Extraordinary weather, hard to believe so much grief up North (and Northern Vic for that matter, and even Southern Vic as I type and the rain pours down from the remnants of Yasi).

Despite so much loss of property and destruction, only one known fatality. Small comfort for those close to that unfortunate person, but at least most were spared.

Hard to think how people are going to get up and going again.

Im not sure that they do...


I look after a lot of Subway stores.. i had to go out to one after the flood to a small shopping centre that went completely under. Subway will be open again next week sometime, but i had to wonder why... the rest of the centre was pretty much deserted.. 5M of water wne through here and its screamingly obvious that many shop owners have just walked away from the businesses.
 No insurance for so many mean that they cannot restock and start again and so shops are still inundated with mud and abandoned - is really strange to see this... its just a ghost town of financial ruin.

Local pizza joint in another area went under - its now gone as has the bottle shop next to it... little pockets of local business left empty.
Times are real tough already for retail... this flood and wind damage just completely kills off any hope of continuing.
The brothel i look after on the other hand is already newly giprocked and almost ready to open with a bit of redesign... again no insurance but i guess business is good!