Hi all, I'm doing fine, the floods are terrible of course but they are devastating different areas.
In Brisbane and SE Queensland generally, people talk about " '74 levels" which refers to the huge flood of 1974, where the Brisbane River burst its banks and drowned cows were discovered in the multi-storey car parks, etc, etc.
There's widespread prediction that these floods will exceed '74 levels, but I think we've seen the worst (and the worst has been bad enough, believe me).
At the moment twelve people confirmed dead, with (possibly) more to come. There have been some awful stories. No-one wants to see more rain, nor an increase in the catchment area levels as the dams release water from the reservoirs, but the irritating Australian media are virtually willing bigger floods upon us, the better to keep their mediocre staff journalists gainfully employed.
There are TV helicopters galore, yet the most heart-wrenching footage is from mobile phones and camcorders, as you might expect.
I was in the offices of the local Murdoch paper yesterday talking to editors and they were constantly interrupted by people running in and out with the latest updates. They were having a ball, believe me. One of the most often used phrases was "yes, we've got bright blue skies this morning but don't be fooled, there's worse to come..." The buggers aren't ready for this gig to end, and they're hoping the fat lady delivers a couple of extra encores.
Oh, and don't worry about Joan. Sydney? Flooding? Phhfff!
