The water is receding and I've got a bit of Cabin Fever. The last few days have been a bit of a blur. I've been anxious, worried, emotional, glued to the tv. It's been very weird.I went to Kangaroo Point today-tonnes of flooding and filthy silt everywhere. I cannot describe the smell. I feel so sad for people whose homes and businesses are going to be covered in this revolting stuff. The clean up is going to be a nightmare.
The river was running so fast and had got into a lot of the buildings
Because so many people are without homes I have become more obsessed with looking after mine. I actioned some pruning (always soothing). These Rommel channeling gingers look Guilty to me.
and this stag horn thingamy has loved the rain and grown a new leaf
this rose looked a bit hopeful and promising
I've had Cabin Fever and so have lots of my friends. So I took a reader's advice and cleaned out my pantry. I found this mini-declutter very comforting. You can see lots of tinned food from my emergency shopping expedition with Mr FF the other day
Sometimes it gets almost too much to watch all the horror stories on tv. There are so many dreadful stories. Especially the ones involving Grantham.
Everyone has pulled together and really helped each other out. Those stories really do warm the heart and renew your faith in human nature. And in a spirit of wanting life to return to some semblance of Normality here's what I wore to work on Tuesday when everything came unstuck and panic set in. It's a dress I'm borrowing from Amber by Camilla and Marc. Probably not the best choice for a really rainy day, a nightmare commute and a surreal grocery shop surrounded by panicked shoppers....it seems like about 3 weeks ago now.
The river was running so fast and had got into a lot of the buildings
Because so many people are without homes I have become more obsessed with looking after mine. I actioned some pruning (always soothing). These Rommel channeling gingers look Guilty to me.
and this stag horn thingamy has loved the rain and grown a new leaf
this rose looked a bit hopeful and promising
I've had Cabin Fever and so have lots of my friends. So I took a reader's advice and cleaned out my pantry. I found this mini-declutter very comforting. You can see lots of tinned food from my emergency shopping expedition with Mr FF the other day
Sometimes it gets almost too much to watch all the horror stories on tv. There are so many dreadful stories. Especially the ones involving Grantham.
Everyone has pulled together and really helped each other out. Those stories really do warm the heart and renew your faith in human nature. And in a spirit of wanting life to return to some semblance of Normality here's what I wore to work on Tuesday when everything came unstuck and panic set in. It's a dress I'm borrowing from Amber by Camilla and Marc. Probably not the best choice for a really rainy day, a nightmare commute and a surreal grocery shop surrounded by panicked shoppers....it seems like about 3 weeks ago now.
The next phase will be Flood Recovery. So many flood victims are uninsured which is really sad. And apparently some looters are being caught. Can you believe it?
There's a long journey ahead.
xxxx
The Title scared my, I never heard of Cabin Fever before, only Swamp Fever so I thought you were ill! I could not imagine moving back in into a wet, dirty house. How can it ever become clean and dry again?
ReplyDeleteDear FF
ReplyDeleteI'm a lurker on here but an avid one. This is the first time I am posting but felt the need to come out of the closet.
I'm so sorry to hear of all the terrible problems in Aus. I don't like to think of you so upset (you are always so cheery and positive) but you are certainly entitled to be. I hope, therefore, you are getting lots of reassurance and positivity back from those you love.
I guess at the moment you are doing a lot of "channelling" of those women you love so much (Jackie O etc).
Although I realise there is nothing I can do for you in a practical sense, I hope that knowing you have another reader who cares might up your spirits.
Reading this Blog (and, yes, I have gone back and read all of the posts) has inspired me to make a few changes in my life this year.
Much Love.
It's such a shame that Sinnamon Park and the Centenary suburbs were built on the flood plain. I don't think those poor people can get flood insurance regardless of their foresight.
ReplyDeleteWe had some really bad flooding in South West England a few years ago and some people were still not able to get back in their homes for over two years! They were living in caravans. I can't imagine how dreadful that must be. They weren't insured so had to wait for the govt or council to clean and repair their homes.
ReplyDeleteStay safe FF and let us know if there is a relief fund we can contribute to.
FF,
ReplyDeleteA pantry clean out in on my list, too. That is a constant source of clutter if you cook often, like you do.
It's tragic that so many people lost their homes and belongings. Hopefully, your government will help everyone get back on their feet as soon as possible.
On a lighter note, I adore that dress with the leggings and flats. And the Chanel pin (from Honkers, right?) stands out nicely on the collar.
Thank you for the comment on my post....I always enjoy hearing from you!
A
FF-
ReplyDeleteI adore the top and leggings with the flats...
I wish that you didn't have to go through all this worry at this time.
There must be some big event in the works to help those without insurance...maybe some musicians or George Clooney will organize something marvelous where we can send our money and support those whose lives have been turned upside down.
Hugs and prayers,
Hostess
hi ff,
ReplyDeleteit seems like the worst is over. now the clean up begins. so glad you are safe and sound and organized too.
xo
janet
Lovely outfit FF.
