Finding some calm after the storm

It's the first day of December - it's Summer here in Brisbane. (still so, so wrong...!) The purple Jacarandas have all but disappeared and instead we now have the wonderful vibrant Royal Poinciana. They really do look fabulous against the backdrop of the blue Summer sky. 

Royal Poinciana

That blue sky that I quickly snapped on the way home from school drop off this morning was very different last Thursday....

It was about 4.30pm and all of a sudden everything went dark. There was an eerie silence, then the trees outside my office started to sway and within a few minutes the rain started to lash at the windows. Not long after that the hail started. When I say hail I don't mean little pea size balls of ice - I'm talking big! They got as big as golf balls and some people saw some the size of tennis balls! It was the strangest 30 minutes ever.  There was no warning as is usual with Brisbane storms.  We could only stare out of the windows and wonder at the damage that was being caused. Hail that size can make a car looked like it's been sprayed with bullets.  Windows and windscreens were smashed and branches were flying through the air. Water began to pour through the roof of a room and this kicked the evacuation alarms into action. Except no-one really wanted to leave...

Here's a bit of a clip at the start of the storm taken from inside.

Brisbane storm

Thankfully, no one was badly injured and apart from very wet feet and a delay in getting home I was unaffected. Some others weren't quite so lucky and the next morning I was checking in with a neighbour who told me that the roof of the warehouse of her business had blown off and her Summer stock had been damaged. Another work colleague knew someone who had to have stitches in her head due to a large hail stone landing on her. There were also numerous people that I know with trees on cars and damaged property. What destruction in 30 minutes! Mother Nature sure was having a bad day!

As Brisbane was shaken by a storm on Thursday, the whole of Australia (and further afield) was completely moved by the tragic accident and subsequent death of the young cricketer Phillip Hughes. It has dominated conversation this past week. Australians are so passionate about sport and especially cricket. It's very touching to see the cricket bats placed outside homes and buildings in tribute to him. We are not a family of cricketers but I did find the beach bat and as I placed it I had a moment of reflection on the fragility of life. Sibs got an extra long good night cuddle on Thursday.

In tribute to Phillip Hughes

I always need to find something quiet and soothing after an incident or occasion that shakes me a bit. The long bath didn't quite work so I got into my crochet zone over the weekend and managed to finish a baby blanket that will get the boy/girl colour trim added when my cousin decides the time is right to give birth!

comforting crochet

Then to start this week off on a slightly calmer note, I took myself off for 5 minutes just for me. (It was probably closer to 45 minutes, but who's counting?)

perfection....

This morning I went to re-stock on coffee beans and plonked myself on a comfy sofa with a coffee, some pear and raspberry toast (it's fruit ok!) and got a bit lost with Jane Austen. Funny how you can re-read a book and still absolutely love it.  'Persuasion' is my all time favourite Austen novel. Of course I adore the others, but there is something about 'Persuasion' that intrigues me. Maybe it's the simplicity of the story, maybe it's because it's set in Bath, maybe it's because it's Austen's last novel, written when she was ill? It's all of these things and probably just the fact that it's beautifully written. 

I have introduced my girl to the wonderful world of Austen and we have watched many versions of her books that have been made into films and for TV. Of course, in my opinion to appreciate her true talent then you need to read the books. Sibs started and struggled with Sense & Sensibility (her favourite TV adaptation) so for Christmas last year I found a box set of easy reading Austen novels. 

Each book starts with a brief explanation of the characters, then the novel is presented in a lovely mixture of original and easy to read text. The books end with further notes about the plot; the era and the author and some questions to think about. 

 I bought the box set from Amazon UK and they are published by realreads.co.uk
Real Reads also have a great selection of classic novels and plays.

on my mantlepiece

Wishing everyone a calm week,

Wonderful Winter

It's Winter in Brisbane (at last!)

Brilliant blue skies, crisp mornings, warm afternoons and cosy evenings.

The Ugg boats have re-appeared and the cardigans are out.

My first ever visit to Australia was for a month during August. I never really noticed that it was Winter. It was just glorious. I remember walking on the beach one morning and feeling a little chill in the air, but it was still Summery to me.

Now as June approaches I'm desperate to feel the drop in temperature. By July I can't wait to light a fire! Yes, I've definitely acclimatised.

The sun becomes a real show off during the Winter months here. The next photo was taken on a drive to work the other morning. I had just dropped Sibs off on the other side of town and had to take a different route to work alongside the river. The glare of the sun was spectacular creating lovely shadows of the city and reflections on the water.

