Camping

Friday night we went camping.  Camping in the easiest possible way.  We went camping by the creek near the house.  It is perfect because if you forget something you can get it in seconds.  Plus if the kids need a toilet you can drive them up the driveway and know they are OK.  Levi had his mate Ty over and Pam, my friend from work helped me.  We camped on very soft ground that only a few days ago was a fluidized bed and a few days before that was under water by several metres.  It is safe enough there and we had already tested to see if the boys could climb up the hill in an emergency.  It was very dirty though and you can see by Levi's sweaty, muddy face that mud got everywhere. 

The boys ran around like mad things getting firewood and rocks to make a fire pit.  We grilled sausages and roasted marshmallows on sticks.  Then we tried to put them to bed.  They played and giggled for about an hour before they finally collapsed into slumber. 

The next morning they woke at the crack of '.  Actually it wasn't that bad.  It was about 6am.  There was no leisurely waking though; as soon as their eyes opened they were up and out of the tent to collect wood and climb hills and trees again!

Since I have been home, the flood waters have gradually receded and left the city scoured clean in areas and covered in mud in others.  It is awe inspiring to see the power of the water itself.  Huge swathes of cliff face have been sheared from the side of the roads, and there are gaping holes in roads and bridges, many of which are still closed.  There was just so much water.  There still is.  Our creek looks different now.  The course has changed a little and where there were two channels with a little island of rocks and trees in the centre, there is now a single watercourse, deeper than before, with rocks clean of any algae.  It is impressive that so much can change so quickly.  There are many people in Brisbane who will take weather reports more seriously now.