We woke this morning to blue skies and fluffy, white clouds. For the first time, in what seems weeks, it wasn’t raining – that heavy relentless downpour that bounces off the roof, fills the gutters to over-flowing and turns the garden into a pond. Today was hot and humid – just like any other summer day in Brisbane. We walked to the creek, it took about two minutes, to see how much water was there. It didn’t look much more full than it usually does, although one could see that it had been higher. The sun shone all day and there was not one drop of rain.
It was quite surreal to know that, while I was basking in the sun, just 22 km south the city of Brisbane was slowly and relentlessly being filled with muddy water.
The extent of the flooding is taking effect. We went to the local supermarket – no bread, no milk, and very little fresh produce. No doubt, some of the deficiencies are due to panic buying, but I suspect things will get worse long before they get better.
I am, however, delighted to report, that the local bottle shop (off-licence) had no shortages of red wine. 🙂
Boadicea's Chariot 
We are getting the same reports from all our friends in the area, Boadicea;
empty shelves but plenty of wine!
I understand that tomorrow is likely to be crunch point; all the water heading for the sea, and combined with “King” tides, which I assume are “Spring” tides, it could be pretty bad news.
One thing has shone through this disaster like a beacon of hope amidst the tragedy and devestation caused by the floods, and that is the spirit of the people most affected. I have seen many reports and not once have I heard anyone whining, whinging or wailing, all I have seen is a grit and determination from ordinary folk, literally swept up in this tragedy to just knuckle down and get on with things. I have long admired the ‘digger’ spirit, never more so when My wife and I visited our daughter who lived in Bondi for a couple of years and we took the opportunity to travel around this vast land. The one abiding memory we came away with was the attitude of the people we met, we got the feeling that anything was possible if you worked hard and got a fair go. The world has been beset by many disasters and we somehow become immune to the suffering as it is now presented in such graphic detail but the ‘Ozzy’ gumption that made the country what it is today is alive and well in Queensland for all the world to see. Many years ago, a small Island in the Med went through a disaster that was man made and the spirit of the people was recognised by the awarding of the George Cross, I’m talking of course of Malta. In my view, and I am in no way comparing the two events, the sheer bloody determination shown by ordinary folk faced with a fierce nature that cannot be tamed could be recognised in a similar way. John F Kennedy once said he was Berliner, well today I feel like a Queenslander and wish I could do more to support them instead of writing trite words on this keyboard, let’s all stand up for Queensland, cheer them to the rafters and wish them well in their hour of need.
I ditto OMG Boa.
Good words, OMG, to which I stick a paw in the air in complete support. I may just have mentioned this before once or twice, but Queensland remains my favourite place in all the world and Brisbane my favourite city.
OZ
So pleased to hear you have had a day free of clouds. Friends of ours have been keeping us up to date with their news locally… (near Maleny -so up a hill and away from the worst of it.)
Let us hope that the waters recede soon and then the big clear up can start. It has been and still is horrendous.
Floods are affecting other parts of Australia, too. Yesterday evening I had a phone call from a friend in NSW checking that we were OK. She was phoning from her property which is, yet again, cut off by flooding. It was a very short call, since there was a storm at her end and the line kept dropping out.
In the meantime, my grandson in WA, is sweltering and they have been praying for rain to douse the fires there. Strange country!