So when Cyclone Oswald chilled out a bit and headed south-east, he headed straight to us.
Fortunately we were in Brisbane for some business and were staying in a hotel that had no leaky roof, plenty of electricity and a wonderful view of the goings-on. I’ve never had very good timing in my life, but we did well this time!
It was so, so grey. Well, brown. Brisbane looks brown when it rains and storms and floods. You can see the Brisbane River there getting ready to break its banks a little, and the palm trees whipped soundly by the unbelievable wind. I remember talking to someone saying “what wind? I hardly notice it”, to that night wondering if the windows of our 22nd storey room were going to implode.
My kids did pretty well in an unfamiliar place with minimal toys without going batshit crazy being cooped up inside. I took Abby to the Lifeline Bookfest for an hour and she was well chuffed with the helium balloon she got there. Pepper unfortunately didn’t enjoy so much being left at home, she hasn’t really got the hang of a bottle and missed her mum. I give good lunch!
She also got to meet her uncle for the first time. She was just delighted with him. I think the feeling was mutual.
Meanwhile, let’s talk about the Bookfest for just a second! It is seriously the best place to stock up. I don’t often get to go to the op shops anymore, too many kids, not pram-friendly for Abby. But here, all the books from every op shop in the land is there for me to pick and choose and take home for our very own! Last year was ridiculous, I went twice in one day, got about 60 books and paid peanuts. This year I was in a hurry but still managed to scoop 30+ books for the princely sum of $16. You could go crazy there, I didn’t even get out of the children’s section. I had some strict rules about what I could get and what had to be ignored… I’d still be on the first row now if I wasn’t so ruthless. Gosh this pile of books makes me happy… and that’s not even all of them.
So eventually we had to go home, struggling at times to keep the car on the highway in the vicious wind. It really did a number on us, and as we drove down our street we could see people’s fences knocked over, trees on houses, branches and debris everywhere.
This tree in Nikki’s yard went over, taking our fence with it. The roots broke through the ground and half the tree was in our yard. We were seriously lucky this was the worst of our damage. So many people were not so fortunate.
The ocean got pretty crazily foamed up with the weather, and it spilled out over the beach, the surf club and the double-lane main road through Alexandra Headland. I rode my bike down to see it the next day and it was still a nightmare. The road was blocked off and everything was filthy. Including the kids frolicking in the foam!
Hi mum!
Three billion lives ended on August 29th, 1997.
The survivors of the nuclear fire called the war “Judgement Day”.
They lived only to face a new nightmare, the war against the Machines.
I probably watched Terminator 2 a few too many times in my youth. You know, Edward Furlong and all that…
Did Oswald visit you too?
