Tuesday 11 January 2011

It's Scary





This morning I went into the city and met my Aunty and Grandmother at Alla Moda.  My very fashion-forward grandmother has been having beautiful clothes tailor-made at Alla Moda for years.   I am heading away to a very cold climate in the coming weeks so I decided I would get a couple of things made as everything in store here right now is for Summer and certainly won't be appropriate.

Whilst I was selecting fabrics, a lady walked into the store and advised us that we needed to evacuate due to the flood.   I must say, it sent me into a bit of a panic.  We hurried into the car and left immediately.  As we drove through the Valley and New Farm, businesses were closing, people were sand bagging their properties and it was scary. 

 We are safe where we live, thank goodness {and thank you for your emails asking if we are okay}although I am a little worried about the shop.  I just hope everyone is going to be alright as this catastrophe is unfolding as I write this.  The waters of our river have broken the banks and now it is a waiting game.  On the way home I dropped into Woolworths to get a few things as my mother-in-law advised me to and I was not ready for what I saw.  I have never seen so many people in the grocery store before.  It was bedlam and there was no bread left.  I hope all of my fellow Brisbane bloggers, clients, readers and friends stay safe over the next few days as this drama unfolds.

xoxo
Anna

images taken today in brisbane via the age

69 comments:

Unknown said...

Anna, I have been thinking of you and praying for all QLDers, as I have been following the news from Sydney. Wishing you all to stay safe and dry.
Lilach xx

pve design said...

Anna,
you are in my thoughts. wish i could help.
so sad.
pve

Unknown said...

and the stuff that has happened in Toowoomba is frightening!
My niece lives in Brisbane and was sent home from work, she is putting as much up as possible and her unit is on the ground floor, not sure how badly she will be affected though.
We here on the north coast of NSW are also flood affected, no chance to stock up though we woke this morning to find we are cut off from our main town! Just as well I have plenty in the pantry and freezer!

Live Breathe Decor said...

Hi Anna,
Those of us in other states are all watching and praying that the rain stops and that this week is not as bad as the predictions say. It's terrifying to watch the scenes on tv and must be so much worse when in the thick of it. Hang in there Brisbane and my thoughts are with you! Hope the shop is ok too.
Naomi

Will @ Bright.Bazaar said...

I saw some shocking footage on the news last night, Anna, and I thought of you. I hope you and your family and friends are managing to stay safe. xo

Shell Sherree said...

Likewise to you, dear Anna. Touch wood, we should remain high and dry where I am {as will my family} but it's quite scary and so incredibly sad. I was a little girl in the 1974 floods and this seems to be bringing back a lot of those fearful memories. Wishing you and all here in Brisbane, Ipswich and all the flood ravaged areas to stay safe, above all. Everything else can be mended and made whole again.

Tiff said...

The situation is awful. Our roads are flooded, but we are safe thank god. It really makes you think about what is important in life... We all love our ''stuff" but is so insignificant compared to the value of people. You take care. X

Irene ~ RE~VINTAGED said...

Thank you for letting us know you are ok. Very glad to know you and your family are safe.

Jenny M said...

Glad to hear you are safe and I hope your shop stays dry. We live in Melbourne and tonight have been watching the coverage on tv of the horrible devastion that has hit Qld. So saddened to see people's lives taken & families losing their homes & livelihoods. I fear it is going to take Qld a long time to recover. I have followed your blog for a while, but I don't think I have left a comment before, just want to wish you, your family & friends all the best.

Jenny said...

Scary times indeed. Our power went off this afternoon but thankfully came back just now. Many roads around us are closed off. I too popped in to stock up on a few items but didn't have the bedlam you faced - crazy! ;-)

a beautiful space said...

Will say our prayers for you all. Sally-Ann x

Peta Rudd said...

I'm so glad to hear you are OK, Anna. The rest of Australia's thoughts are with everyone as we watch this unfolding from the security and warmth of our living rooms. It really makes you thankful for the most basic of things. Stay safe. xx

Anonymous said...

hope all is well Anna, its just such an awful situation - something we never dreamed would ever happen. Stay safe. Janet X

The Glam Lamb said...

my toughts are with you and hope you, your family, and friends are ok.

best,
Hallie

The enchanted home said...

Just saw the floods on CNN....horrible! I wish you luck and please stay safe. Our weather system seems so crazy in the last five years and so extreme. The scene out of the story looked surreal. Please take good care:)

Ness Lockyer said...

