Crazy Weather!

As we live through the tail-end of ex-cyclone Oswald, I am in Brisbane, Queensland and once again, we are suffering wild weather.  But then, it wouldn't be January without wild weather in Queensland AND worse, at least one natural disaster in Australia!!!

The fires in Southern states have been heartbreaking.  The floods in northern states are no doubt bringing their own suffering.  This is our world.

Then there is the news from the UK: snow, snow and floods to follow.  The M6 closed and motorists stranded for up to 8 hours, such strange and extreme weather patterns.  A friend keeps telling me "its global warming" but sorry, I am a global warming sceptic!  I am not sceptical about climate change though!  Throughout the history of our planet it has undergone climatic change.  From ice ages through extreme heat, it is what the planet does.  At worst, perhaps the current populous is accelerating the pattern but nothing more.

Even the hole in the ozone is slowly closing thanks to nations addressing the very real threat posed by excessive use of CFC's in the 80's!

Another Dianne memory

I remember her Mum telling me about the time "somebody" was stealing her cigarettes.  The suspects?  Her two boys, ages 8 and 7 respectively or her 4 year old daughter Dianne!

She lined them up on the couch...the kids, not the cigs.... into each mouth went a lit cigarette and what do you know... the boys, coughed, choked and spluttered... sobbed their hearts out!!  But not Di ... Oh no - she sat back, feet not touching the floor and puffed away for all she was worth.... like a 20 a-day smoker!  Honestly, just picture her... cute as a button... FOUR years old... her Mother looked to the future and sighed only 14 year's to go.... but all I can say is: DON"T TRY IT AT HOME!

Hope for the future?

Since September 2010, when Christchurch suffered its first earthquake the news media has never eaten so well.  Their banquet has included the November 24th Pike River mine disaster and extreme weather sweeping through Europe and the US.  Never before have we seen natural disaster on such a grand scale.  With 2011 barely underway, yet another country has been in the firing line each month ... Australia in January, New Zealand took a turn in February and most recently Japan in March, the most tragic of all.  Alongside this, the Middle East.


Amidst flood, earthquake, tropical cyclones and tsunami's it is difficult to see good, but maybe it is time for our reporters to remind us of the positives and help to restore some of the balance.   The end of a long drought in Australia.  Egypt's freedom from Mubarak, with its sights firmly set on democracy.  Even traditionally greedy world financiers working together to prevent the Japanese Yen from taking a nose dive.  Britain ending exports of execution drugs to the US, a small but significant move away from hypocrisy.  And let's not forget, England winning the Ashes on Australian soil for the first time in 24 years!  Much more importantly,  China putting history and hatred where it belongs and offering aid in a meaningful gesture to Japan and the Arab league working hand in hand with Western Governments to help the Libyan people. 


Good from bad....is this the start of global cooperation?  Let's hope... amidst the disaster, just maybe we are seeing the first baby steps toward a better world. 

Expecting Joe Bloggs?

Ever had one of those moments?  Your ears just don't work!  I remember once and an open plan office.. too many years ago to mention .. Reception rang in and Betty answered the phone...

     Joe Bloggs is waiting in Reception....

     B: Anybody expecting Joe Bloggs?

     Are you sure his name is Joe Bloggs?

     B: Yes... Joe Bloggs....

     Back to Reception... sorry no - we are not expecting Joe...

     Joe?  No - not Joe...  Chubb Locks!!!!

     B: Oh yes - send him up, we've been expecting him...

OK... not my best, it was funny at the time though... maybe you had to be there...

12th January 7:30pm - Brisbane Floods - Coro

OH NO! Our data centre provider just went onto Generator power... keep everything crossed they have a good relationship with the fuel supplier :(

We switched to generator here at about 4pm.... And have just learned that it is to be rationed in 2 hour blocks - 3 of them in the next 24 hours so my availability will now become limited.... BUT EVEN WORSE! My ability to watch Coronation Street has taken a hit!

12th January 6:30am - Brisbane Floods - The rain has stopped

I hope this message finds you all safe, dry and well this morning. Such beautiful sunshine can only be a good thing.... at 6:30am.... thank goodness it has stopped raining.... we may be saved yet!

Lots of water around this morning, plenty of cars flowing over the Story Bridge and I can see cars driving in the City. Low level restaurants at Eagle Street flooded this morning and power still on at Kangaroo Point, hopefully the same is true of the CBD.

Boats and pontoons continue to float on their own down the river – a rate of about 1 or 2 every 15 minutes.

If you haven’t seen the news yet, Coro Drive is closed.

11th January 2011 - Brisbane Floods - Eye Witness Account

Eye witness account.....

The river level viewed from Kangaroo Point is approx 2-3 hours into the rising tide, on its way to the next peak at 3am overnight. The level of the river now is approximately the same level as it was at its peak earlier today at 3pm. The boardwalk at Eagle Street Pier is once again underwater although the restaurants are not yet flooded.

Several pontoons, some of them complete with empty boat attached have floated past and several emergency boats are patrolling the river. The Dockside Marina is almost empty.

The lights of the city are still on.... but you might want to cancel that booking at Jellyfish....

Kangaroo Point marina - underwater

Oxley's Restaurant Floats away

Surveying the damage 

Goodwin Street, Kangaroo Point

Macleay Towers!! at least one Merc drowned!

Boats floated down river, out of control