Still photo from the fabulous 2012 eco-movie, Beasts of the Southern Wild, currently with several Oscar nominations, including youngest-ever best actress nominee, Quvenzhane Wallis, pictured, aged 6 when she made the movie. The words, in case you can't read them, are: 'When it all goes quiet behind my eyes, I see everything that made me flying around in invisible pieces. I see that I'm a little piece of a big, big universe'. Which should mean something to the particle physicists, at least.
Our long Australia Day weekend started by participating in Benarrawa Community Association's Invasion Day event on the banks of Oxley Creek, Graceville. This was an introduction to the local group for us, and brought an awareness of the Indigenous population who lived in this area. It put a very different perspective on Australia Day, which tends to bring out Australian flags, unpleasant jingoistic behaviour, excessive drinking, with the result that it is the busiest day of the year for Accident and Emergency Departments.
Meanwhile, the rain, which began with a steady drizzle, became increasingly intense, and by the middle of Sunday, it was unrelenting, becoming a fierce storm with wild winds, which continued for much of the night. This was the frightening impact of ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald, which had tracked Southwards from North Queensland, dumping huge amounts of rain in its path.
Queensland Floods 2011
I cannot remember a similar storm, in the 24 years I have lived in Brisbane. Given that Australians have experienced several catastrophic 'natural' (or should that be 'man-made'?) disasters this year already, including bush fires earlier in January, and extensive flooding, as a result of this event, I imagine we won't have to wait that long to experience something similar again. In particular, this storm came just two years after the devastating floods of December 2010-January 2011, and although the effects were less in most cases, it certainly has generated a great deal of fear and anxiety.
The after effects, for us, really are minor. Some small trees down, and part of the next door neighbour's roof (corrugated iron) flew into our verandah, which was scary at the time. And the following day I got stung by wasps, when we tried to lift up a huge cactus, knocked over in the wind, disturbing the wasp's nest within. The weirdest part was being, temporarily, at the mercy of the elements, and having to cancel any plans which involved going outside.
Meanwhile, I have been experimenting with Intermittent Fasting, which I wrote about in my last post, and am on my third Fast day so far. I'll report more in the future, but it is going really well. Hunger, it seems, is good for us in small doses, giving the body time to renew and repair.
more later.
2 comments:
I have been thinking about you all seeing the reports of the terrible weather you have had. Glad you are all safe and well, frightening for everyone there . Keep safe.
Thanks Elaine! We are gradually returning to normality, but many homes are still without power. Also, some roads are still cut, and there are even threats of a drinking water shortage due to muddy water supply - the irony!
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