Closing up our home: our double life in action

The process of closing our Phillip Island home is now upon us. Tomorrow week we expect that our 'migration flight' to Mitchell (in outback Queensland) will be complete.

After locking doors, crossing the bridge is our last step off the island -- a final farewell to the penguins, mutton birds, our friends and Phillip Island.

Ahead lies warmth, the mighty Maranoa River, and our friends and community in Mitchell.

For the duration of our trip, which we estimate to take about one week, I will not be writing this blog. I will begin again as soon as we arrive in Mitchell. I predict I'll have lots to say about changed conditions in Mitchell -- my first impressions after the devastating flood in early February.

Meanwhile take good care of yourselves and I look forward to being in touch again, very soon.

Snakes, sand flies and stumpy-tailed lizards

Athol, who lives on the outskirts of Mitchell and is very generously looking after Doug's 1940 Plymouth sedan, has been visited by an unusual number of snakes. This past week he's found and killed (because of the risk of his dogs being bitten) four large highly venomous King brown snakes -- all in his garden.

Athol's daughter found a 7 to 8 foot long King brown snake basking on her verandah, the biggest Athol has ever seen. It seems that the flood waters of the Maranoa River have caused snakes to be out and about, and on the move.

Our friend and neighbour Richard offers a free and immediate snake removal service in and around Mitchell. Richard prefers to see snakes caught and relocated into bushland, rather than be killed.

With reptiles on my mind, and the temperature hovering around 34°C here on Phillip Island, I'd like to give you an update about Stego, my 41-year-old pet stumpy-tailed lizard.

Stego and I share a love of sunshine and consider a temperature of about 26°C to be ideal. As far as food is concerned though, our tastes differ. Stego loves garden snails, Whiskers cat food (but not of the fish variety) and very ripe bananas.

Hard shiny scales protect him from the sand flies that are currently swarming in the green grass of our garden. These sandflies are a huge problem for our dogs, but not Stego.

With an eccentric yet sensitive personality, my stumpy-tailed lizard is a true survivor.

High-power flood clean-up: Mitchell QLD

Now I've shown you the damage done to our home and property by the flood of the Maranoa River in Mitchell, around 3 February 2012, I thought I'd give you a snapshot of the clean up, with the last of the depressing photos.

There are no photos of the many friends, neighbours and council workers who helped Doug, but there are some of the RACQ Disaster team in action, and also the army carrying out rolls of sodden mud-filled carpet. The RACQ (Royal Auto Club of Queensland) team, dressed in yellow vests, carted out all the wrecked furniture and belongings, and then high-pressure hosed and swept out the interior of the house.

Bully Harrison knocked over the remains of the front fence and took it away. Thanks, Bully.

As I've mentioned, our caravan is a write-off so we're now in the process of trying to purchase another, large enough to live in for at least one year -- while we rebuild.

Doug's 1940 Plymouth sedan is now with Athol, a fellow car enthusiast and friend who lives in Mitchell. It's been very badly damaged.

I'll include a view from the house to the river. Formerly we couldn't see the river because of the dense vegetation growing alongside. Huge river red gums, as well as other eucalypts, acacias and shrubs lined the river. Most of these were swept away, such was the force of the water flowing down the Maranoa River, the fastest flowing river in Queensland.

My aim, in showing you the last of these flood damage photos, has not been one of self-pity. On the contrary, Doug and I realise we're fortunate to have a home on Phillip Island, and also to be insured. With 80 per cent of the town suffering the after-effects of severe flood damage, Mitchell is hurting. We hurt in sympathy and understanding.

Our daily contact with friends and neighbours keeps us in touch. Mosquitoes, sand flies, snakes and temperatures in the high 30s C make the clean-up difficult. Many people are feeling depressed, overwhelmed, exhausted, frustrated by government departments and insurance companies; and yes, fearful too, in case further floods occur.

I'll continue to keep you in touch with Mitchell (though from distant Phillip Island) -- but there will be no more depressing photos.

Pets, clothes and 'stuff': Mitchell floods

When evacuation orders are given (in case of flood or fire), people's pet animals are the reason why some people refuse to leave.

Regular readers of my blog will remember John the horse whisperer and his horse Honey. John, now in his 80s, decided to stay in his home, with Honey safely indoors. Fortunately the flood waters missed coming inside by less than 1 inch.

One of our other neighbours returned to their home to find waist deep water, but their caged birds safe, and their cats high and dry but calling urgently from the top of trees and the roof.

There are many other stories of dogs, cats and birds in evacuation centres. Many of these stories are touching.

Nearly all my clothes were either wet, smelly or stained so my wonderful friend Heather offered to pack up my wardrobe and take everything home to her place to wash, dry and fold ready for storage. What an angel!

Until now I hadn't realised how personal and intimate clothes are to me, and what a comfort it is to know that a close friend has taken on the responsibility of them. Knowing Heather's generosity and quiet efficient manner, I feel humble and extremely grateful.

