STOP PRESS! Japan earthquake, changes to Roland D Yeoman's Blog Stops, Contest finals, Awards, the footy!!!

coFirstly, another disaster for our world and its people. Poor Japan hit by a massive earthquake/tsunami. Many countries are in the path of the tsunami. Hopefully no more damage will occur. That footage of the tsunami was like a sci-fi movie!
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So down to blog biz. I hope I grab you before you go into weekend hibernation. I've just heard that my blog tour with Roland has been bumped forwards. Now I'm hosting Roland over the weekend. So if you have a little down time, please come by Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th to check out Roland's influences on his writing style. I can tell you that it's going to have you riveted. He's over at Becky's @ The Rainy Day Wanderer again today.

More news...I entered the Race for 200 Contest where you were asked to write about 300 words on a race for survival. I entered a short extract from one of my short stories I've got pending in a magazine and IT MADE THE FINAL CUT, woo hoo. I'm amongst fine writers. If you want to read the 6 finalists; entries go here. I'm not a 'Vote for me' gal. I'm just letting you know so if you're interested in checking out 6 short short stories you might appreciate the heads up.

I got my short story sent off to Open Heart Publishing yesterday. If you intend entering your story of 3,000 - 6,000 words, entries are open until 15 March. Click on the badge in my right sidebar.

Today I was awarded the Friends for the Journey Blog Encouragement Award from the lovely Lynda R Young. Thank you Lynda, fellow Aussie mate. I'll be passing this award along as I see fit.

Just now Jai Joshi at the Tulsi Tree contacted me to say she has awarded me the Stylish Blogger Award for holding the Publication Parties. Thank you Jai. You're a legend.

Have a great weekend! (I know, I know, you're not thinking of the weekend but it's nearly 'beer o'clock' Friday afternoon over here at the bottom of the earth. The weekend is about to kick off, oh, it's the footy season kick off too, and my Rugby League team, the Broncos, is playing the North Queensland Cowboys at the stadium just over the hill from here TONIGHT!

Well I know I'm going to have a great weekend! Go Broncos!

Disaster for Brisbane. Excuse me if I'm offline for a few days...PUBLICATION PARTY POST IS BELOW THIS POST...

I interrupt my regular blogging schedule to let you know that Brisbane is facing its biggest natural disaster for 35 years and they're predicting it may be the biggest disaster in Brisbane's history. Maybe you've seen some reports on your news? Maybe not.

Queensland has been suffering floods for weeks and the waters have now reached Brisbane. It's been raining and storming here steadily for days, and the great Brisbane River has already burst its banks in the lowest-lying areas. Many suburbs are under water. Even where I live in the inner city, shops are closing as people live in the suburbs and are cut off. We've stocked up on food as even though we don't expect to be flooded in our high-rise, we may not be able to get out as the foyer and street below us may go under.

The floodgates at Wivehoe Dam have been opened. Look out Brisbane!

I can see the river from my deck and it hasn't risen much in the last few hours but it is expected to rise alarmingly tonight at about 11 pm due to the rain and because water was released from the huge Wivenhoe Dam north of Brisbane this afternoon and that is when it will reach us. Wivenhoe is at 140% capacity and the equivilent of two Sydney Harbours are flowing through the dam every day, so the water has to come through the Brisbane River.

Toowoomba after the 'tsunami' hit yesterday, Jan 10th.

Our Premier Anna Bligh was crying on television today (well, she is a woman and a mother) as 9 people (including children) have been drowned when a violent tsunami of water struck one of our cities an hour inland from Brisbane. Water flashed through the main street, picking up people, cars and whatever was on the street at the time. 66 people are still missing so we pray they are safe, although the police say it is unlikely they are alive. Small towns in the Brisbane Valley have been smashed to smithereens and left to float downstream. Police are finding dead bodies in homes. An horrific start to 2011 for my state.

You tube has the horrific footage of the 'tsunami' that hit Toowoomba yesterday under 'Toowoomba flash flood.' It is too upsetting for me to put it up.

One of the reasons I'm posting is that the internet is getting dicey and I may be off the air soon. There is more information on the #brisbanefloods stream on twitter where I have added some updates.

My husband has just rushed off with his camera to get some shots of the City Cat pontoons that have been ripped from their moorings and are floating down past us along with trees and bits of houses. Scary days ahead...