Oh Anna, stay safe and dry. Our thoughts are with you all up there dealing with this horrific flood.
Ness xx

Rebecca said...

hoping things stay dry for you! my workplace (radiology) is just down the hill from Black&Spiro and could most likely go under. isn't it crazy!
i guess right now keeping people safe is the priority. things can be replaced!

Faux Fuchsia said...

The panic shopping had to be seen to be believed.

Everyone looked really stressed.

I have my candles at the ready in case the power goes.

The CBD will have its power cut tomorrow.

I loathe floods. Everything is Dire.

Cindy @ a curious gardener said...

I am praying for you and all of Brisbane and any flood affected areas.

Shelley Herek said...

how terrible! Your in our thoughts and prayers.

Shelley

Mahala said...

My thoughts and prayers are with the people in this area of Australia. Wishing you the best possible outcome. Be safe!

Karena said...

Anna I am so sorry!! Please take care and be safe.

xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena

Habitually Chic said...

Anna, I just heard on the news this morning that the floods were heading to Brisbane and immediately, I thought of you. I hope you and your family stay safe and sound!

Razmataz said...

This is really awful Anna. It must very very frightening for everyone. I hope and pray that the waters recede and rains stop.

Natasha @ Northern Light Design said...

Sounds like what goes on here before a hurricane!!
Take good care of you and your family!

Northern Light

Erin said...

Yikes, Anna! Stay safe! And keep us posted!

a country wife said...

It's almost impossible to comprehend the devastation facing QLD, I hope you and all your family and friends are safe Anna xx

abigail said...

My thoughts are with you. I hope you and yours remain safe.

eliana said...

Hello!I'm from Brazil, and I'm a reader of your blog, which I love doing.My son lives and studies in Brisbane and your situation with all that water scared me, too. I've talked to him, he's well, at home.I hope this will pass, quickly.Yours is such a beautiful town!God bless you all in Brisbane.
Eliana,Brazil.

A Perfect Gray said...

thoughts and prayers are with you all...

alison said...

Dear Anna, I've come out of lurking (I pop into your blog every now and then to gaze at all the loveliness and hope that one day I can visit your shop) to say that I'm sending loads of bloggy well wishes to you and prayers and thoughts for all those in Queensland affected by the floods. Fingers crossed that you are safe and sound, well and dry. Alison xx

Sharon said...

I hope you and your family continue to be ok. And that your beautiful shop stays safe. Take care.

jj de sousa
Digs Inside & Out
www.digs-pdx.com
said...

YIKES!!! Sure hope everything works out well for you and your shop!

Luciane at HomeBunch.com said...

Anna,

I'm so sorry to hear this. Since I am in Canada I didn't know about this yet. I am grateful that you're ok, but I feel for the Australian people. You know, I always joke saying I am jealous of your pictures, because I wish I was in this gorgeous place instead of being freezing here in Canada, but the truth is, I'm starting to know many Australians that come to my blog and I just sad to hear this is happening to you all.

I'll be sending my positive energy/thoughts and prayers to you all and please, let us know how things are with you, ok?

xo

Luciane at HomeBunch.com

Loretta Fontaine (EcoHappy Blog) said...

Anna- We have been reading about the flooding in the newspapers here in New York. You and your countrymen are in our thoughts. Be well.

Loretta

Jessica said...

Oh no! Sending positive thoughts your way...

Tiffany from HOLIDAY said...

scary indeed! stay safe and dry! praying for all.

SnackQueen15 said...

I met you when I was in Brisbane last August. I am a friend of Patricia Van Essche. You and your family, along with my sister and her family are in our thoughts. I hope the flooding dies down soon!

Sue

Lavender said...

Good Luck. Stay Safe!

:)

Lavender said...

Good Luck and stay safe!

:)

MaryBeth said...

I live in Pennsylvania in the Northeast USA and every time they call for a snow storm our grocery stores look like that and the things that go are bread, milk and eggs. I always joke is everybody making french toast? A snow storm might keep us in our houses for a day or two but it always melts and everything gets plowed and we then go about our daily lives. What is happening in your part of the world does happen here in the US but just not near me. Life doesn't just go on the next day. Houses and possessions are gone, lives are lost and it happens in an instant. I hope you and all your family stay safe as well as all your local readers. xo, MB

Franziska San Pedro said...

