Say something random about you (Part 4)

Subject: Re: Say something random about you (Part 4) Mon Jan 10, 2011 8:07 am

Those guys are really good, being able to walk in the torrents.

My sympathies for all the Queenslanders affected. I hope Wivenhoe Dam holds up, and the rains stop soon. You're not below the dam, are you?

Subject: Re: Say something random about you (Part 4) Mon Jan 10, 2011 9:54 am

Nay, my friend, If you see a big boat filled with animals, get on board.

Truly, my prayers go out to everyone affected. Take care of yourself. Floods aren't uncommon in my part of the country and I know how devastating they are, and how quickly they can strike.

Subject: Re: Say something random about you (Part 4) Mon Jan 10, 2011 10:03 am

Nay, I don't know how much more you all can take. I pray for you and Buddy and your fellow countrymen.

Subject: Re: Say something random about you (Part 4) Mon Jan 10, 2011 7:12 pm

This morning, Toowoomba has revised the death toll to 8 confirmed and 70+ missing from the inland tsunami-like flood. The three children swept away from the street corner may be part of the dead whilst three other children swimming in a swollen creek were also lost. Their bodies have not yet been found. A four-wheel drive vehicle was seen by a helicopter with people inside floating away but by the time they collected a SES rescue officer, it had disappeared in the torrent of water. The local Mayor told a National news station this morning that they had three minutes notice. A close friend of mine knows some of the missing.

I'll try and get some up-to-date photos for you, ladies. But the Premier says this was our darkest day and I'd have to agree with her for once.

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Subject: Re: Say something random about you (Part 4) Mon Jan 10, 2011 8:01 pm

That's horrible! Those pictures remind me of the flood of 93.

Subject: Re: Say something random about you (Part 4) Mon Jan 10, 2011 11:37 pm

Gawd....

Queensland is in my prayers.

Subject: Re: Say something random about you (Part 4) Tue Jan 11, 2011 1:05 am

Thanks for your thoughts, ladies.

Thursday is apparently the really bad day for Brisbane (capital of QLD) now. Thousands of homes are being evacuated and will be inundated. Workers in the CBD have been sent home today. My mother received a sms to her phone to ask her to evacuate. She's been for a drive with a neighbour and they believe it will be fine.

Latest News! The Brisbane River has broken its banks. JESUS this is bad.

Subject: Re: Say something random about you (Part 4) Tue Jan 11, 2011 1:16 am

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8194686/terrifying-night-for-qld-flood-victims

Subject: Re: Say something random about you (Part 4) Tue Jan 11, 2011 2:11 am

Just saw this on Twitter for anyone who can spare a dime:

http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html

Donate to the flood relief appeal

The Queensland Government has launched an appeal to help fellow Queenslanders affected by the recent floods. Many communities have been devastated. Some families have lost everything. You can help make a difference by donating to the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal.

Subject: Re: Say something random about you (Part 4) Tue Jan 11, 2011 4:22 am

Alice, it is so kind of you to post that link.

The story has worsened based on tonight's news, ladies. I'll try to keep you up to date but it is changing so very quickly. Our Premier is holding Press Conferences every two hours to allow citizens to recieve the latest news.

Thanks again to everyone, member or guest, who is keeping Queensland in their thoughts. Despite our resilient natures, we need your good wishes.

Subject: Re: Say something random about you (Part 4) Tue Jan 11, 2011 2:10 pm

Nay, I saw the news report online and came here right away. I'm glad to see that you, at least, seem to be okay. I have prayed for you and everyone affected. Is it possible you will be one of the ones who has to evacuate? How are you personally and your family and friends handling this? Thank you for giving us the latest. Be safe, my friend.

Subject: Re: Say something random about you (Part 4) Tue Jan 11, 2011 2:14 pm

Saying prayers for you, your friends and family and your country. I am glad to hear you are safe. Please be careful.

Subject: Re: Say something random about you (Part 4) Tue Jan 11, 2011 5:38 pm

Emily and K, it's good to see you both. I'm fine and safe, thank you. Thanks indeed to everyone for their wishes.

Upon waking this morning, I've turned on the news again. Overnight, the Brisbane River has broken through many others suburbs. Part of the problem, made worse when combined with the constant rain falling, is the fact that Wivenhoe Dam is the major physical barrier and main source of water for Brisbane. It is already 70% over capacity and the dam managers need to do daily slow releases to ensure its stability.

Picture much (not all) of the water that has fallen over the past few weeks flowing to that massive dam (capacity over 1 million ML) and then combine that picture with a king tide due today in the Brisbane area ....

Wivenhoe Dam was built to ensure Brisbane would not have to go through another flood like 1974 where 8,500 homes were flooded in Brisbane and Ipswich. 6000 of these could not be recovered from an inland sea of 200 km formed by the flood waters.

Current predictions for the 2011 flood tell us that more than 40 000 people, 2000 streets and 3500 businesses will be affected by flooding. 100 000 homes are expected to be without power today for safety reasons.

Here is a link to the Brisbane suburbs threatened at the moment.

http://www.abc-for-kids.com/news/infographics/qld-floods/brisbane.htm

On this map, you'll see the cities of Toowoomba and Brisbane and to the north-east Wivenhoe Dam. Incidentally, Somerset Dam is at 160% capacity.

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Subject: Re: Say something random about you (Part 4) Tue Jan 11, 2011 6:13 pm

I didn't realize that there were a lot of dams in the area...

Subject: Re: Say something random about you (Part 4) Tue Jan 11, 2011 7:11 pm

Nay, it is so hard to imagine your entire country being affected by this. There are no words. Did your mother evacuate yet? And how far is she from you?

I don't know how everyone will find shelter, as so much of the country is literally being deluged. I continue to pray for you and Buddy, friends, family and the citizens of your country.