While Heather packed all my clothes and personal things, Doug and Heather's husband Bob packed all our paintings, books and anything else able to be saved. Everything able to be saved was loaded onto Bob's truck and taken to a storage unit in the Mitchell's industrial estate.

Out on the verandah, Doug and Bob hosed down tables and chairs, metal bookshelves and office furniture.

PS
Today's photos were taken prior to the flood.

You can see Katie's favourite place to sit in the sun, overlooking the Maranoa River. Water went over her bed, and also over the front fence, which was knocked over.

John and his horse Honey remain a Mitchell identity.

The photo of our kitchen shows the benches which went under water. Both refrigerators were knocked over.

Even worse than expected: Mitchell, Qld

Things are even worse than we expected. There has been chest-high water throughout the entire house and over our land.

The inside of the house looks like it's been trashed. The two fridges have been knocked over, along with tables and chairs. Cupboards have burst open, spilling their contents onto the floor. Mattresses came off beds and jammed against doors. Apparently, the pressure of flood water inside a house builds up and is so great that things crash around.

On the other hand, my manuscript about Saint Francis and his gift with animals was a finger's space above water level -- so it is safe! As far as I was concerned this was the most important thing in the house. Money can't buy a manuscript that involved a pilgrimage to Assisi and 12 months of work. When Doug returns from Mitchell I'll resume my rewriting of the book and hopefully get it published. It's a book I feel passionate about, and although it's about a saint, it's not a religious book as such -- it's a book about a man who possessed an extraordinary gift with animals.

Our marimba and electronic keyboard went under. In the bedroom, the water went above dressing table height. Bedding and linen that I'd wrapped in sheets and placed on top of tables (to guard against flood and mouse damage) is soaked through with stinking water. The newly renovated bathroom is wrecked.

The caravan that Doug built had water over the beds and is a write-off, along with his lathe and 90 per cent of his tools. Our dinghy floated off its trailer and went on a journey across the block. Doug's 1940 Plymouth had water over the steering wheel. Our Ford station wagon is a write-off.

All the new tree plantations Doug planted and fenced are wrecked, likewise his vegetable gardens. The solar panels and switchboard are undamaged.

Stego lizard's house is so full of mud it can't be lifted. But there are some things to be pleased about. My olive tree, our three lemon-scented gums that Doug grew from seed, and our bush orchids have survived. Likewise a bottle tree and a few other trees.

This morning I spoke to Doug on the phone and he's exhausted through lack of sleep and worry. He's also feeling low. Today Heather and Bob will help Doug pack up anything not water damaged and take them to a storage unit in the industrial estate. There will not be much, but at least we have paintings, clothes and some books.

Over the past few days we have been shown countless times why it is that we've chosen to live in Mitchell. It's the people and the community that make Mitchell so unique.

The outback creates generous-hearted, salt of the earth people who care for others and are resilient, creative and kind. Even though we've lost our home in Mitchell we want to stay and rebuild, for where else would we feel so much at home?

But at this precise moment everything seems too hard!

PS
These photos were taken prior to the floods. One shows the 3 lemon-scented gums we grew from seed -- prior to flooding. They have survived! Along with my St Francis manuscript these trees are precious.

The water went higher than the fences and gates shown in the photos, and much higher than the windows in the house.

In an emergency, live in the moment: outback Qld

The art of relaxation in times of crisis is an almost impossible thing to achieve. We all need to be aware, however, of our own individual levels of stress and how to manage them.

For me, I find myself unable to sit still; find myself overreacting to the smallest stresses of life here on Phillip Island. For instance -- and as a direct result of my stress -- Katie Siamese vomited up her breakfast in four places throughout the house, and then half an hour later Del 'threw up' in two places in the lounge room.

We are told that in order to deal with worry and negative anticipation about the future, we should live in the moment and remind ourselves of all the good things in life. Easier said than done, as I clean up vomit and think of Doug opening up our home in Mitchell to be greeted by the debris left behind after water has been over the top of tables! It's not going to be a pleasant sight and I feel for him and all our neighbours and friends.

My problem is that I empathise too readily (for my own well-being) with other people. I have to remind myself that the best way I can help Doug is to look after my own health and everything else here on the island.

A phone call at midday told me the good and the bad. Everyone in Mitchell is pulling together, helping and offering support. We have friends and neighbours who care and who are helping Doug deal with the mess.

Taking photos of absolutely everything was Doug's first task, along with making a written record of the damage. But things are much, much worse than we expected. I'll give you details tomorrow, but in short, chest height water has gone through our home, leaving a tangle of debris, mud and smell. Doug says it looks like someone has trashed the place!

Maintaining a sense of humour is possible in a disaster situation, and laughter definitely reduces stress. But many people are in shock and feel numb inside. Financial hardship, along with the loss of their home may feel too hard to bear. Around 300 homes have been flooded in Mitchell. My heart goes out to everyone affected by the floods.

