We have been busy with doctors blah blah but we're all okay now and I see how far behind in posts I am. So here are some past photos of Bill's Birthday in February. Our wonderful daughters organised a birthday lunch at a lovely Italian Restaurant on the riverside in Brisbane. It was called "Ciao Papi" so a fitting place for papi's Birthday celebration.
On St Patricks Day we had a special dinner at the village Community Centre. Everyone wore green. We had a new team of Year 12 High School students doing the serving and helping in the kitchen. They did a good job and the chef even complimented them. We enjoyed the meal and companionship and the Irish jokes.
We had a worrying time but its all over and we are safe and our unit did not get any damage. The worst was the waiting for Tropical Cyclone Alfred to cross the coast. It was a category 2 but moving very slowly. so we were living in apprehension for three days or more. We saw it tearing the Gold Coast to shreds and it was scary thinking that would happen to us. Finally, Alfred crept slowly towards us and started losing power as it hit the coastal islands. We had howling winds and pouring rain but luckily we stayed safe. Our unit didn't leak and nothing was damaged outside. The worst part was that we were without power all of the next day. So many trees had blown down electricity wires. There was 350 thousand homes without power. Some are still waiting to be reconnected.
We had cold turkey sandwiches and sparkling water for tea/dinner. We played board games in candlelight to pass the time. The next day it just poured rain non stop all day and night. The cyclone had turned into a low pressure and it was stationary over Brisbane. Many creeks and rivers flooded. Silly people drove through flood waters and had to be rescued. Only one life was lost but many houses ruined by flood water. People were madly filling sand bags to stop the water entering homes and businesses.
I drove to the doctor today (check up after cataract surgery 3 weeks ago.) On the way I saw many huge trees on the ground. Some houses were flattened by fallen trees. We were so lucky to have missed the bullet.
When the rain eased a little I walked down the hill from our unit to the front of the village and took a few photos my shoes and jeans got soaking wet even with a big umbrella.
Cyclone (Hurricane) Alfred is heading right towards us. We have brought in all the outside furniture and pot plants. We have stocked up with water and food, torches and candles. Luckily we are not in a flood zone although there is a creek which passes under our access road to shops. It was supposed to hit tonight but its speed has slowed but not its intensity. So it is now expected to cross the coast tomorrow. The Gold Coast is already experiencing high winds and huge waves.
It was a sad day when we received an email advising us that our managing director is selling our village. She didn't want to but her business partner wanted to sell. So after weeks of negotiations a suitable buyer was found and now Chiou See is on her way to new adventures. We had a farewell party at Happy Hour last Friday and Lion Dancers were invited to make it a Chinese New Year celebration too.
Okay so it is ages since we celebrated Australia Day but I only just stumbled on the photos that I took of the celebrations we enjoyed in the Community Centre. We played games, sang Australian Songs, answered trivia questions and we had a sausage sizzle for lunch.
