Ex-cyclone Oswald brought torrential rain yesterday, and widespread power failures across South-East Queensland. (It is much, much worse further North but we live in SEQ so this is personal experience.) We have had no power since yesterday evening, it is not likely to be restored before tomorrow afternoon at the earliest, and a major flood warning is in place for the Brisbane River for tomorrow and Wed, where major releases from Wivenhoe dam once again coincide with high tides. (A bit of déjà vu, that.)

We got up farcically early on a Bank Holiday to stock up on emergency supplies, as, it turned out, did everybody else. Torches, flashlights, LED lanterns, bottled water and petrol were all in short supply.

We drove carefully and sensibly past flooded roads and fallen trees.

Having (eventually) obtained everything we might need for two days without power, we returned home to prepare for the forecast thunderstorms and floods. This included charging our mobiles. with a newly-acquired car charger, and helping a neighbour take down a precarious tree in a controlled manner. Then we went to look at the river just outside our house.

This much space before the road floods.

Our house is fairly high up over a creek. High enough, we hope.