Just spent the long weekend in Metung, Bairnsdale and surrounds.   The floods (although not as bad as up North) have caused some drama.  East 'Gippy' is a low lying area built on and around the myriad of lakes and rivers.  Many roads, although now clear of water, have had the tarmac lifted in sections and piled about by the waters;  rather akin to a deck of cards that has been spread haphazardly as though by a petulent giant.  Fences that are some 15 feet above river/lake level are covered in seaweed and river weed hanging like ghostly washing forgotten by shades of settlers past.  Driveways to farm properties that dip down through a front paddock before rising to the country roads still have a basin like lake cutting off the residents from their normal routines of work or school.   River/lake frontage caravan parks are painted dun and grey by the passing of mud filled torrents that have left a legacy by some mad surrealist painter.  Fields of farm produce lie flat and sodden rather like my wife's attempts at cooking greens.   But the locals are positive and getting on with the work of cleaning up the mess which nature has shown that she, and not mankind is ultimately in charge.  The sun has returned and the 'game' tourist was rewarded with balmy days and crisp, cuddling on the couch evenings.   It was strange yet delightful to see pelicans, grebes and comorants catching the stranded fish swimming in new albeit temporarry additions to the lake system.   Many roads are still closed.  Businesses are making use of the winter months ahead to  reorganise for  the coming summer.   Boat owners are looking to their insurance policies and salvage operators have sadly but neccessarily benefitted from an unfortunate windfall.   The lakes and rivers are dirt filled for now, but old snags and half sunken logs which were long the bane of innocents boaters; have been thrown from their concealed traps and will allow a safer passage in times to come.   The locals are still quick with a smile and a welcome for visitors to their damaged little corner of this Earth, and they are sad for our leaving.   I wasn't born here and in all my fortunate travels and livings in the 'exotic', better known places such as the Carribean, Fiji, Europe and Africa, I still see a paradise in this land called Australia that stands up to the best the World has to offer.   I really must stop letting my words run away with me before I get arrested for literary murder.   For what it's worth.