ReplyDeleteWe watched it all in TV last night, slack jawed that this is happening in a major city, we all feel so protected these days - well at a certain level of income - but Nature is red in tooth and claw.
I'm glad to see that your pantry is stocked up. But...since you have such a nice little garden space, are you growing your own tomatoes, green peppers, squash, strawberries, lemons,avocados, etc? It would be nice to have fresh fruit and vegetables available. A Victory Garden, if you will.
ReplyDeleteHi there, so glad you are ok and that the waters are going down, As you can imagine, the news about the boy who insisted his brother be saved first and then drowned really got to me, awful. Take care, Bxx
ReplyDeleteYour outfit is adorable. You are one of those women who look like the pregnant models for the magazines. When I was pregnant in the last millennium, I would have loved to have your look. Keep up the fabulous work.
ReplyDeleteA very long journey ahead. The amount of mess is unfathomable I don't know how people will do it.
ReplyDeleteFF, oh how I am craving some normality too. I hope I have a pantry I can come home to. Going to try to get over today. I am praying for just rotten food and sewerage explosions from the toilets. If that's the case, I will be joyous. I have been bargaining with the universe all night. The clean up for everyone is going to be horrific. I am actioning some gum boots from Big W here in the city this morning, and gloves and masks. I am petrified of E Coli. Once we survey the damage, packing the boys off to grandparents so I can roll my sleeves up. A-M xx
ReplyDeleteThe people running the evacuation centres are amazing. A lady from the Salvation Army just said on tv that they are not just providing meals, they are providing Halal food, vegetarian food, and catering for special dietary requirements!!!! Amazing! There are so many good people out there.
ReplyDeleteThere is also free public transport for the next week because so many people have lost their cars.
Anna Bligh and the police and mayor and emergency services have done a great job in the crisis I think. Given the scale of the disaster everything seems very organised.
Rosalie Village flood waters have subsided.
The rain has stopped and the sun is out. x
A-M I wish you luck and really hope your unit was spared. I have a good feeling for you xxxx
ReplyDeleteBelle it's hard for me to grow veges because my garden has zero sun- I get about 2 minutes a day as I am surrounded by huge sun blocking trees plus my soil is basically rocks despite shovelling huge amounts of organic matter into it. Also I deal with possums that eat everything, plagues of grass hoppers, fruit bats and scrub turkeys and rats that eat anything described as fruit before I can pick it. If I had a bigger garden and more sun I'd have a vege patch and cover it with chicken wire to protect it from varmints. My garden is really small and not flat. I do grow herbs though.
ReplyDeleteI too have been feeling so so anxious about the flooding. I really hope that everyone stays safe, secure and healthy. I heard about the looting on the news and was appalled that people would stoop so low at this time!! Hope you stay safe and well FF. Thanks for keeping people updated about the flooding, it is so devastating....
ReplyDeleteDear Ms FF, You wouldn't credit it but I wake up every day here in Sydney looking at the yachts peacefully bobbing on Lavender Bay. It is hard to comprehend what is happening in Queensland given the magical time we just had there. A. has decided she wants to sleep with me now. I think that this, the earthquake, the Victorian fires two years ago which she saw on the TV and her memories of the Canberra fires have made her think that the world is a very unsafe place. I. drove the ferry from the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary until the urban bit chatting to the Captain as she does and now we are wondering about the ferry, the Captain and all the animals at the Sanctuary. We are trying not to think of all the people who have died and those who do not know where their relatives are. It is simply too hard to do. However, on a happier note, I was glad to see that your gingers were still channelling Rommel and you have such a beautiful hopeful rosebud.
ReplyDeleteSo glad that the water is subsiding but feel for all the poor people who have to face the task of cleaning their homes.
ReplyDeleteDown in Vic we now have relentless rain, humidity and minor flooding, we have been in drought for all of my adult life so this is a very unusual summer for me. To combat this weather I have actioned a FF style bun, thanks for the inspiration.
Hey FF, I know the cabin feverish feeling you describe, and the craving for normality. I see Anna Spiro is reopening today, rightly saying that her flood affected suppliers will need business to continue. The economy will be on a slow crawl to recovery. My four children need some fun today I think. Our home, like all, has had a somber feel of late, the situation brought closer to home as we had friends from the Lockyer Valley trapped here wondering about their home, their farm, their friends. Thankfully they were able to return home yesterday, home intact and friends accounted for. Their personal stories horrendous.
ReplyDeleteOn a positive note, despite having to tackle extreme shopping conditions and the rise of murky waters, you looked as elegant as I have ever seen on Tuesday. Absolutely fabulous darling!
On a sadder note, the whir of the helicopters hovering above, going between Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley, is serving as a constantly poignant reminder of the horror of the past few days. The noise sickens me.
Hugs, Beck xx
Oh where would we be without ballet flats and opaque tights. Just love this look on you FF and Amber's frock is divine.
