CYCLONE YASI



The day before Yasi came to visit

 The thing that strikes me is that even though it is still blustery and a tendency to squalls, birds are about. Even butterflies are back on the scene. Where did they hide in the wake of Yasi. Surely not in my garden. My garden doesn't exist anymore.



St Andrews Cross a happy home maker 1st Feb  2011





I loved my driveway. It was always a stroll worth adventuring, always shaded and cool  in the heat of the day, always coveting a treasure for me to find whether it be a giant spider in it's web  or a Ulysses Butterfly and sometimes if I've permitted their freedom, our hens would  loiter in the garden bordering the the stony path.

There is no such place exists anymore. Last night amid the howls and screams of a woman demented with power and destruction all but a few of my palms laid down and ceased to exist other than to be reclaimed back from where they came; mulchified earth teaming with fertility.

Our home stood up to the test and even it's normal creaks and groans hushed in the wake of it's foe. It's as if it stood, planted, fists clenched ready for whatever was dished out. Her window sills seeped barely a mop full of  moisture as the cagey contestant tried with her might to infiltrate and overcome. I had been worried. I imagined my homes beautiful timber ceiling peeling like  frivolous match sticks into the blackness while we huddled in the smallest room downstairs. Instead we stayed upstairs feeling safe and confident ,waiting for the battle to be over.

Our pride for the house withstanding the war short lived as we viewed the battle field at dawn. Tears streamed down in silent anguish as we counted the dead. Much easier to count the living there are so few.




Driveway looking towards the road.

 

 I can hear the buzz of chain saws; a sound that usually makes me cringe however today it's the sound of music, melodious soprano grinding as metal slices through wood- wood that used to be my shady tranquil garden-garden that has become my prison. I used to love my trees, now they are my enemy keeping me confined to quarters . I can't even start the clean up. Whole palms hang precariously in the forks of a neighbouring gum. No one dare go near for fear of them coming down. The cat doesn't seem to mind though. The vertically challenged has become the horizontally advantaged. Great viewing spots for  feline  activities. The animals seem to have come through the cyclone unscathed. The dog snuggled into her pillowed bed during the rage outside as did the cat. It was as if the roaring wind tearing away at my garden may have only been  coming from the telly. Even the chooks produced eggs from the darkness of their protective cavity at the back of the garage .
All it produced from me was  rage and frustration. I am not sure if it was Yasi or a combination of things like, the day before 'she ' struck my friend said "Ya palms wont survive." She was right but why my palms? The neighbours stayed up. She jinxed them. Bitch! Then there is the fact that we have 90 year old grandma with us. The plan was to put her to bed with talking books strapped to her head and she wasn't allowed to turn it off. She woke the next morning happy enough but complained that her tea was cold and that there was nothing on telly that she liked. She also managed to mix her Webster pack up and take 3 days pills in 2. I would trade my turn for hers to get power back on so she can get back into her routine at her home! At least we managed to keep her from being afraid. We got that right! I vented my anger at a foolish manager at Super Cheap too. She threatened to call the police if I didn't  leave. Never had that happen before! I am not ready to apologise yet...may never. I'd prefer to do penance doing someone else a good deed instead which I have as we all have done through this diversion from normal life. I can't imagine what it must be like for those in Cardwell and Tully. I have only lost a garden and my patience, easily retrievable. The long hard slog of getting your life back together from scratch must be over whelming.
We have no phone as yet which is a little daunting with a 90 year old who insists on wanting to clamber over cords and leads from the temporary power source to make a cup of tea.   We have a generator and gas stove so the stubbies are cold and as of today (5 days later) we have ice cream. My friend rocked up with a tub of chocolate crunch to even the score with her premonition. I forgive her.



My Warrior came through unscathed!

 


Not for the pagoda.
Anyone for a cuppa? Sorry madam no seats available!



Swimming pool resembles a brackish pond which could be infested with crocs!

12th Feb: Apart from the mess in the garden we are back to normal...the power is on and we have a phone. Ten days without the Internet and phone ..(.I've been to Woodford...I can do anything)! We were asked out to dinner last night just as we were leaving the phone came on. The question was will we stay and catch up with all our friends on facebook or go out? We went out of course     and lucky for us we had a delicious dinner finished off with pavlova made from primary point! Yummo!

  



The Homeless!