Subject: Re: Say something random about you (Part 4) Tue Jan 11, 2011 7:40 pm

Nay, I just read this. I'm a little under the weather ( I NEVER get sick, ugh) and haven't been keeping up with threads etc.
Hope all is well. Water is so damaging.......it's devastating. But things can be replaced and repaired. Hope your family and friends are safe.

Subject: Re: Say something random about you (Part 4) Tue Jan 11, 2011 9:56 pm

The world has gone topsy turvy....flooding, birds falling from the sky, etc. Be safe, Nay!

Subject: Re: Say something random about you (Part 4) Wed Jan 12, 2011 10:54 pm

Nay, I hope you are still safe. Please keep us updated.

I just watched the memorial for the Tucson shooting victims. I have never felt more helpless in my life. I want to save the flooding victims down under, ease the pain of the survivors of the Tucson shooting and melt the snow that is wreaking havoc everywhere. I just wish I could do more. If I had money like GB, I would be giving gobs of it away.

Subject: Re: Say something random about you (Part 4) Thu Jan 13, 2011 12:57 am

Safe, dry, extremely grateful. At a local level, some of our businesses including that hardware store has been threatened twice since the original flood. At a state level, there are 15 dead and 50+ missing from the tsunami in Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley.

However, the really good news is that, with the absence of ongoing rain and the controlled releases from Wivenhoe Dam, Brisbane's flood has not been as devastating as predicted. Close though. God bless the engineers and architects of that dam!

Now, 75% of Queensland has been declared Flood Affected. There are Hercules planes dropping food and supplies to towns and the Army has been called in to help with clean-up and rescue efforts. Now the focus at a national level will shift to New South Wales as the water from the previous swollen river systems travels south.

I have to say, in my life time, this has been the most tragic and crippling natural disaster for Australia. Internationally, it cannot be compared to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti (230 000 deaths), the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia (230 000 deaths), the 1991 cyclone in Bangladesh (138 000 deaths) or 2005 Hurricane Katrina (1800 deaths) but the damage and cost to Queenslanders' homes, personal possessions, the state's infrastructure, agriculture and businesses will run into the multi-billions and take at least two years of rebuilding.

Thanks again to everyone for commenting and praying. It has not been a good end to 2010, nor a happy start to a new year.

Subject: Re: Say something random about you (Part 4) Thu Jan 13, 2011 1:10 am

For anyone who is interested:

BTW: The photo that I posted two days ago of the family stranded on the roof of the white car ...... the wife and child were rescued but when the chopper came back, the man was gone.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/slideshowajax/139318/floods-ravage-queensland.slideshow

Subject: Re: Say something random about you (Part 4) Thu Jan 13, 2011 4:09 am

Good grief. It reminds me of Katrina.
I suppose the good thing is that the amount of human lives lost is small, relative to the widespread damage. That is something to be thankful for. Things can be replaced and rebuilt. Lives can not.
Glad you are safe. Prayers for you and your countrymen.....

Subject: Re: Say something random about you (Part 4) Thu Jan 13, 2011 10:05 am

I'm still scarred by Katrina + Rita.

Subject: Re: Say something random about you (Part 4) Thu Jan 13, 2011 9:26 pm

I read the story about the boy who lost his life because he told the rescuer to save his little brother first. Touching.

Random: I've discovered Malbec wine. I love it!

Subject: Re: Say something random about you (Part 4) Fri Jan 14, 2011 2:04 am

I have wanted to share this news for awhile but I have felt guilty because so many terrible things have been going on in the world. I have been seeing someone in the past few months and he has really grown on me. Not like a bad boil on your behind but in a good way. It started out very causally with a lunch here and a dinner there. Now we have scheduled times each week. We have crazy careers with crazy hours and sometimes our work schedules collide but we are making it work. He has a big heart that inspires me and he's crazy like I am. We have already done some childish pranks on each other that were hilarious. To borrow a line from a movie, he does make me want to be a better person.

Subject: Re: Say something random about you (Part 4) Fri Jan 14, 2011 5:04 am

Yes Donna, he was 13 years old. Neither he nor his mother could swim I'm told but they asked for the younger boy to be rescued first. My aunt worked with her. Does anyone know many 13 yr olds who would sacrifice themselves like that?

K, WTF?! Why would you keep that a secret? Get over yourself, girl. We're happy for you. He'd better treat you properly or I shall set my beagle to attack mode and he'll be ............ nutless!!! Wink

Random:

Alas alak, it is the end of my summer holiday. I go back to work next Wednesday. Can I be selfish for a moment in the light of the awful events of the past month and make a list of some of the trivial but necessary homely delights accomplished by moi in the past six weeks???

Limed front garden beds.
Dug, planted herb garden. Planted replacements when others died.
Weeded acres of backyard - acres!
Attached catches to casement windows.
Drilled and hung white lanterns on verandah.
Dug, repaired and improved stormwater drainage in front garden.
Cleaned ceiling fan.
New batteries in fire alarms. $#@!*^$!
Pruned bamboo plants.
Friend dug out & adopted said bamboo plants. Yeh!
Concreted second set of posts for arbour.
Spread sand under house. Much more to do.
Met with landscape gardener to plan slate/siltstone pathway.
Pulled out two rotten stair stumps. With my own two arms.
Attached new steel saddles to stair stringers.
Chiselled old cement.
Concreted new bottom step and saddles in place.
Partially dug trench for big, new drainage system.
Re-filled grass segments into front yard.

And more I'm sure I've forgotten.

My back aches like a sonofabitch.
My butt could crack walnuts ..... if I so desired.
My arms can lift & throw 20kgs bag of concrete like it's fairy floss.

JC, I'm exhausted.

Photos will follow later but here's a good one of my knobbly knees.

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