Hello world – a disjointed bit of a rave from a weary soul

Published on by bushboy

Wow what a weird, sometimes hellish five days. I lost power on Monday afternoon and woke Tuesday to no phone. I thought it be all back on sometime Tuesday. Boy was I wrong. There were landslides on the Highway on Sunday night so no one could get into town. They were cleared on Tuesday. So much rain. I have have well over 300mls at my place at times winds as well. I have a leak in the roof from where the solar panels are installed but I can’t get to from inside the ceiling space as it is too small. I filled a twenty litre bucket one night from the drip from the ceiling.

There hasn’t been any other damage around the house and sheds that I have found. The ground is still squelchy, isn’t that a fabulous word, some plants in the garden don’t lie wet roots while others have thrived. Some are flowering for the second time. Yesterday I spent chasing butterflies to no avail but the garden has had over 15 different species. Some flit past the window and by the time I have my camera they are gone or tease by flying high and not landing or fly over the roof.

My sleep patterns are crap. Last night I went to bed at 7pm as I was so tired and of course woke at 3am. I managed to have a light breakfast and after a while snoozed from about 5:30 to 6:15. The Brush-tailed Possums are in mating mode so there is thumping on the roof as they scamper about. In case you don’t know, possum sex is very noisy as well.

Luckily my besties place is high on a hill and the dairy flats were under water, the cows were on the high paddocks at the rear of the dairy, so she is OK. Her nearest town Lismore is like a war zone and the whole town went under water, in some places well over two metres. Her daughter, partner and granddaughter are staying with her as her house went under water as well as her business. A lot can be saved but she won’t go back to the house and the building her business is in isn’t safe. When people needed saving from the rising flood waters, the State Emergency Service put a call out for people with boats to help. The “tinnie navy” responded and around two hundred people went out and rescued people from house roofs and some inside the roof space. With no access in or out of the town and everything under water the evacuation centres set up were overwhelmed with displaced people.

Now the flood waters are receding there is mountains of destroyed belongings on the streets as well as wrecked cars that just floated in the water banging into each other on bridges where people parked thinking their cars would be safe. There is a wonderful group of Sikh volunteers who turn up to natural disasters and cook meals and hand them out for free. They are wonderful people.

It is estimated that there are about 5,000 people who are homeless but it probably is more like 10,000 and there is no where for them to go. A lot of people are opening their homes to strangers and family.

Will rebuilding happen again on the floodplain? The building that my besties daughters business was in wasn’t insured as the premium was $28,000 per year and the owner couldn’t afford that or even justify passing the costs onto people renting space in the building.

My nearest town. Grafton, missed out on flood only by centimeters but the towns further down river have been flooded. A lot of the minor damage was from storm water and the small creeks that flow through the town. The hinterland had floodwaters in the lower part of their houses but most of those were built to the 1:100 year flood levels but this exceeded that so their garage and lower areas were flooded.

I didn’t take any photos when I went to town but there are hundreds on the internet and Facebook. Here’s some from years ago. The bottom is the Clarence River near my place

I want to thank everyone for their concern and wishes, I love my blog family

74 thoughts on “Hello world – a disjointed bit of a rave from a weary soul”

  3. I am glad you are safe and I am sorry to know how devastating the flooding has been for you and your friend’s family. My mother-in-law was flooded five times and the stress was just overwhelming. Stay safe.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. This is shocking news, that hasn’t made a lot of traction in the British press as far as I can see. There’s too much tragedy in the world this week for a mere newspaper to encompass, I guess. It’s good to know you’re safe, and that you can deal with the damage you have sustained, but clearly that can’t be said for very many of your neighbours. All positive thoughts winging their way to you, Brian.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. I’m so very sorry to hear you are having such an awful time of it. It seems there is no end to hardships the world over. But, even in your writing of this, you were able to mention beauty; the human kindness that comes during such tragedies and 15 butterfly species.