 It's equally as pretty during dusk. Although you have to be quick as it can change from light to dark in minutes - seriously.   This was taken in those 3 minutes when the sun was just hitting the high rises  in the city. It was already dark in the spot where I was. The photo doesn't really capture it as I only had my phone.

With the cooler months comes more opportunity to get outside. I have signed up again this year to complete the Global Corporate Challenge. This is a sixteen week workplace team challenge that promotes physical activity. Armed with my pedometer I have a daily target of 10,000 steps. At the end of each day I upload my activity and this is plotted with the rest of my team to produce some competitive stats.
Some of the money that you pay to register with the GCC enables a partnership with Unicef to help support communities around the world as well as conducting research into the well being of the participants.
My girl Sibs is also unofficially following the challenge and we compare steps each evening. I have to say that she manages to outperform me almost daily. I put that down to her having shorter legs!

So on that note, time to get moving... 

It's on days like this I need a dog!

Happy Monday,

Bush camping

I've been camping!

Yes, that's right - I did it. This self confessed 'sometimes princess' has weathered the great outdoors and voluntarily slept under canvas.

at least I had a pretty cup

Last week there was a Wednesday public holiday for the EKKA show day. This is an agricultural show in Brisbane. We have been to the EKKA a couple of times but as Sibs was already spending a day there as part of a school excursion it was agreed that we would do something different this year.

view from the tent in the morning

Some friends were camping a few hours away and invited us to join them for the day on Wednesday. In a very weak moment (was there wine?) I may have whispered to myself that we could think about a stay over on the Tuesday night.... What was I thinking? It's Winter!

Ok, so Winter daytime temperatures are in the 20's but night time is a different story. Couple this with inland and a mountain and it's cold - really cold!

I don't do camping, so as a result the tent and equipment is all Neil's domain. He uses his camping trips as an excuse to be a boy scout again. In other words, he just makes do.

 I'm not very good at 'just making do...'

Our tent was a glorified portaloo tent.

my home for the night

Sleeps 4??  

Seriously...? 

 I don't think so...

Our sleeping bags (2 between 3!?) were very  lightweight Queensland summer ones... it was freezing! It plummeted from 23 degrees to 0 overnight. I wore all possible items of clothing to bed and pulled the hood on my jacket tight, so tight it almost cut off circulation! I seriously considered getting into the car to try and sleep, but I was afraid that I would drive home!

toasting marshmallows

My task was packing food. I made a nutritious chicken and vegetable soup for the Tuesday night meal and Neil produced some dodgy plastic bowls that looked suspiciously like dog bowls. After a quick wipe I searched for a spoon and was given a plastic fork... See what I mean about making do? Apparently it's part of the camping experience! At least I packed a bottle of bubbly. Then a thought....bathroom facilities? They would be a kilometre away...

Despite these 'challenges' I did have a good time and Sibs had an absolute ball. She helped to feed the farm animals, collected eggs, and even had a go at milking.

early morning egg collection

She went on a horse ride, learnt how to throw a boomerang and crack a whip and generally had some freedom and fun.

afternoon horse ride

I relished the time to sit and catch up with friends. Just chatting, strolling, drinking tea, doing a bit of crochet, watching the kids, nothing extraordinary, but all good.

happiness is a skip to explore...

Would I do it again?

 Maybe....big maybe.

I would have to stock up on a few essentials though, 

and I think my definition of 'essential' and Neil's definition  is quite different!

We stayed at Bestbrook Mountain Resort ( website HERE)

quick hello

Dipping my toe back into blogworld tonight....

Hello there.

It's been a while, a lot longer than I planned (if I actually planned any time away from here at all?)

I guess I've just been distracted by other things going on in life. There was the big trip overseas in December and January; then there was the cramming of all the things you want to do over the school Summer holidays into two weeks when we returned to Australia; then there was the start of the school year and what do you know it's almost the end of February.

I was fortunate enough to spend some time visiting family and friends over Christmas. It involved travelling up and down the UK and across the channel to France and it was fabulous! Well, when you travel 24+ hours to get from Australia to the UK you just have to make the most of it....

Our trip took us from Brisbane to Singapore and then on to Amsterdam before a last short flight to Cardiff. We left Brisbane in 30+ degree sunshine and landed in Amsterdam in snow! The freezing cold air hit our lungs with force.

