Well according to the news the cyclone turned and is heading this way.
So I leapt out of bed and sprung into action.  That is probably put too strongly – not even considering it is not true in any way shape or form.  It would probably be better to say I got groggily out of bed and made my way down the hall.
Anyway today is the day we decided we would do some things to limit stuff becoming a missile.  In an hour or so we will batten down the hatches.  There is a consistent slight breeze which is unusual for this time of the morning.
I must admit it is a long time since I have been through a cyclone.  We did when I was a kid in Townsville.  We were under the table.  The neighbours came over and initially stayed with us.  There home was completely destroyed.  Their roof flew over ours and landed in a vacant allotment the other side of us.  It had dropped some things on our place on its journey.  Also when their house collapsed it impacted the front side of our joint.  We came out of it very well all things considered.
That was Althea which was a much stronger system than this one.  Still I reckon I have seen what they can do so I want us to be ready.
I emailed one of our neighbours asking if there was anything he wanted done.  He didn’t.  He is “fly in, fly out” and said he would fly in this evening.  The other neighours have been beavering away.
I am looking forward to this all being over but there is a few days to go yet.  I am trying to remember all that I need to do.   This is the first time I have been “the man about the house” for such an event.
Still these things “come to pass,” and I am very much looking forward to it passing.  I can hear the wind outside and it is getting stronger and it is ages before it is supposed to arrive.  There are things to do.

The day could not have dawned more beautiful.
I have called off a get together we normally hold at our place tonight saying I will either be left with egg on my face or it will happen.  The cyclone that is.  At the moment I have the distinct taste of egg in my mouth.
The next 24 hours will be crucial.  The cyclone is expected to turn back towards the coast later this evening.  If it does the call will be justified as people need preparation time and it could be raining.
Most in the neighbourhood seem to be heeding the warnings that it is coming.  Merril and I went to the shops yesterday evening and not since the pandemic have I seen shelves as empty.   I had a chat there with two people I know.  One had gotten all their goods for free as the scanner was not working.  The other as wondering if they should buy for an event they are holding as chaplain at a school in the next few days.
We had expected someone over to do some stuff in the yard.  It may not happen as they are lining up for sandbags.
This all could be the calm before the storm.  The cyclone is expected to cross the coast somewhere around the Sunshine Coast.  Which means right about here.  We will certainly spring into action if it looks like coming this way.  I have been looking around the yard to see things that need to go away.
If it does come this way then a get together planned for here on Saturday may not happen.  Along with high winds they anticipate a lot of rain and there is the possibility of losing power.  We got some petrol yesterday for our generator.
Aat present all this preparation seems like an inconvenience.  But if it comes then this will be time well spent.

This last weekend was like a continuation of things that have been a part of my life for a long time.
On Saturday we were invited to a mates place.  He had spent the last 7 months or so building a cottage.  He knew what he was doing.  As opposed to us he did most of the building himself.  We hired others to do things.
On Saturday he had finished and had a few people over to celebrate what had been achieved.  Some that came were Pacific Islanders.  That is where I felt it was a continuation of what I have been involved in.
I have had a fair bit to do with Pacific Islanders over the years.  In a way, being from Townsville that is not surprising.  It seems the further north one gets, the more indigenous and Islanders there are.  Townsville does not have a good reputation these days, but it was definitely not always like that.  It is where I awas born and grew up.
I went to church up there.  One of my indigenous friends was a beautiful piano player.  He was employed by a local men’s where shop.  It had classy stuff.  I will though never forget him telling me I may as well go to Best and Less to get some other things I was after, as they had them cheaper.  Some things I had gotten through him and other things I got elsewhere.
Another indigenous guy I knew used to come over and I will never forget playing table tennis with him.  We had so much fun.  Mum commented that she heard the laugher from upstairs (we were downstairs).  He was so talented it was ridiculous.  I have not forgotten him scoring a goal in a soccer match we organized.  He had no right to score it but just did.
Another group used to come to my place.  They asked me north.  They were so generous.  I had the time of my life.
One talent many have is singing ability and playing the guitar.  It seems to me they are born holding a guitar.  And sing.  Man can they sing.  On Saturday a group I had never met before sang.  They sang during the celebration and after it.  One played guitar. 
My life is full of good memories of such things.  Like any of us making good decisions brings out the best.  I loved it then and I love it now.