Taking nothing for granted

As I woke up this morning to the sound of rain hammering down on our roof, my thoughts immediately turned towards those so badly affected by the floods, mud slips and landslides in the Nelson region of New Zealand this past week. The area felt the full force of an ‘atmospheric river', causing many to evacuate their homes. Several homes are now uninhabitable and will have to be written off. The impact has been devastating and heart-breaking for the community with some people losing their homes and possessions as a result. Even a spokesman for Civil Defence was reduced to tears during a television broadcast while reporting on the devastation. My thoughts go out to all those affected by this natural disaster. ?I have no doubt that the community will recover but it is going to take some time, years possibly, according to media reports.

?Seven days ago when I wrote my last Monday memo, all those families in the Nelson/Tasman region would have been expecting a week of heavy rain but could not have anticipated that their lives would be affected so badly. It is a stark reminder how fragile our world is and that, no matter where you live, who you are or what you do, nature doesn’t discriminate and can turn your world upside down in an instant.

?Let’s take nothing for granted.