Flood cleanup

After days of being stuck inside because of the rain we decided to get out and about and have a walk on the beach at Sandgate. We were so not prepared for what we were confronted with when we got out of the car. After having watched endless footage on TV of the unfolding dramas in the city area affected by flood, we didn't stop to think where all of the debris that we had seen flowing down the Brisbane River had gone. We found the answer for some of - the once lovely Sandgate foreshore.

Cleanup was in progress and obviously had been for some time, but the devastation was still very evident. We took a short walk and a few photos which we thought you might find interesting given our time living out there, but the smell was pretty bad and the debris was full dangerous things that we weren't sure were dead or not (ie stonefish, snakes, toads ...)

One of the first things we came across was this watertank - I can only imagine how far this thing has travelled over the last few days

There were trucks coming every couple of minutes to take debris away

We saw LOTS of these things - very poisonous apparently so we kept well clear

Also I lost count of the number of pumpkins we saw ... I guess someones vege shop or truck of veg got washed out

I think this was previously a pontoon on the Brisbane river in the city

More pontoon

Yet another piece of pontoon or boardwalk or whatever it was

And some more ...

I kid you not I was watching footage of the Brisbane river in the city and actually saw this (or at least one exactly like it) flow under the Gateway Bridge

There were bulldozers ...

The water is just pure mud - like Sophie so eloquently put it - this place looks like a dump

The smell emanating from this was overwhelmingly bad

Sophie and I surveying the mess in disbelief

All this is nothing though in comparison to what thousands of people not far from us are going back home to now. Whole suburbs have been wiped out and are just a heaving mess of mud and debris, and people are literally standing with just the clothes on their backs and little else.

We feel so lucky to have escaped the flood waters at our place and feel the pain of those who weren't so lucky.

Rick has registered to go and help clean up peoples homes over the weekend and I can't begin to imagine the sights he will be seeing.

Back soon with another update

Kerrie

XX

Holiday ramblings ...

It's been a very wet Christmas and New Year here in Brisbane - we can't complain too much though as half of Queensland is currently under water and we have been lucky enough to escape that here.

We had a lovely Christmas. Sophie and Toby loved all of their presents that everyone sent for them, thank you to you all. Here's a selection of pictures of what we have been up to over the last couple of weeks ....

Rick and Ella catching up with each other

Her foot is about the same size as his thumb!

All of the rain has meant that things are growing furiously, and unfortunately the palm tree started to move the fence which meant all sorts of good things started happening - like the electronic gate would not shut! This called for drastic measures and after much deliberation we came to one conclusion - the palm had to go. Why we decided to do this on a 32 degree day that was very steamy I have no idea but it certainly is not an experience I would care to repeat. Bit by bit I carried that whole tree to the trailor! Can I just say that it seemed so much bigger than what it looks.

A before shot ....

Rick armed and ready to go

bit by bit it came down

oops this picture should have been first!

The after shot ... it looks a little bit naked now don't you think. The good news now though is that after realigning the gate it now shuts and movement should not be a problem anymore.