We had to make sure that our buddy was never left alone in a vulnerable position. To be certain that they didn't get lost and to know that they got home safely from the restaurant/pub/club/casino/shopping etc etc. It was just about looking out for each other.
The buddy system worked very well for the majority of us. It almost didn't work for a couple of us. It turned out to be a good idea.
The four days were filled with so much walking! I should have taken my pedometer. We must have walked at least 5 kms each day. It was more than a kilometre to the Myer Centre and the Queen St shopping area from our rooms. Then add the 4 or 5 hours of walking while we were shopping.
Obviously, we all did a LOT of shopping.
I bought a medium sized suitcase (because we only have a small and a large) and I filled the small suitcase and put it inside the medium suitcase, then filled all around the outside of the small one with my stuff. I was able to fit everything in, except for the tripod that I had bought and a shoebox with some bits and pieces in it. Those things went with one of the girls who had driven to Brisbane, but she won't be home til later in the week.
The Southbank market was my biggest success for shopping. It was in the last day.
One thing I know for sure .. I'm not happy about the current fashions. They don't suit my body type and the shops don't sell anything BUT that style! I was searching for a certain style of clothing, which was obviously in fashion last season, but totally NOT any more.
The weekend, except for the first night, was a huge success as far as food is concerned. There were two of us who require a gluten free diet and the restaurants provided delicious GF options. The Marriot, where we had breakfast each morning, had one whole fridge full of GF breakfast options, plus GF bread and separate toaster to toast it. Lots of fresh fruit and plenty of hot food like poached eggs, mushroom, tomato, bacon as well.
We were very happy with our meals.
There were lots of laughs to be had. A few deep and meaningful conversations. Story telling. Advice offered. Tornado experiences to share. A few bottles of wine consumed. Plenty of photos taken. Bargains bought.
It was agreed that what happens on the girlie trip, stays on the girlie trip!! (Do we think that Adoring Husband will read this and wonder what we might be hiding????)
The weekend helped me forget, for just a little while, the stresses associated with our disaster. It was nice to relax and unwind and I think we all had a good time.
Some photos from the trip ...
There has been terrible weather in Brisbane since we left, and terrible weather here and also on the Sunny Coast.
Eight water spouts off Bundaberg yesterday, one of which hit land and took some tiles off the Surf Life Savers Clubhouse. This adds to my already intense paranoia. Our rain has been hitting us in short, sharp, heavy bursts. So heavy that we can hear it coming and the noise is similar to the tornado as it approached.
It puts me on edge and I am ready to run every time.
They say that the effects of a disaster don't usually hit people until 6 weeks after the event. We still have a week or so to go. I can almost physically feel it building inside me.
It must be frustrating for people who haven't experienced this to listen to me constantly harping on about the weather and checking the Bureau of Meteorology radar and being so paranoid about every breath of wind.
I know that there has been a big shift in my empathy and sympathy for people who experience this kind of disaster. My heart skips a beat every time they show the damage from the tornado that hit Kiama in NSW and I feel so deeply for all of those people.
Their homes weren't built for cyclonic conditions and so they were easily destroyed by the tornado. How hellish that must have been for them! Imagine feeling your house falling apart around you. Imagine the feeling of being sucked up a stair well (as one woman experienced). Their nightmares will be worse than any of mine.
Today, I am grateful that I live in an area that legally requires our homes to be built to withstand certain wind conditions. It means that we were safer during our weather 'event' and the damage much less severe than others down south.
Now if only we can get it repaired quickly to that same high safety level!!
Nite all.
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