The clouds have been gathering and the winds whipping up into a frenzy.  New Zealand is going to be hit by the tail end of the weather front that has caused such destruction and tragedy in Queensland in the last week and caused cyclones over the Pacific Islands as they travelled across the Tasman.  If the weather forecasters are right we’ll get severe gales and a dumping of rain.

Watching coverage of the floods in Queensland makes you realise how fragile human life is.  We live under the illusion that our built environments are strong and will protect us but when that is tested by the worst that nature can throw at the world we invariably come off worse.  I’ve tried to imagine the anguish and pain that Queenslanders must be going through from the stories I’ve read and heard but to be honest it is too frightening to contemplate.  And if the wet wasn’t enough there are crocodiles, snakes and all manner of creepy crawlies to deal with too.

Life in Queensland has been changed for ever as a result of the devastation.  But nature has a way of healing itself and so do humans too.  A little like the Cantabrians who have faced the earthquake here in New Zealand last year, I’m sure the courage, tenacity and the Aussie spirit will see people through.