phone call from the other special Kiwi Col and Den, whose older brother and sister in law are across here on holidays - and yes, they have just evacuated from Brisbane.

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Then I get a phone call from cousin Sue tonight, who stayed with us on Sunday night, drove to Casino Monday morning (supposedly for 2 nights to stay with friends), but after one night and loads of warnings she took off and drove back to Sydney a day early - so she is safe and sound.

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Not sure what will happen next - really so difficult for everyone, THOSE THAT NEED, AND THOSE THAT WANT TO GIVE, instantly!!!

Toowoomba's torrent - no one knew it was coming.

After typing yesterday's blog and attempting to stay in good humour, Frank called me to the TV where the news on Toowoomba had just been covered - absolutely unbelievable!!.

***** Toowoomba - before yesterday.

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Toowoomba (nick named "the Garden City) is located 127 kms. west of Queensland's Capital City - Brisbane. It has an estimated district population of over 128,000. Toowoomba is Australia's 2nd largest inland city, (Canberra being the largest) and it's largest non-capital Inland City.

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Toowoomba has more than 150 public parks and gardens., including Japanese and Botanic Gardens - This city and it's surrounds is an absolute picture in the spring and autumn.

Historic Spring Bluff Railway

The Japanese Gardens Queens Park

Lauren Bank Park

It is a Cathedral city,

with Theatres

and University and Colleges

Toowoomba sits on the crest of the Great Dividing Range, around 700 metres (2,300ft) above sea level. A few streets are on the eastern side of the edge of the range, but most of the city is west of the divide. The City occupies the edge of the range and the low ridges behind it. Two valleys run north from the southern boundary, each arising from springs either side of the Middle Ridge near Spring Street at an altitude around 680 m. These waterways, East Creek and West Creek flow together just north of the CBD to form Gowrie Creek.

Gowrie Creek drains to the west across the Darling Downs and is a tributary of the Condamine River, part of the Murray-Darling Basin. The water flowing down Gowrie Creek makes it way some 3,000 kms (1,900 miles) to the mouth of the Murray River near Adelaide in South Australia. Rain which falls on the easternmost streets of Toowoomba flows east to Moreton Bay (Brisbane) a distance of around 170kms (110 miles).

TOOWOOMBA WON AUSTRALIA'S MOST TIDIEST CITY/TOWN HONOUR IN 2008

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In June 1827 a Botanist and Explorer, Alan Cunningham, discovered 4 million acres of rich farming and grazing land, which became known as the Darling Downs. The city of Toowoomba is commercial and support centre for this rich agricultural area.

Everything seems to grow well

on the DARLING DOWNS.

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Yesterday during a month of unusually heavy rain, including 100 mls (4 inches) within half an hour early yesterday afternoon - IT CAME WITHOUT WARNING - within minutes - an 8 metre sea of murky brown water that swept through the streets of Toowoomba. The Eastern and Western creeks and Condamine tributory broke their banks and partook in this disaster.

In its wake was a trail of death and destruction that devastated the picturesque city perched on top of the Darling Downs and stunned a state exhausted and stretched by its worst natural disaster in decades.

People climbed up on to their roofs, some were rescued, but others stayed there all night - helicopters were eventually grounded because of the horrific fog and rain. Many houses were washed away and outlying towns look like a cyclone has been through them, buildings and houses are flattened - it is like an INLAND TSUNAMI. The Defence forces have been brought in, with most rescues having to be done by air as most of the roads are just wiped out. BUT the weather is getting worse, and soon again will be too treacherous for helicopters.

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The death toll is climbing and again many other areas and towns are on high alert, thousands have been told to evacuate, including the western and riverside suburbs of Brisbane - the Brisbane River has broken and if the flood waters and king tides meet in Moreton Bay - it will be absolutely terrible. Some Brisbane suburbs are already under water, all ferry transport has been cancelled, and floods are building up around the airport. they are forcasting that Thursday will be the bad day for Brisbane .

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Many major roads are closed including some to the south of us in New South Wales.

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This disaster is being reported via some media that this is the result of a weather phenomenon called" La Nina"

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We have been doing as advised, not taking to the road at all, and are prepared for most things - we have the generator out in case we lose electricity, piles of water, torches, gas stove and lanterns, and of course the barbeque would be fine to cook with.

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NOW ALL WE CAN DO IS THINK AND JUST HOPE THAT MORE SURVIVORS ARE FOUND, AND HOPE THAT THE ARMY AND RESCUERS HAVE WEATHER TO DO THEIR JOB, IT IS ALL SO VERY SAD, and of course my mind still takes in the thought of animals and livestock caught up in this horrendous situation.