CYCLONE YASI

Since my last post I've had to amend my list of things that make life uncomfortable for those of us who call the far north of Australia home. Toads have moved further down the list, to be replaced first & foremost by cyclones, and coming close second, enraged, homeless Green ants. Slight exageration there. Green ants are nasty,biting, aggressive pests that can be brushed off, albeit while doing a dance not unlike a demented orangutan, but this discomfort cannot in any sense be compared to the pounding rain and ceaselss winds of a cyclone lashing the trees and sending branches crashing on the roof.

Cooking on a gas burner by gas light & listening to a battery powered radio while the giant storm wreaked havoc around us, safe inside our house built to withstand an earthquake, we created a sort of family picnic atmosphere. Our three Granddaughters delightfully unaware of the threatening catastrophe were amazed when we produced home-made chips for dinner. Who said children today can't appreciate the simple things?

The following day when at last the wind died down enough for us to venture outside, we surveyed the damage. Along with many other trees our beautfiful Frangipani was torn apart. But it will throw out new shoots and in time be clad once more in pearly flowers and we'll stand in awe of the beauties of nature. But nature can be a cruel & undiscerning mother. On numerous visits the children had watched a pair of Sunbirds constructing a flimsy nest. The nest amazingly survived but one baby bird became just another casualty.

After nine days, two hours and forty minutes our power was restored. Life goes on- the birds are singing, the dragonflies winging, the Green ants have gotten over their hissy fit & with Yasi just a memory, we settle back into life in tropical north Queensland.