A Brighter Week

Well after last week, we have had a much happier and less worrisome week. The clean up effort after the floods has been amazing. So many willing volunteers as well as tradies giving up their time for free. It is amazing how they have cleaned out and dismantled the inside of houses so that only the shell remains and now they are on to rebuilding. Whilst the city has miles to go to recover the signs are promising and very positive.
Craig has been working, working, working. It will be good to have him home this weekend. We did have a lovely BBQ at one of his work friend's home last Saturday evening. Very impromptu and relaxed considering it was very difficult to access food due to the lack of it caused by the floods.
We spent a wonderful Sunday at Petrina's parents' place on the north side of Brisbane. They have a beautiful home with land around them for the children to play and it was so good of them to include Penny, Nick and myself in their family lunch. My good friend, Petrina and her family from Bundaberg were on their way home from a NSW holiday and it was great to catch up. The children even had a ride on a motorbike. Penny was the first to put up her hand for a turn, She is turning into such a thrill seeker.
The children attended intensive swimming lessons this week at the local pool which they enjoyed, especially the play before and after in the various fun pools and slides. I even made a new friend who I hope to catch up with for a coffee when the children return to school.
We picked up the kid's uniforms on Wednesday and they are very bright and will look lovely. Penny tells me she is excited about starting Prep and Nick is looking forward to making some new friends. We found their classrooms which weren't flooded but plenty of work is going on to ready the flooded classrooms for the end of the first week. Unfortunately the ovals and swimming pool were inundated with muddy water so play is restricted and the pool will be out of action for the first term.
Alex and Lachlan (cousins) came over for lunch and a play yesterday afternoon which the kids loved. They all have such fun together.
Today we are awaiting the arrival of good friends from Bundaberg (Jason, Shane, Zarlee and Locklin) to spend the weekend with us. After storms and heavy rain all week, we have a beautiful sunny afternoon - perfect conditions for a champers and nibblies on the deck. Nick and Penny are beside themselves with excitement in anticipation of their arrival.

Well this is a very long post and hopefully you are still with me. A post is much more interesting when there are photos which I have been very slack on taking but I did do some scrapping in the week prior to the flood so here are the LO's. They're a little simple but I figure that is the only way I am going to catch up.
Schools back in on Monday so I'll return with some first day photos then.
Also a  big get well soon to my sister, Robyn and her partner, Ian who are battling a nasty virus ATM.
Have a lovely weekend.
Rach xxx