Hi, have not been monitoring the forum much in the past week, so don't know if there have been any posts about the floods in Queensland.  37 years ago we had a major flood which devastated parts of the city near the river.  It was was supposed to be a '1 in a 100 year flood'.  Clearly not!!!!!!!  The very dam that was built back in 1974 to save my hometown of Brisbane from another flood seems to have been the cause of this one. 

Rain poured down for weeks and it got to something like 180% capacity in that dam (now I don't really understand how a container (being the dam) can be more than 100%,  but it seems that somehow it can be - go figure!).  Anyhow, it did and the authorities were concerned that any more rain (which there was loads of) would potentially break the banks and be catastrophic, so they realeased water to control the flooding.  Seems the problem was that they left it too late and had to release huge volumes which caused a major flooding of my city.  Too much water released, too late to save us> 

I am high and dry, but many areas near me have suffered major damage.  Driving down the streets near me just makes me cry.  There are some households that have dumped the entire contents of their house/apartment onto the sidewalk.   The levels of mud dumped on the streets and sidewalks is unbelievable.  Think 20 cm (8 inches) of mud.  The roads and sidewalks can be hosed down with the help of the Fire Department and their wonderfully powerful fire hoses, but the grassed areas are another matter.  Leaving the mud there means that it hardens and is impossible to move later.  It also means that it absolutely stinks!!!!! 

Volunteers have been amazing.  Many have stood in their gumboots helping to push the mud and water into drains.  It is really slippery stuff!  Many have set up food huts and worked for hours and hours and hours with donated food and bottled water to feed the volunteers (including Army & Fire Department).  Local residents who are not able to physically help have baked loads of stuff and dropped it off to these huts.  The community spirit is just fantastic.  I'm proud to be a Queenslander! 

Sorry, have waffled on for a bit, but our situation is just a tad overwhelming at the moment.

Most of the Aussies on the forum probably know this, but just in case....... tomorrow, Friday 13 Feb, Coles is going to donate all profits from their trading to the bushfire appeal.  So, if you can, change your shopping day to Friday.  Checkout lines could be horribly long, but it is worth it I think.

Being on holidays and having lots more time to play Chi obviously works for me.  I got the Rosette today and was only 1 off getting it yesterday.  Doesn't happen very often - in fact I think I've only got it once before.

Hooray!

All the best for you today Dave.  Maybe your speech recognition will be extra kind to you and work like a dream!  Hope so.

Have a good one.

Hi

As a regular (take that to mean daily!) player, I often click on the names of other registered players to see where they are from out of interest, but so many have nothing listed except their player name and date of registration.  Surely it wouldn't be too hard to enter your country of residence on your profile.  I think it is interesting for other players to see how far and wide we live and play.  Maybe I'm the only one who feels this way!

Hi Roberts - haven't heard from you for ages.  See that you're online - I've been away from the forum more or less for a while.  How the hell are you?  What's up?  Are the hags being nice to you?

Original excerpt: (in relational to T meeting Birdy)
"Wouldn't it be fun to have a forum party somewhere in the world, and even more fun to have to work out who the ones that don't have photos posted are.  Reckon Roberts would attend, or do you think he'd rather remain mysterious?  I vote for Australia hosting the event, being Alan's home country.  That way I wouldn't have to travel too far!  Perhaps we could put in bids, the way they do for the Olympics.  All you people on the other side of the world have to put forward a good case as to why it should be held in your neck of the woods.  Melbourne would probably be the winner, being the seat of power as far as Chi is concerned.  We could tell Alan how eternally grateful we all are to him for providing us with this puzzle and bringing us all together."

What do others think? "

Not one response!!  What's going on girls?   ???I felt sure there would be a few comments.  Sensible, silly, hilarious - at least 

Am really pi**ed off - I was one word short yesterday which I assumed was one I didn't know.  Discovered this morning it was 'lane'  Don't get all very often and am not upset if they're ones I don't know - but lane?  Aaaaghhhh.  Mostly I'm not even close, but yesterday, aaaagggggghhhhhhh.  Could have hit myself