This Ozzie is over the crazy weather

2nd day of sunshine after month and a half of rain.
work is finally busy - yaaa!(losgt so much work due to weather cut backs in the last month)

BUT....
# my niece and her children are flooded out of their farm for the last 5 weeks - they did not get to spend chistmas with their dad who stayed on the farm, lost a percentage of their crops and livestock several $100,000 and climbing loss)and the only way to travel is by boat and the SES- their in Walget NSW

# my nephew got evacuated yesterday, his car is underwater and the house is flooded, great birthday for his girlfriend - Bundaberg QLD

# my sister can't get in her house cause of the flooding (the house is highset, but that did not make a difference) - Warwick QLD

# my other sister is also on the land and they have lost crops and livestock - Cowra NSW

# running repairs and clearing drains at my elderly parents place, and making sure they didn't need anything or had to drive anywere in these conditions (both in their late 70's)

# Things are slowly drying out at my place and my parents, once it is dry we can inspect the damage and start repairs,I was okay with the rain till a couple of days after christmas, wet dogs, no dry cloths, mold, bad driving conditions, and wearing jumpers in summer

# I know there are people worse of than my family, but I'm over it.

If I had wanted to be this wet and damp for this long I would have gone camping at the Woodford Folk Festival again this year, least I would have known what to expect.

These crazy condtions are affecting my family, and I am to far away from most of them that all I can do is wait for text messages or see what they have posted on facebook (yah for tecnology)


End rant...

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May the bad things get lost on the way to you door!

I know where you're coming from! And unfortunately, the flooding in Queensland won't go away just yet - Rockhampton will cop it in about a week when the floods currently in Emerald make their way downstream to Rocky.

My astonishment is Bundaberg - it's been years since they went under like this - they think that the flood peak topped nearly 8 meters (they don't know for sure because the power of the floodwaters damaged flood guages).

All I can say is thank god for the volunteers of the SES who are giving up all their time over christmas and new year to help, and also to the Qld Fire and Rescue Swiftwater REscue Teams who are also deployed to various places around the state - some of these guys have been on duty for the past 10 days away from home.

At least the police are now charging those idiots who attempt to drive through flood waters and get stuck, or those (even bigger idiots) who think jumping from bridges into flooded waterways is fun. From what a friend of mine also tells me (ahh - insider goss) QFRS are also going to charge the cost of rescuing said idiots - basically send them a bill for the rescue!

They can - under the QFRS Act - do this but have chosen not to in the past, but there are so many who have been doing these dumb things, that this time they and the police have decided it's time to get serious with them.

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"When I'm old, I don't want them to say of me, "She's so charming." I want them to say, "Be careful, I think she's armed." -G. Stoddart

I knew it had been bad, and have even heard it mentioned on the news here, but I hadn't realized just how bad.

Like Springie, my thoughts and prayers are with everyone down there.

You're right, Maddy. Anyone who would jump into floodwater is a total idiot. They should have to pay for their rescue, and they should face charges for recklessness(sp), if nothing eles. Too bad their isn't an arrest catagory for being totally stupid in public.

My heartfelt sympathy to you and your family, Little Wolf, and all Australians who are suffering from the floods!

(But not to idiots who make additional, unnecessary work for rescue crews!)

I'll add in my prayers, LW, so that you, and every member of your family, and all those suffering the same circumstances will be safe, and that everything will come back to normal as soon as possible! I'll also pray for those who are giving everything up in order to help, and for those idiots to acquire some more brains in addition to the puny ones they already have!

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To be or not to be a gatchamaniac - that's the dilemma!

I'm sorry about your problems, LW.

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Banned

Thanks Everyone.!!!

My family is safe thats all that matters, and cause were all farm kids so we are use to dealing with floods, fire and droughts and knowing how to act in those conditions

I think the got to me
last lot of text we got said that everyone was okay and adjusting, even in Bundaberg

Yep! charge the idiots they should have implemented that law years ago.
I think a lot of people have not idear how to act in extreme conditions or care.
Let them start recuperation the costs of the rescue and the volunteers time from these idiots, they waste valuable time and resourses that could have been used on the more deserving and those who honestly need assistant

BIG thanks to the SES , Ambos and the Fireres, Red cross and other volunteer, I understand what they have to go through and sometimes it's thankless work, Definelty makes me think that's one of this years goals has to be do more volunteer work

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May the bad things get lost on the way to you door!

Some people care more about thew inconvenience of it all rather than lives. Simply, they don't think, or just can't put on hold the task or work. I'd rather live and put the work off- than drown in my car with a wall of water coming at me.... I know it would be harder though if your family was stranded and the person was trying to get to them, still...call the Emergency services! Thats what they're trained for.

Hahahahaa about "Waterworld" I see the TV stations have a sense of humour.

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Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up- Pablo Picasso.

Living on the Atlantic coast, I know all about flooding (waves higher than your house, 5 inches of rain in less than 24 hours, 284 days of fog in one year). I've kayaked downtown in the city core, I've made makeshift rubber boots and hipwaders out of plastic garbage bags, and I've laughed at the number of macho idiots who swore their truck could make it through flooded roads without getting the engine wet (all idiots, not a neuron between them).

Hang in there, keep working on the ark, and send out some doves when it starts to clear up. They'll bring you back some eucalyptus leaves and you'll find paradise...or Ayers rock, whichever isn't submerged by then.

Katse