[Margaret Pilkington]

You are right Kate.......I hope that those people in Brazil and Sri Lanka will eventually get a better life as a result of the floods.....they are the really poor people....and deserve help.
Sometimes events like this focus your attention on how very lucky we are. And still we grumble!

It is going to take Brisbane quite a while to recover........and the folks there are going to be clearing up and doing without things for quite a bit yet. You tend to forget that things don't miraculously return to normal once the water has receded........food outlets like supermarkets cannot bring in stock because it has been contaminated by water.......the producers of goods are hampered, again because they cannot produce what is needed.......lots of small businesses will be in dire straits. The whole infrastructure of this lovely city has been compromised. It is going to take time.