ReplyDeleteYour right about the cabin fever and my eyes are surely now square shaped from viewing endless tv coverage. I'm actioning demoulding today big time, am discovering it all over the house.
Have stayed put in the comparatively dry northside which is surreal knowing of the havoc virtually just down the road.
Am worried about A-Me.
xx
If by chance you hear the kinds of things that people are needing for their clean ups can you please let us know. I am a little way away but so happy to gather necessary things together and drop off to an affected area.
ReplyDeleteMany many thanks
SO glad that you are safe and there is some good news being reported, albeit there is heartbreaking news at the same time. We couldn't keep watching the news channel on Foxtel last night - it was all so sad :( so we took a break and watched Come Dine With Me. You're a resilient woman FF. Once again, I'm so glad you are ok. xox
ReplyDeleteAn added note...you would be proud of my younger boys, H 10 and E 8. They have "actioned" pruning and gardening maintenance this morning! Bless them!
ReplyDeleteDear FF. It's been awful. But you have some pregnancy hormones now which make it even more awful for you to watch such sad things than ever before. It's very hard for mothers to watch this news. I'm with you Anne-Marie in the war against mould which now swaps over to the war against silt (swapping the sugar soap and diluted bleach at my place for a shovel at others' this weekend I expect). Hang in there everyone. And don't you go lifting too many fingers FF.
ReplyDeleteHi FF,
ReplyDeleteYour outfit looks lovely. The mud is absolutely disgusting isn't it. The stench of the mud hangs around for ages and especially on a hot and humid day, as it leeches from the framework of the house. Our friends at Hawthorne were very fortunate to only have the water and mud come into their yard and just lap the slab of the home, they are very, very thankful. It's heartbreaking that so many people have lost so much. There is a lot of work to be done in this city, and if the outpouring of help and support continues I really do believe it will come back bigger and better than before with a stronger sense of community. It's heartbreaking that so many people have lost so much. Premier Anna Bligh continues to have so much to deal with in this state, and I have been quite impressed with Lord Mayor Campbell Newman. Enjoy your day, Robyn
FF I posted this on another site but I think this might sum up the nature of Australians.
ReplyDeleteLast night we were watching the most harrowing coverage of people running for their lives a a wall of water was metres from them. Their cries and screams were haunting and will stay with me for some time. I wept and felt so gutted.
In the next hour they did a story on Queenslander's resilience. They talked about our iconic Football stadium Lang Park being underwater. Many people wept about this. Out the front of Lang Park (Suncorp Stadium as it is now known) there is a statue of a very famous Queensland Rugby League Player Wally Lewis or "King Wally' as he is known here. The story showed Wally bailing out houses of strangers. He just turned up to some flood affected street and got on with the job!
Then they cut to the statue of King Wally and guess what it had on? Floaties goggles and a snorkel added by some wag. That to me sums up the Australian characteristic. We can laugh through the tears!
Here is a link to the photo that you might put up to show people our spirit!
http://www.safm.com.au/qld-floods-2011/queensland-flood-support-blog//blog/photo-king-wally-lewis-statue-becomes-twitter-star/20110113-b36c.html
I am back in my apartment after an exhausting few days. I believe I have never been so stressed and tired. A group of friends, family and neighbours helped me so move some things out and a nearby friend put me up and cared for me for the evacuation. The waters came, literally, to my doors from both sides. My courtyard was underwater. A drop or more of water and it would have gone straight through my apartment. Of course, a lot of my neighbours are not so lucky.
ReplyDeleteNow I have most of my belonging back in my home and now I am putting things in order. EXHAUSTED!! It took a team of people to make it all happen and I am so thankful that I am rich with friends and family who care about my wellbeing and are willing to put it into action.
Now I am going to have a nanna nap.
The worst that has happened to me is my chook pen was washed away and I have been without power since Tuesday. They are hoping to turn it back on tomorrow night, but it is looking doubtful. My local Maccas has opened today - who ever thought I'd be so glad to go here. They have free wifi!
ReplyDeleteMany of my friends have lost everything. We are still waiting for water to go down so we can start the clean up.
My heart goes out to those that have lost their precious loved ones x
FF, We have acute cabin fever here. Try five weeks, that's 35 days, of rainy school holidays! If I have to play one more game of Guess Who I'll scream! Everyone seems to be out and about today, breakfasting and doing some normal things, which is reassuring.
ReplyDeleteFF - This was just sent to me. Would love if you could get the word out! Thanks a million! Mary
ReplyDeleteAnyone wanting to volunteer tomorrow, buses are leaving from the Council's Green Square at corner of Constance St and St PAul's Tce, Fortitude Valley (opposite Genghis Khan restaurant). Free parking in RNA showgrounds and Metro Parking in Alfred Street. If you can, take shovel, gumboots/steelcaps and gloves with you. Food and water supplied. Please share this around.
I am so sorry to hear all this, the scale of the devastation is unimaginable. So glad you were unharmed, and that the waters are receeding. In all this, your Tuesday look is a vision of loveliness. xx
ReplyDelete