On average we visit Brisbane twice a year, sometimes more. It's heartbreaking to see many of the spots we know so well go under water or be totally destroyed. There is a five star restaurant in Brisbane called 'Oxley's On The River', this was a large building on piles, and as the name implies, it was over the river. Yesterday the piles were washed out and the restaurant quickly followed.

My wife and I spent a very special night in that restaurant, and I don't mind telling the account for the evening was a lot of money. We both went very quiet when that piece of news came on the Internet.

In late March we are booked for another holiday on the Gold Coast, this will mean at least four days in Brisbane. We will then have the opportunity to see first hand what has happened to this beautiful city. However, on the plus side, knowing Aussies, I also admire the speed they are capable of finding to bounc back. A nation of more positive thinkers it would be hard to find. To support that notion, interesting to read today the Brisbane authorities have asked that volunteers stay away today, they have more help than they can handle.

And that is why we love that country so much.

A quick clip to show how attitude can really help.

http://tvnz.co.nz/world-news/t…..id=3999547

This is Me's 500th post.

The latest news from Queensland is the death toll stands at 21 but there are still a dozen missing. It is estimated that 28000 houses will need rebuilding and the provisional cost of overall damage has been put at 20 billion dollars.

Because of the severe damage to infrastructure, the bus services in Brisbane are now free, this to help people where road, rail and ferry services can no longer operate. Now that is what I call lateral thinking.

The damage stretches far beyond the loss of life and lost homes, there are now many thousands without jobs, the business sector has been badly hit. Many shops, workshops and factories are deserted and uninhabitable, electricity is also off in many places.

It's very difficult to forget about the loss of jobs when there is no money coming in and the bills are mounting, plus there is a home to rebuild. Every sympathy goes to those who have lost loved ones but I have a lot more sympathy for those left behind who have to rebuild from scratch to keep the family together.

Many of those effected would not have insurance, many insurance companies exclude flooding on their policy especially on low lying ground near waterways.

Nobody ever said life had to be fair.

The Australian insurance industry will cover flooding from heavy rain but not when the flood water emanates from a flooding river. Here is the problem many house owners face. If a river breaks its banks and floods property, no claim. If rain water runs down a hillside and floods your home, they pay.

Not sure this is totally fair but this is in the policy when you take out the insurance, it's little use complaining after the event. The insurance companies response is simple: check on the history of the area, if it has flooded before then it's likely to happen again. So really the ball lies securely in the court of the home buyer.