Mothers' Day

It was Mothers' day here on Sunday. As we are here for now we have abandoned English Mothers day and just celebrate it when Australia celebrates.

As it was my day it was my choice of what to do, so after church we headed north on the coast road to 4 mile beach at Port Douglas. The nets are still out in the sea as it is still stinger season and the  risk of stingers on Sunday was moderate.I would much rather it was low or nil, but what can you do!  I recently watched ' the Deadly 60' which mentioned that the box jellyfish is the most venomous marine animal known to mankind. Not very reassuring when the waters here are full of them. It's the first time we have swum in the nets and in my opinion they should just leave them out all year. Apart from protecting your children from the lethal box jelly fish, fairly useful, it makes it much easier to spot your children in a contained area and it stops them drifting down the coast or out to sea. I wasn't totally reassured by the nets as the waves came crashing over the back. Can the jelly fish wash over in a wave, I'm not sure? Some of the locals won't even swim in the nets.

We had such a nice day on Sunday, Ruben was a bit sad when we dropped everybody off at school on Monday. "Mummy, I love my everybodies", he said in a sad voice. " I love my Josh, I love my Boo, I love my Calebi, me not hit them anymore" We will see!

Joshua's camp

Joshua went on camp with school last week. He said it was the best camp he'd ever been on! I was helping him pack before he left and reminding him to wear his hat, drink water and put on sun screen, when he said to me, "mum you've forgotten something on the list". I replied in earnest, "what" (Of course being the over protective, neurotic mum I am, I wouldn't want my dear son to go to camp without something vital). "The bubble wrap", he said with a smile! However, I did feel smug when he came back, the only kid not to have got sunburnt!

Easter pictures

Swimming at the rocks

 A vintage car show

Eating 'fairy floss' (the Australian term)

Swimming at the lagoon 

With friends

Sugar

On Easter Monday we went with friends to a  water park called Sugar world.

Even for me, it's history is quite interesting. Sugar world is in a suburb of Cairns called Edmonton which is an old sugar milling town. The area where the park is, is called Hambledon  after the nearby Hambledon sugar plantation and mill. (I am getting to the interesting bit.) The area was identified by a biscuit manufacturer, Thomas Swallow, in 1880 as a suitable place to produce sugar. Thomas Swallow was born in Reading, England, near Hambledon. (for those of you who don't know, that's where I grew up).

Thomas Swallow

 The Hambledon plantation

Ruben next to the old cane train at the park

Cairns

Not sure if I've put many pictures of Cairns on the blog before. It's a very hilly place, and from almost any point you can see hills.

'Downtown' Cairns is by the sea. (The Coral sea)

The airport is also parallel to the sea.

Many of the suburbs are separated by hills. The above picture shows the drive to school, roughly from the top right of the picture to the middle right. 

This photo shows our suburb. Our house is just behind the bush on the left.

Post Cyclone

Well, the cyclone made landfall further north of us in a fairly unpopulated area. However it has continued its rampage across Australia north-westwards and hit Arnhem land. That's the second cyclone to hit Arnhem land in a matter of weeks. We have only a month to go before cyclone season ends, so that might be it for now, at least until November!!

I was back at the doctors this week with Caleb and Ruben. All was going well until Thursday when I picked Caleb up from school and found he could hardly breathe. Took him straight to the doctors and left armed with antibiotics and inhalers and then Friday Ruben went down with the same thing. The doctors weren't sure what it was, probably a virus, probably not asthma. Ruben saw a different doctor and ended up with steroids and inhalers. A few days and lots of puffs later, they seem fine again. I am getting to know the doctors and the pharmacists here quite well. The healthcare service here in Australia is quite complicated but it seems to work quite well. You can register with any doctor you like or more than one. Healthcare is free for all  children under 16, but adults have to pay. Well sometimes you pay and sometimes you don't, I haven't really worked it out. Anyway what counts is that it is easy to see a doctor. Good job really as Joshua has just come in to show me he has been bitten by the neighbours dog!!-sigh!

Here are a few photos take in the last week. Two pictures of our gardener (he needs to work on the weeding) and one of Bethany in the front garden.  The spider and frog were at the park and the rainbow at school.

The quiet before the storm

I'd never really thought about that phrase, 'the quiet before the storm', before, but how true it is before a cyclone. The last couple of days have been beautiful sunny days, but we know out there in the Coral sea is a cyclone heading for us. As it approaches the coast the storm will hit and the beautiful sunshine will be a memory as it is replaced by grey skies, torrential rain and wind.




Tropical cyclone Nathan was approaching the Queensland coast last week when it did a u-turn and went back out to sea. Now it has 'regrouped' and has turned round again and is heading straight back for us. It is difficult to predict the exact track of the cyclone, so until it is closer they won't be able to tell exactly where it will make landfall. On the TV they run loads of commercials asking "are you ready for cyclone season'? The answer is, not really.  Now the cyclone is coming everybody is scrabbling around making sure they've got their cyclone kit ready, fuel in their cars, cash, and stocking up on food.

According to the 'Get Ready Queensland website, here's what you need in an emergency kit.'

CHECKLIST

	a - fresh water for three days
	b - three days worth of non-perishable food and can opener
	c - first aid kit
	d - portable radio
	e - torch
	f - sturdy gloves
	g - spare batteries for radio, torch and mobile phone
	h - essential medication
	i - mobile phone and charger
	j - important documents in sealed bags + cash
	k - baby formula + nappies
	l - waterproof bags
	m - toiletries

Include items you'd need for at least three days in case of disruption to essential services such as power and water supplies. Also, include the equipment you'll need to prepare meals with no power.

Keep your kit in a waterproof storage container and store in an easy to access location. Check your kit every three months to stock up and rotate supplies to ensure provisions are fresh and safe to use.

and this is what to do in a cyclone.

When you hear a cyclone warning and it is safe to shelter in place:

• activate your Emergency Plan
• turn off all mains supply and unplug all appliances
• bring your family into the strongest part of the house (usually the smallest room in the house with the least windows)
• keep your Emergency Kit close at hand
• stay tuned into warnings via battery radio for updates
• stay away from glass windows and remain indoors until advised
• if the building begins to break up, immediately seek shelter under a strong table or bench or under a heavy mattress.

Beware the calm eye of the cyclone

Some people venture outdoors during the eye of a cyclone, mistakenly believing that the cyclone has passed. Stay inside until you have received official advice that it is safe to go outside.