Personal message from Blackbird

[Blackbird]

Jennie and I are deeply touched by all the forum messages, PM's and phone calls regarding our missing family in Samoa. A few minutes ago, our son Lyndon rang to say that they were all well.

They were right in the middle of it. They were near the beach and immediately after the quake, Lyndon guessed what was coming next, shoved our granddaughter in her backpack and he and our daughter in law sprinted for high ground. They made it with the Tsunami literally 2 metres behind them. They only have the clothes on their back and have been taken in by a UN official who happened to be nearby. They should be flying back to their home in Melbourne tomorrow.

Not a dry eye in the James household at present.

The support from all you guys really does show KB in absolutely its best light and also speaks volumes for the biking community at large.

Thanks so much again,

Geoff

[Nasty]

Guys that is such fantastic news.

[Pussy]

Jennie and I are deeply touched by all the forum messages, PM's and phone calls regarding our missing family in Samoa. A few minutes ago, our son Lyndon rang to say that they were all well.

They were right in the middle of it. They were near the beach and immediately after the quake, Lyndon guessed what was coming next, shoved our granddaughter in her backpack and he and our daughter in law sprinted for high ground. They made it with the Tsunami literally 2 metres behind them. They only have the clothes on their back and have been taken in by a UN official who happened to be nearby. They should be flying back to their home in Melbourne tomorrow.

Not a dry eye in the James household at present.

The support from all you guys really does show KB in absolutely its best light and also speaks volumes for the biking community at large.

Thanks so much again,

Geoff

Excellent news, Geoff!
You guys must be so relieved.

[oldrider]

Didn't know that, glad to hear that they are safe! Serious business, close shave too! :eek5:

[vifferman]

Great news, Geoff! :2thumbsup

[Ronin]

Some great news there mate.

[KiwiPhoenix]

Glad your family are safe and sound!

[Firefight]

Great news Geoff.







F/F

[Jantar]

That is good to hear. I am thrilled that they are alright.

I have heard that my nephew and his family living in Samoa are all OK, but their village is some distance from the sea. We have friends in another village who we haven't yet heard from, but they should be OK as they are on the northern side of Upolu and a shorth distance away from the beach.

Paulette and I only arrived back from visiting Samoa on monday last week, so the memories are still fresh in our minds of what it looked like before the devastation, and now to see the pics on TV it is a real eye opener. We spent part of trip staying in a beach fale on Savaii only 2 meters from the waters edge, and it would have been a long sprint to get to higher ground.

[MSTRS]

That is great news. Thanks for letting us all know.

[Swoop]

Great news Geoff!!

A sleepless night, presumably.

[Blackbird]

Thanks so much everyone, it really is very much appreciated. Last night was pretty sleepless and early this morning, I logged onto an Aussie website and saw that it had been confirmed that a 2 year old NZ’er with Australian residency had died. Decided Jennie didn’t need to know that and it was pretty hard to bear alone; talk about dark night of the soul. Now feel terrible for those families who have loved ones who didn't make it.

I know it's only just gone 11, but I think something stronger than coffee is called for.

[Edbear]

Wow! That was close! It's a real tragedy and our hearts go out to all who have suffered loss. Thanks for the thread, as we didn't know. Our thoughts are with you all.

[Ronin]

I know it's only just gone 11, but I think something stronger than coffee is called for.

Several I would imagine.

[Pussy]

I know it's only just gone 11, but I think something stronger than coffee is called for.

If I lived a bit closer, I'd be joining you for one...or two etc :niceone:

[Swoop]

I know it's only just gone 11, but I think something stronger than coffee is called for.
Perfectly acceptable in KB land... Pissed by 2pm and hungover by 9pm!
:apint::drinkup::drinkup::drinknsin::drinknsin:sha ke:shake::o:laugh:

[Chooky]

Hey Geoff, good to hear that news.......

I'll bring a carton of ice cold VB.....:cool:

[Blackbird]

Hey Geoff, good to hear that news.......

I'll bring a carton of ice cold VB.....:cool:

Thanks Graeme - you trying you poison me?:whistle:

[Pussy]

Thanks Graeme - you trying you poison me?:whistle:

That's what I was thinking too, Geoff.
You've got to watch ag pilots... they're about as dodgy as boilermakers.....

[Mom]

What a blessed relief! Thank you for letting us know.

[yungatart]

Glad to hear your family is safe, BB!
What a terrible tragedy for so many.

[chanceyy]

good news for your family great quick thinking by your son too ..

Terrible tragedy for many other families.

[Okey Dokey]

Geez, that is scary! So glad that they acted quickly and are okay.

[Beemer]

Shit, didn't know about your family until today, Geoff. So glad to hear they all made it safely. Clothes and possessions are replaceable but loved ones are not. You and your wife must have been petrified waiting to know if they were safe.

It's so sad that so many people have lost their lives, but I am very glad to hear your family members were not among them.

[Blackbird]

I've just made this post on our son's Facebook page as a warning to all 3 of our offspring (and hopefully for the amusement of their mates):

Parental instruction to all James Clan offspring: Itineraries for anything other than shopping and going to the pub will be lodged with Mum and Dad. International mobile phones will be carried night and day. More restrictive and totally unreasonable demands to follow....