PS
Today's photo shows the boardwalk to 'our' beach. I'm not going to walk to the beach with Doug away because two large German shepherds and a flight of steps would be asking for trouble with my hernia situation. We don't need another emergency unfolding here.

So I will enjoy the view from the house, and the dogs have ample exercise chasing rabbits around our garden.

Homesick for the outback: Phillip Island

We've being back on the island for four days: everything is unpacked, washed and organised for the summer. So what's next?

After all the hype of packing up our Mitchell home, travelling south to Phillip Island, and setting up our island home, I feel a strange sense of lethargy settling upon me. Why? I ask myself.

My guitar is out on the back verandah where we get morning sun, and I've played, having not touched it for seven months. I'm surprised I can still remember the notes and tunes, even though a bit rusty. Del and Major have their beds on the verandah and seem to enjoy hearing me play music. While in Mitchell our weekly marimba lesson and daily practice kept my musical needs fully satisfied. So now it's my guitar.

Regarding my writing, I've e-mailed a publisher regarding my latest children's story The Warning; and my adult memoir Robin's Double Life. It's a waiting game getting published, and it's also a case of being persistent and never giving up!

My daily blog keeps me focused on the here and now and lets me share with you, my loyal readers, life as I see it.

The sea view from our living room is blue and sunny today, yet I feel a strange tug of homesickness for outback Queensland with its space, warmth and community. On the other hand, we've heard that the power's been off for two nights running in Mitchell and there's been over 6 inches of rain in the last 3 days.

Today's maximum temperature on the island is 20°C and for me that feels cold after Mitchell's 35°C. Hopefully I'll acclimatise soon and settle back into life on this beautiful island, so rich in wildlife.

Bonus Downs: Mitchell Qld

On the weekend of 22, 23 October 2011, Bonus Downs (located 46 km from Mitchell, and 630 km west of Brisbane) celebrated its centenary -- in style!

Bonus Downs is a cattle property of 13,380 ha that was selected in 1860 and now runs a tourism enterprise as well as cattle. Madonna and Lyle Connolly offer guests the opportunity to see how early pioneers lived and worked. In addition, they share their stand of rare ooline trees: about 80 ha grow at Bonus Downs.

Built in 1911 by innovative pastoralist and philanthropist Sir Samuel McCaughey, the homestead of 60 squares is designed for coolness, comfort and elegance. It's a fine example of Queensland architecture.

The homestead has a long hallway, 14 rooms and wide verandas. There are tasteful furnishings, antiques and memorabilia -- most of which were handed down from Lyle's grandmother.

Restoring the homestead to its original condition was a labour of love for the Connollys. When Lyle and Madonna and their two young children purchased Bonus Downs, in 1990, it was run-down and neglected with peeling paint, rotting stumps and weatherboards, and an overgrown garden. Since then, they've restored the homestead, outbuildings and tennis court, added a pool and created spacious lawns and gardens.

Bonus Downs offers farm stay accommodation in the jackaroo's cottage and shearing shed. Alongside is a large dining hall that is decorated with interesting historical photos, bits and pieces from the past and natural heritage posters. At Bonus Downs, guests receive warm hospitality and a memorable Australian outback experience.

So much happened throughout the weekend of celebrations, that I plan a series of 4 blogs (and lots of photographs) to cover the Centenary Celebrations at Bonus Downs.

PS

The 2 paintings: one is of Bonus Downs and the other is Lyle Connolly.

Blue wrens put on a stage performance

Outside our kitchen window -- in the shrubbery shown in the photo -- a group of wrens are squabbling about territory and mates. This is better than any TV show.

Yesterday we watched a female superb fairy wren trying to seduce a stunning blue male. She pecked him seductively, and then backed up to him, begging to be mated. But he didn't do it!

Other wrens (superb fairy wrens and also variegated fairy wrens) see themselves reflected in the window glass and attack and scold the perceived intruder -- giving us a grand performance. We hope that before long we'll see wrens nesting here where we can watch their development and marvel at their dainty beauty.

This morning I had my friends Sandi, Eve and Angi here for morning tea and a stage show put on by our family of wrens. Several honeyeaters, a Willy wagtail and a restless flycatcher added to the birds we saw while sharing a pot of tea -- and all from our eating area. On our way out to the car, we stopped to admire my bush orchid which was bathed in the brilliant sunshine of October in outback Queensland.

Conversation that's interesting and challenging

We've never felt the need to go 'over the top' with birthday celebrations; however, it is pleasing to mark the occasion in some way. People living close to relatives usually celebrate with their family, but for those of us who don't, friends are all important.

Richard -- who's both a close friend and neighbour -- celebrated his birthday on Friday with Doug, me and our combined dogs; and then again today with a group of friends. Richard is the sort of person who has the gift of making people feel good about themselves.

Always we enjoy challenging and interesting conversations with Richard. Always I'm uplifted by his mighty laugh.