Aftermath to Yasi

Thank you so much to everyone who has sent us their thoughts and wishes over this difficult week - this has meant so much to us.  Minutes after I last posted we lost our power which has only just been restored to us over two days later so we have had no internet and much of the time no phone communication.

While the cyclone blew its way through our home area I sat up in bed with earphones listening to the coverage on our local radio and believe it or not I was actually doing some hand piecing.  Things crashed on the roof and I could hear branches breaking but outside it was completely black so there was nothing to be seen.  Peter, as usual, slept through the whole wild night mainly because he was absolutely exhausted from all the preparation beforehand.  I don't know how many times he got up on the roof doing things like tying down whirlybirds, taking down the big sail over the courtyard and checking guttering.

In the morning we surveyed the grounds and found lots of trees and foliage down and there were a lot of fences in the vicinity that didn't survive.  The Regional Council did a wonderful job and had all the roads cleared of debris by mid morning so we went in to town to check the shop as we had heard there was some minor damage - flying debris through one of the side doors and a panel off the front facade.  We were relieved as things could have been a lot worse.

Cairns Craft Centre

While we were out there was a nasty electrical storm which absolutely deluged the city with rain and we got home to find our back enclosed verandah absolutely awash with water.  The gutters were clogged with leaves from the previous night and the overflow gushed in the windows so I spent the rest of the day with buckets and mops.

The cyclone had crossed the coast a bit further south than forecasted so Cairns didn't suffer the storm surge that was predicted.  Local experts had told us that we only needed to fear it if the eye of the cyclone passed to the North of us.  We feel for the people of Cardwell and Tully and surrounds who copped the cyclone's eye.  There has been a lot of rain and electrical storms over the last two days which didn't help the recovery workers

This phone shows our couryard next to the Studio looking very bare prepared ready for the cyclone -

Our cleared courtyard outside the Studio

and even my precious little yellow car was wrapped up in case of flying debris as there is a space between one side of our garage and the fence

The last couple of days have been difficult in the tropical heat and humidity without airconditioning and overhead fans and I couldn't believe how much I missed stitching in front of the television.  We have had a generator to keep our fridges cold and other necessities but it is wonderful to have the power operating again.  The shop power came on about mid afternoon and it will open for business tomorrow after having been closed since lunch time Tuesday.  By Monday our town will be well and truly open for business with most things operating normally again.

Thank you again for all the lovely comments, emails and phone calls we have received.

Till next time

Frances