24 hours in the air and then freezing weather hits us 

Catching up with close family and friends over the Christmas period was very special to me. Northern hemisphere Christmas and New Year is so different to what we now know here in Australia. I enjoy both, but my childhood traditions were calling me home and I so wanted my little Sibs to experience a cold Christmas.

I 'instagrammed' my way around the UK and I've put the feed of my photos on my sidebar (just over there on the right). There's Amsterdam to South Wales to Paris to Yorkshire, Lancashire and the Lake District. Now that I've found my way back on here I'm sure I'll get back into some routine and have many a tale to share. For now it's just nice to be back.

Off to bed and hoping that this crazy rainy weather eases off soon,

nos da,

Severing those ties (The Lake District)

 During these last couple of weeks we have severed our final (financial) tie with the UK.

We have sold our little getaway in the Lake District.
(deep breaths, deep breaths!).

Rydal Water between Ambleside and Grasmere



This was our place to go to switch off.

The place where we created very special memories.



Ullswater

Isn't it stunning?

I have been the one to hold onto it...even though I knew it didn't really make sense.

So I finally succumbed, and now after a few years of contemplation, that's it...
gone in the time it takes to sign a piece of paper!

I'm recording some photos here so that I can have one place to go to dip back into the tranquility and breathtaking beauty of the place. Just bear with me...

Ambleside wakes up...

This was the view from the living room....

Some mornings the town would be hiding under the mist and you would slowly see it emerge and come to life.

This was the view from the kitchen balcony. Straight ahead and you could see the town of Ambleside and to the left you could marvel at the mountains.

The seasons always felt as if they were enhanced in Ambleside.

When it was cold it snowed and the mountain peaks would be spectacular.

 In Autumn the lanes were completely covered in carpets of rust and gold leaves.

In Spring the daffodils would bloom and the lambs would be prancing.

In Summer....ok, let's not get carried away here...

Summer was mild and rainy... but I still loved it!



Autumn in Ambleside





When I looked back through the photos I struggled to find any where we are not all wrapped up against the elements! So maybe it was just bloomin freezing all the time! Funny how you forget how cold those winds could be...

My little girl grew up with holidays here and created these memories that will forever be captured in my heart and thankfully in precious photographs

We celebrated quite a few birthdays and special occasions there. I seem to remember that the champagne was a celebration when we sold our house just before coming to Australia.

My little Sibs got her first pair of proper shoes there. - I told you there were special memories!

She loved the swimming pool (thank goodness it was heated) and she would have to have a morning splash and an afternoon one and if she was really lucky just before dinner as well.

We lived about an hour and a half away and I would sometimes decide to take her there on a whim.

When she was really little I'd coincide it with a nap time and when she woke up there was always big excitement about going into the pool. 

Ambleside.....just the name makes me smile.

Bye, bye our little lakeland apartment.

Thank you for the best memories.

We'll be back to visit one day...soon.

Wet weather weekend

I just about managed to prise myself out of bed this morning to get Sibs ready

for violin ensemble that started at 7am.

 (What kind of a time is that to start school when you're nine....and on a Monday morning?)

Sibs is oblivious to mornings and can switch from asleep to wide awake in a nano second!

Let's just say I am not at my best in the mornings and when you couple that with the Australian Open men's final that went on until almost 1am, I was most definitely not at my best this morning.

Anyhow, once I'm up, I'm up, so might as well make the most of the day.

We had another wet weekend here and spent the day indoors on Saturday.

By Sunday mid-morning cabin fever had set in so we decided to brave the elements and venture out.

It was on with the rain coats and wellies and then this is what greeted us around the corner...

It looks like a bit of surface water collected on the road - however, this is at least waist high and fast flowing!

Again, this water is deceptive and when Neil waded through it was knee high and quite powerful.

Sibs and I decided that it was best to walk the long way around...

Everything is growing at a crazy pace with all the rain. Unfortunately that includes all the weeds!

This bamboo is slowly being surrounded by water but is holding its ground.



 We managed a short walk, but after a while decided to give it up and came home.

Even the local wildlife looked displeased with the rain.

So we got out of our wet clothes, chose a family movie ,battened down the hatches,

and made a good old Sunday roast.

 I'm off to Ikea this morning.

I couldn't find my list earlier and Neil swears that he didn't throw it away!

I might need a boat to get there at this rate!

Have a great week,

Rain, coffee and Jane Austen

This is Brisbane today. 



When it rains here it can really pour and I don't know where the pool water ends and the surface water begins. Only a few days ago we were contemplating topping up the pool with water from the tank in the garden....oh, well at least it's saved us a job!

