It is very strange here in Brisbane.
The sun is out for the first time in weeks, yet the unbelievable is unfolding around us.
I hear sirens all the time and helicopters flying overhead.
I see images of flooded houses in familiar suburban streets ... yet my children are oblivious because the TV still works and we're high and dry. It's probably a good thing they really don't know the scale of what's happening.
We braced the Paddington Woolworths this morning ...
people were pushy and the shelves were emptying fast.
The Manager said he'd only let 30 people in at a time. I bumped into one of my friends outside the store. She shamed the crowd into letting me in with the first group, by declaring "Stop! Let this mother and her four children in!" I was quite shocked at how desperate able-bodied individuals were to get their hands on bread and milk.
All Child 2 knows, is that it's his sixth birthday!
We still have electricity so I'm baking him a cake while I can ...
But if I hear another siren I think I'll cry.
HAppy Birthday Master MMMC!
ReplyDeleteMaybe a bit of Bertie Wooster will cheer you up?
Birthday gift looks like an easier build! I'm so sad and anxious for everyone over there. To think that this time last year I didn't even know you. Sounds like a lovely friend at the grocers. If you run out of maple syrup let me know!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your little one! I'm hoping all remains tolerable and safe for you and your family. It must be terribly frightening. Thinking of you and sending happy and dry thoughts your way.
ReplyDeleteomg, so scary...my heartfelt prayers and thoughts to you and your family and all the people that are affected by this calamity.
ReplyDeleteand happy birthday to your little boy...
ReplyDeleteHappy Bday No2. MMMC kids are pretty resistant. Make sure you have the bath and other containers full with mains water. When the power goes some times the water mains go due electric pumping stopping. You will need it to bucket flush the loos - 4 kids highly important. Remember the seqb strikes in the 1980s.
ReplyDeleteReally can't imagine what it must be like.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you guys are okay, stay safe.XXXX
Oh Carmel - thinking of you all. Happy Birthday to your little man. x
ReplyDeleteWe're all okay. It's terrible for so many.
ReplyDeleteI feel guilty for being dry and carrying on as normal.
It's simply awful for all those affected. I hope Child 2 has a good birthday. Anyway, keep calm, carry on. You'll no doubt be needed when it's clean-up time. xx
ReplyDeleteHope your day was a good one, little 'Woody', and that the sun will be out again tomorrow. While you sleep, I'll see if I can figure out the weather forecast for Brisbane.
ReplyDeleteThat's one great present, and I see you have some brave warrioirs there. Maybe they can be put into good use. We all think of you, all the time.
The great things about kids at this awful time is that they still play board games and eat all the time and draw and have long games of Marco Polo in the rainy pool whilst the beloved and I watch all the surreal tragedy unfolding on the telly inside. They have been building and playing and arguing and all day I have been so grateful to have them safely at home with me. Happy Birthday, l'il cowpoke!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your sense of humor through all of the rain and sirens. I can't imagine, but you give me a good idea of what it would be like. Sounds like you've had a week of birthdays?
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to your little one, and happy Labour day to you!! XOL
P.S. We let the kids out for fresh air and exercise today when the rain eased. They walked tentatively down the back stairs, blinking as their eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight. I felt like Noah letting the animals out of the ark!
ReplyDeleteit is really sad. it is crazy to see how nature is reacting and responding these days. from one extreme to the other. we always think we have the power, but nature will always be stronger.
ReplyDeleteit is so scary.
are you fine over there? take care, please do! i am sure you do....but just needed to write that.
and enjoy the birthday and each little shiny moment inbetween the sadness.
lots of love and hope through the air.
no no, don't cry and don't even feel guilty. That's life, unfortunately. I know it's hard to accept, I have friends who lost everything after the flooding here, but they are going on strong now. It's a slow process, but everything will be build up back again, new and beautiful, like it's happening here, and things will be okay. I was amazes at how peopel reacted after the flood, and when I asked my friend, who lost his house and his shop, how he could be so positive, he told me "strength and patience. That's all you need in life." I guess when the times are rough, the tough get going.
ReplyDeleteDear MMMC,
ReplyDeleteI hope child No. 2 didn't woke you up at 5 o'clock in the morning...Happy birthday to your son!
As Bobbi cited, with strength and patience it's going on.
Heartily thoughts,
xox Ariane.
wishing child 2 a happy birthday, in spite of it all xo
ReplyDeleteThe happiest of birthdays to Child #2! And the least soggy...
ReplyDeleteI'm really not one of those blogosphere (((huggers))) but I'll make an exception and send one your way.
Keep calm, etc.
A local shop was rationing milk the last day it was in town. Two lots per person. A friend has six children so it it very rationed in her house. THe worse part is a town from near Rockhampton that has been cut off from supplies from there has been driving 100km here to take milk etc to their shop, but now won't be able to supply their locals either.
ReplyDeleteWe had our local federal member on the radio station I work at this morning. He went through what supplies were here and what weren't. He summed it simply. We have water, we have power and we have fuel. We a lot better off then so many other people. We may not have bread or milk but we should think of people in Toowoomba.
Happy to hear you are safe!
ReplyDeleteWish child 2 a joyful birthday. Thinking of you all. Love, Lena.
The only comparison I can make with the effects of this tragedy across all of Queensland, including the bigger cities of Toowoomba, Ipswich, Rockhampton, finishing in the near decimation of Brisbane, the capital city, is the memory of photos of bombing in cities of UK and Europe in WWII.
ReplyDeleteI believe the extent of restoration of our communities will be similar to the efforts experienced in post-war years back then.
But, it will be completed and never will these events be forgotten. It is already part of the folklore of us all.
That elegant pic of the birthday boy , for me, is an artistic and poignant effigy of the events still being experienced, captured in a moment of contemplation.
I would dearly appreciate a copy of that pic.
A belated happy birthday Child 2. All is well when we can eat cake! That slug was the largest indeed I've seen. Glad to see you're all high and dry!
ReplyDeleteI just cannot imagine.
ReplyDelete