The Northern Rivers Times Edition 134

By SAMANTHA ELLEY

I am not ashamed to admit, I have had a few regular teary moments recently.

As the days power down to the 12 month anniversary of the food, I’ve become a little nostalgic and have been going through photos that were taken during and shortly after the

event.

While our family left before we became trapped by the food waters, our neighbours stayed and took photos of the water as it frst entered our house.

I can only imagine how much damage the water did, by the evidence that was left of what had fallen over, what was sopping wet, what had stayed standing and so

on.

Looking at the photos of the days that followed when friends, family and even strangers came together to form our own mud army, I can’t help but smile at the love and support that was shown to us. Then there are the photos of the house totally gutted, walls removed and foors stripped. The kitchen

and vanity areas were taken out and as I had wondered so many times in those days, how were we ever going to make this a home again? Photos taken of the piles of rubbish showed me so many of the mementoes of our memories had become just that, memories. So many items that meant the world to us, now just landfll.

One particular item I found hard to come to terms with losing was my grandmother’s sewing machine and cabinet. As a little girl, I grew up with that piece of furniture as part of the memories of my grandmother’s house and when she died, I happily took it on. Now it is gone. Now I have new photos to look at, as we

compare the damage to what has been fxed. We now have carpet in our main bedroom and a working toilet upstairs. My Fitbit will see a huge reduction in steps but at least when nature calls in the middle of the night, we won’t be at risk of breaking our necks on the stairs. Little steps.