rma's Guestbook

Ah Africa
Hi Roslyn I'm a friend of linese she gave me your link because I love Africa (spent 2 years over there) Great read thanks so much. Judy

Dogon Rugs
I am soooo jealous. What a wonderful experience. I am curious as to how the Dogon dye the rugs they make with mud and end up with such strong colours???? Could you please find out for me Ros? Are the mud dyes fixed or do the colours run? If fixed - how? Love Merri

Dogon country
Dear Roslyn, I'm not sure I should show this to Doug. It looks magical and he gets itchy feet easily where as I don't thnk i could make it. have you heard about QLD's floods? Mind blowing.

Love from Toowoomba. xx
Fabulous!

Wow, what stunning countryside. Would you like some water there? We have had plenty in Queensland

Qld flood event
Well, life doesn't really go on as usual here today. To quote some figures - 75% of Queensland is declared a "Flood Disiaster Zone". From Cairns to Coffs Harbour there isn't a low lying area that hasn't been flooded. On the 10Jan Toowoomba was hit by what was described as an "Inland Tsunami" I have recorded images of a car being swept past Repco in Toowoomba an what is at least a 6 foot swell. The water left one of the main streets (where Rowes shop is) a sea of mud, broken glass and furniture. There are so many images of cars being crushed up against drains, houses being swept away etc. There is footage of a young family on the roof of a car and when the rescue chopper got back to them it was gone. It all hit so quickly - within 10min I believe - that people have had no chance. From Toowoomba the water wiped out parts of Murphy's Creek and all of Grantham. At present there are 10 confirmed dead with a further 90 missing. From Grantham the water headed to Forest Hill and Gatton. Forest hill was evacuated last night along with parts of Gatton. The Warrego was cut in 8 places between Toowoomba and Gatton. I have a furry photo of the Minden Crossroads under a kilometre wide lake. The water also headed west with Dalby going under for the fifth time in two weeks with further flooding as far west as Charleville. The problem has been the relentless rain. It started in early December as you know but really hasn't let up. From 4jan to yesterday morning we had 245mm with a further 360 - yep 360mm yesterday. Since early December we have had 943mm - and we missed a lot of what the rest of Queensland got. Ironically today the sun is shining but it is far from over. With all the water already in the system and trying to make its way out to sea everything downstream from Toowoomba will be inundated. Ipswich is expecting 30% of the city to go under by 11am. To add to the problem Wivenhoe - which is designed to hold at 60% is now at 180% and will have to release more than it has been. That will add to the surge that is headed for Brisbane. It is predicted that it will be worse than the 74 floods. From a personal point of view we are all safe and well albiet going nowhere in a hurry. There are many sad stories and a local one as well. A 4 year old drowned in Marburg last night whilst being rescued by the Fire and Rescue. He fell out of a boat - and I am guessing as further detail is not yet to hand - that the flow of water was too great for him. Today as rescue teams can get into Grantham they will have the gruesome task of finding those who did not make it out. This is indeed a weather event that will go down in the history books. I am presuming the insurance companies will need some shoring up as the claims will be in the billions. As soon as I can I will head to Toowoomba to check out your house and let you know how things are. It probably won't be for a couple of days yet! Rosewood is still cut off and will be for another couple of days. Sharon couldn't get to work yesterday but has gone down today to see what can be done. There will be no deliveries and probably panic buying - people don't seem to be able to see more than a couple of days ahead. On a lighter note - you seem to be having a good time and the blogs are great to receive. Great to speak with Michael yesterday. Stay safe and we look forward to seeing you in March. Mike - Warwick is under at present - along with the rest of Queensland - so I don't know if or when we will get to the track. Lots of love The (wet) Queensland Amissssssssssssssssssssss

G'day from soggy Australia
G'day Mike and Ros. Sounds like you are enjoying your holiday even though you have been luggaeless - better to be legless - and jet lagged. Mali seems to be an interesting place although I must admit it doesn't spring to mind as the first place I would choose to visit! Christmas Day was a fun affair. All adults with a day long Wii tournment combined with bubbly, beer and much too much food. Marilyn was a laugh and she enjoyed the day. The rain finally stopped about the 29Dec and then the sun came out - boy talk about humidity. It has been raining off and on since but nothing like the days over Christmas. Life , once again goes on as normal. Doug, Courtney and a heap of other friends went to Noosa to celebrate to New Year and came back yesterday. Em is settled into her new flat and we have your table back with us. The dining area is quite large so she now has our old dining room table and two of our chairs. Molly moves out to Grace on 19Feb and is looking forward to it. On the karting front we are still waiting for the track to open so we can start testing for 2011. The rain up here has gone temporarily - thank goodness. We had 180mm in 4 days and that was after all the rain we had before you left. As you can imagine flooding has been widespread and the feeling is that some people - particularly around Emerald I think - will not get back into their homes for about 3 months. Maybe people will start to realise why Queensland homes are on stumps - not slabs. There are more rain periods forecast right up to March so it could get interesting. The sun is out now but the humidity is through the roof. It will make for interesting jetting decisions. We have started a bit of spring? cleaning around the house with the trailer backed up to the back steps. It is half full already with another pile for the salvos. It is amazing what you accumulate over the years. I am not sure when you will get this but continue enjoying yourselves and be safe. Love The Queensland Amisssssssssssss

Mick and Roz
Did you get your luggage back or is it now a donation to some rebel tribe elsewhere than where you intended it to be??

Ros's first blog
Hi Ros, Great to get your first blog of this trip. Haven't been to WA but will be pressuring Russ to consider returning there - looks wonderful. Hope you have a bloody fantastic Christmas!!!!! Can't wait to read your next blog. Merri

The adventure begins!
Wonderful to read your blog! And the photos are great.... The new technology seems to be working well. Keep well, have fun (and a white wine for me) and have a truly wonderful Christmas. Love Linny xx

last 2 weeks there
Your photos are fabulous Ros, will you and Michael go back again next year, or will you have another adventure somewhere else? Tina

Beeryooty
Nice to hear from you again. Glad to see you both are having a good time. Nothing 's changed here, not even my socks.