I have just read about the flood here in the US , I hope you're doing fine and I hope that everyone else living in Brisbane will be ok. Thinking of you all,

Franziska

Elizabeth said...

Anna,
I hope that everything turned out all right with the flooding! I had to evacuate my home for Hurricane Katrina and lost it and ended up leaving my city for a year, so I understand your fear and you are in my thoughts!
-elizabeth (modern24seven.blogspot.com)

Alcira Molina-Ali said...

Oh my,

The news here Stateside doesn't sound too upbeat.
Do take care -- stay high and dry.
Cheers, Alcira

nerochronicles.com

Chelsea said...

stay safe!! prayers are with you!!

Rebecca said...

We hope the floods can be contained. It is so hard to read of the hardship your area of AU is having just now.
I wish I had some magic fairy dust to sprinkle on all the hardships your country is having.
As we farm for a living I am especially hurting for the farmers who after years of dry weather are being flooded.

Small Things Simple Pleasures said...

Hello Anna
Seems such a short time ago we were welcoming the rain. How quickly things can change. In the middle of it all, I'm launching a blog about the small moments of domestic loveliness. Strange times indeed.
Regards Vera x

Unknown said...

Oh my goodness ... How frightening! My prayers are with you all that you will be safe and feel a supernatural calm as you live through this period of unknown.

Glamour Drops said...

Such a huge scale of absolute horror and terror it is. My heart goes out to everyone in Queensland - so, so awful. And so many missing people - it is chilling to think what they have and are going through. I am glad to hear that your own home is obviously on high ground though. Keep safe.

Shaz said...

Thinking of you and sending many prayers. Stay safe. x

Unknown said...

We are with you thinking of you and hoping for the best!
May it pass soon and you stay safe!!!

xoxo Victoria

Sarah said...

Stay safe Anna, we have had reports of a mini-tsunami in Brisbane - hope you and your family are well and your shop too...xoxo

rumin said...

Hi Anna,
A quick comment from Tokyo that I hope you/your family and staff are all safe from the flooding and the water doesn't reach your lovely store ....bless...
Ruth

Paula said...

Wishing you and your family safe and dry with hopes that it won't be as bad as expected. Take care, Paula

Karen Wallace said...

Sending kind wishes for a good recovery. So awful. Warmly, Karen

Rashon Carraway said...

Certainly glad to hear that you are ok. I hope the shop will survive as well. You have my prayers.

Mr. Goodwill Hunting

Kyle, Kristie, and Anna Elizabeth Brown said...

Anna,

Our prayers are for Australia tonight. I found your blog about a year ago. Your style has been such an encouragement to me. Thank you for sharing!

Kristie Brown
Mobile, Alabama

HMB said...

stay safe - we are watching from the mid-north coast of NSW....Helen

Unknown said...

My son Kevin id in Brisbane . He lives in Fortitude Valley and seems to say things are still OK there. Good luck and be careful. Stay safe! Bon courage!

seedling said...

glad to hear you are safe, we have been watching on the news, terrible and scary. I just chanced upon your blog, hope you don't mind me sharing a link to it in my inspiration blog roll.

stay safe

Luxury Beach Escape said...

Your post just sent shivers down my spine and it's 27 degrees in Barwon Heads! I am glad to hear you and family are safe...you could always bake some bread now that you've had to close the store? x

Melissa @ The Inspired Room said...

Anna, take care of yourself! You are in my prayers!

la la Lovely said...

Anna- praying for you and you're family!
xo Trina

Unknown said...

I'm glad you are safe and hope you remain so!

URBAN BLONDE said...

I'm in Canada but have relatives near you. Have been pinned to the news all day.

We've just heard that there is flooding near your shop's location. Please know that we are sending positive thoughts your way that damage is minimal.

So glad to know you are safe; so saddened by the incredible loss of life and property in your beautiful country.

xxx

The Little House said...

Praying for you guys down in Brisbane and Ipswich. I live in Toowoomba which suffered that wav of water on Monday, it was terrifying to say the least. Stay safe. x

cocolini said...

Yep we missed the bread too. It is all quite surreal.

Unknown said...

Anna-You and your fellow Brisbaners are in my thoughts and prayers. Keep calm and carry on-stay safe.

Pamela in Portland, OR

Suzanne said...

Dear Anna,

So sorry about the Brisbane flood, thanks for sharing this with us, my thoughts are with you and your friends, courage my friend.....

decogirlmontreal