My thoughts go out to those effected by the recent flooding. It has been a frightening display of natural forces.

The road to Yamba is cut. No one can come and no one can leave.

This town is one of the prettiest places I know. Big river, golden sand, sparkling beaches and all that stuff. But not right now.

The river is still big, in fact it is huge and the tidal flow, which is always impressive, is now a raging torrent. If you were swimming near the mouth you are going out for sure. The water, typically a clear deep blue, is now a thick brown soup. There is stuff floating everywhere.

A group of holiday makers are swimming in the corner of Pipi beach but truthfully I reckon only the gulls working the edge of the outbound current are having a really good time.

The whole summer has been humid (normal) hot (normal) and with on going rain punctuated by a scattering of sunny days. If the rain stops now it will still be a month before the water clears.

It is not the east coast summer break I had in mind but you just have to roll with it.

Nature is king.

Best wishes to all that this adverse weather has touched.