There are big huge rain drops dancing on the deck and on the tin roof.

The sky has lost the brilliant blue shine and instead there are grey clouds as far as the eye can see.

According to the weather channel we are in for some serious rain this week with warnings of flash flooding.

On the school run this morning I noticed that the drains were already overflowing.

So on a day like this when I'm recovering from very late bedtimes due to the silly times that those tennis players in the Australian Open finish their games, I needed some comfort.

Fresh coffee and a favourite read....

Is there anything better?

On the subject of reading, my girl has definitely been influenced by her mother.

She has just completed a version of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

Having watched a few different versions (TV adaptations and movies), she recently declared that she wanted to read the novel. She managed the first few pages and declared it just a little bit too hard. Then on a visit to the local library she independently quizzed the librarian about whether there was any child friendly Jane Austen novels. After a bit of research the librarian managed to find this copy and placed it in order. 

We waited a few months and eventually it was ready to pick up. 

It's a simplified version with some illustrations to accompany the text. There is also some reference to the original novel and some explanations to help the young reader to understand some of the concepts and customs of the time. All in all a great introduction and I would recommend it thoroughly.

I have found  a few Shakespeare plays in this series but sadly no more Jane Austen.

So after a day indoors, I'm off to do the school pick up before going to the weekly swimming lesson - well and truly back to routine.

Brisbane floods - where were you one year ago?

This time last year we were holidaying in New Zealand.

Driving around the northern tip of the country in and out of patchy Internet reception frantically trying to get news of home...

We left Brisbane as the city was bracing itself for a major flood.

Earlier in the week we had witnessed horrific scenes on the TV of the devastation in other parts of the state as the water claimed homes, businesses and worst of all lives...

We knew that Brisbane was next - but we didn't know what this really meant.

Waiting at the airport that morning was eerie. The skies were a strange grey colour, the staff and travellers all looked apprehensive. My phone kept beeping with texts from near and far checking we were ok. My work sent a text to tell me not to come in...
I felt like we were running away from something and part of me felt relieved and another part felt guilty...

After a delayed flight we reached Auckland and checked into the hotel. The first thing we did was switch on the TV. Nothing major appeared to have happened, just lots of precautionary tales of people barricading buildings and evacuating homes. A quick call home to check and again all seemed okay.

Next morning was different. Now the TV news showed familiar landmarks under water. The river swollen beyond recognition,  - water and mud....so much mud...

Another phone call - our home was okay.
The nearby creek was high and flowing fast but thankfully just making it under the bridges.



photo by Brooke Gillot
local creek Jan 2011



same creek Jan 2012

It was with some trepidation that I switched off the TV, checked out of the hotel and went to pick up our camper van. All conversations - hotel staff, taxi driver, camper van rental staff was solely about the floods.

Whilst Neil was checking the details of the van,  I was using the free wi-fi to find out as much as I could. News channels, local blogs, anything I could log into.
I saw a photo of a golf course under water - a few minutes down the road from our home and had a little panic!
Another phone call....yes, all was still okay.
Brisbane city centre was slowly being engulfed, but our suburb was still okay.

It took a few days to try and steer our thoughts away from home. I don't think we quite managed to switch off completely. New Zealand tried its best. It gave us glorious countryside, spectacular coastlines, miles of nothing - it was beautiful.



Northern New Zealand



 

We did have a lovely holiday. We were lucky.

Even a couple of weeks later as we returned home the Brisbane recovery operation had seriously kicked in. We only saw the aftermath. We heard the stories of rescue and of the volunteers that worked tirelessly to help those in need. We saw the businesses that were closed, drove past some of the boarded up homes and counted our lucky stars.

TV and news coverage concentrated on the clean up and the positives. This was Brisbane and Queensland in recovery mode.

Last night I watched a recorded programme on the National Geographic channel - "Australia's Great Flood". (It's repeated on Fri Jan 20th at 8.30pm). I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. I bit the side of my tongue trying to stop the tears...then I gave up and cried anyway.

The horror came back. The uncontrolled fear that those poor people must have felt.

Now a year on and most of the city is back to its former state. This last week or so there have been services of recognition and remembrance. Yes, there are still families waiting to return home and there are still business counting the loss of income.
There is still grief...
For some people they will never be able to forget the floods of January 2011.

Now that the wet season is here again, we'll keep everything crossed that it was a once in a lifetime occurrence.