    Liked by 1 person

    2. I have tried to access your Last on the Card photo but my security program blocks me!!!! I wonder if somehow there is a trojan or other virus that has snuck in and attached itself to your post. Sorry 😥

      Liked by 1 person

        2. I’ve noticed the same thing has happened with Hammad’s photos – I am unable to view them. Some glitch in the system i suppose.

          Liked by 1 person

  8. How wrenching and heart-breaking this is. Thoughts and wishes from afar for people’s resilience in the face of an awful natural disaster. Kudos to your Sikh community for their generous actions. Good luck to you and all who are affected and suffering.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. That’s terrible, Brian. It’s heartening to read that the community is pulling together to get through this flood. I hope you manage to deal with the leak and that the possums move their amorous adventures so you can sleep a bit.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. The past couple of years have been so tough for your part of the world. Recovery from this latest disaster sounds like it will be tough, but from the sounds of it your community is already finding even more hidden strength to keep going. Sending hugs to you all, and one of these days they will be in person ones!!

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Oh Brian so sorry to hear about all the flooding. Main thing is that you and your friends are safe. Thinking of you all

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Glad to hear that everything is OK as regards damage to self and friends. Things can be replaced and repaired, life less so! I know that doesn’t make up for the shambles around you and the work still to be done, but from here it’s the best I can offer. If I were nearer I might haul up with a flask of tea and a cake but as I can’t, please accept warm vibes and best wishes for total restoration to your home soon. And may the possums leave you to sleep in peace!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Marie. Tea, cake and sympathy gratefully accepted. One possum trapped last night and will be relocated to a forest away from my place later 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Oh, gosh – that looks terrible. I’m so sorry. I hope you manage to get a better night’s sleep. With the week the world is having, it’s not as easy to snooze once you’ve woken up and remembered what’s going on.

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Oh, no! I’m so sorry to hear about your floods. Hope everything remains okay at K’s place.

    The things that have happened in the last couple of years are beginning to sound as though parts of the Old Testament are repeating.

    We’ve had flooding over here in some areas with many businesses and homes flooded.
    That said, your problems make my tomorrow’s post (in around eight hours time) seem quite weak in comparison to your post.🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  19. I’m happy for you, but sad about everything else. Sounds and looks awful. And who knew about possum sex?! (Well, obviously you did, but other than that…) Glad the community has pulled together but it sounds like lots of loss and so much to do now.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It is wonderful what the community does in times of crisis. I have heard that the smell is quite bad today from the rotting everything and flood mud mix.
      I am glad to be able to enlighten about Australian Faunas habits 😂

      Liked by 1 person

  20. I am sorry to hear this Brian. Your description makes the news story so much personal. I am glad that you & your friends are safe and wish you well for the recovery ahead.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. I was in tears watching all the devastation as it unfolded on tv. Pleased you have managed to escape the worst of the floods around you Brian, but it is still going to be a mammoth clean up. Stay safe.

    Liked by 1 person

  22. Wow Brian, such an awful situation. Seems like your part of the world has been having one thing after the other. I hope you’re able to patch your roof, evict the amorous possums, and get a good night’s sleep. 100 year floods seem to happen a lot more often than every century these days. It’s a worrying trend.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes it has been so bad since 2017. I won’t be fixing, the solar blokes will be and soon I hope. One possum caught last night and sent on her merry way to a state forest quite a few kms away 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  24. I’ve been watching the news – how scary the floods are. I’m so glad to read you and your bestie are okay. I’m so sorry to read about the losses and all the devastation. You’re all in my prayers. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Shelley. The aftermath and clean-up are just as bad. The streets are piled with damaged goods and building refuse it is unbelievable not to mention the stench 😥

      Liked by 1 person

  25. I somehow totally missed this post. You’ve really been through it. I’m glad you are safe and your bestie’s family is safe. Water and flooding can cause so much damage to houses, business, cars, roads, etc. I’m feel for you my friend. Hope the rain slows down a lot ofter that last storm and people can hopefully start to rebuild their lives.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Aletta 🙂 I did smile when I read your comment and saw sirry and thought of someone speaking in South African 🙂

      Like

Comments are closed.