[Oakie]

Whereabouts were they staying? A couple of years ago we stayed at one of the south coast resorts that has apparantly been flattened. Sad to know that a place with such wonderful people has probably lost some of them.

[Blackbird]

Whereabouts were they staying? A couple of years ago we stayed at one of the south coast resorts that has apparantly been flattened. Sad to know that a place with such wonderful people has probably lost some of them.

Don't know, and that was half the problem. Because they live in Melbourne at the mo, we didn't know the exact details. Hence our post on Facebook:whistle:

[Swoop]

Just had a txt from a couple that have arrived back.
They lost absolutely eveything they had with them, including a rental car.....:crazy:

[Blackbird]

Just had a txt from a couple that have arrived back.
They lost absolutely eveything they had with them, including a rental car.....:crazy:

Thank God they're alright- everything else suddenly doesn't matter.

[kevfromcoro]

Good news BB.... something like that would distrout me
glad you family is safe.. if you are coming down the coast..
call in for yak
good luck

[Blackbird]

Good news BB.... something like that would distrout me
glad you family is safe.. if you are coming down the coast..
call in for yak
good luck


Thanks Kev - sliding into oblivion right now, courtesy of some good merlot:Oops:

[Fatt Max]

Fantastic news mate, FM family over the moon for you

[Robbo]

That is great news Geoff. Must be a big relief for your family.
Regards

[Paul in NZ]

Good news geoff. You must of done a good job raising him, smart lad anticipating the wave and getting out of there when he did... I suspect there is a family story to hand down here

[Marknz]

Very happy for you and your family, that is great news!

[Blackbird]

Urgghhhhh... hate hangovers:wacko: but very happy indeed.

Our only communication after hearing that they were ok was a second call for money! Good old Western Union. We haven't got any more details yet and won't press them but as soon as we do hear, I'll post something. As you say Paul, I'm sure there will be quite a tale. We're hugely proud of all our kids and Lyndon's quick thinking on this occasion averted consequences that can't be contemplated.

[Patrick]

Urgghhhhh... hate hangovers:wacko: but very happy indeed.

Our only communication after hearing that they were ok was a second call for money! Good old Western Union. We haven't got any more details yet and won't press them but as soon as we do hear, I'll post something. As you say Paul, I'm sure there will be quite a tale. We're hugely proud of all our kids and Lyndon's quick thinking on this occasion averted consequences that can't be contemplated.

Deserved hangover..... Bugger it, though....

Guess that proves all is back to normal, kids asking for $$$$ LOL.....

Look forward to the story. It'll be a goodun.

[crazyhorse]

Wonderful to hear your family are safe. My heart goes out to the families of those who were not so fortunate.

[blackkatana]

Good to hear that your family is safe, many not so fortunate and condolances to all those who have lost family and friends.

[Blackbird]

Just to complete this thread, we had a long talk to our family on the phone last night and were left with 2 strong impressions.

The first was just how close it was to an immense personal tragedy. The huge noise of solid objects like cars, bits of buildings etc getting tumbled over by the tsunami literally feet behind them as they ran, not daring to turn around and look until they reached a plateau on the hill they were sprinting for. It couldn't have been closer and they are grieving for the Australian couple in the next beach hut who lost their 2 year old. Simply unimaginable. I've encouraged them to write their story out as soon as they can, partly as a release therapy for them but also for our 2 year granddaughter as she won't remember any of it in due course. Knowing in the coming years that she had the gift of life bestowed on her again by her father's quick thinking is life-changing stuff.

The second impression is of the basic decency of the human race; it's just a pity that it gets buried for a lot of the time. Within an hour of the disaster, Samoan families, even those who had lost family members; were feeding and tending to survivors. I'm lost for words. Following on from that, the UN official who took our family into their home for the first night and the hotel who looked after them subsequently - everything they needed was just given, no questions asked and a point blank refusal for future reimbursement. Airport staff, Virgin Airlines..... all were simply magnificent. The family were met at Melbourne Airport by friends but when my son went back to collect his car at the airport the next day, even his parking charges were waived by the attendant. The only jarring note was the insurance company when he rang them. Not an ounce of compassion, initially demanding "proof" of loss of possessions until he lost it down the phone at them and even then, they were pretty ungracious. Even so, this doesn't detract at all from just how fantastic everyone was.

There'll be a substantial donation going to the Red Cross today.....

[Patrick]

Fantastic stuff. Aint too bad them Samoans eh? Good on the airlines and the airport parking attendant too. Just glad to hear your ordeal is over and has ended, with one hell of a life story to tell.

Just as a minor leveller... I am sure the insurance companies will be inundated with claims... some will be real. Some, sadly.........., will not be....:shutup:

[Conquiztador]

Sweet! All the other bits can be replaced.

[Blackbird]

This is an old thread but thought I'd just add an event which is an example of Karma if ever there was one.

Our Melbourne-based son who was caught in the Samoan Tsunami disaster and lost everything but their lives posted this on Facebook this morning:

"My camera has washed up in Samoa with memory card intact. And the guy who found it tracked me down and is sending the pics to us!!!!!!!"

That's unbelievable and we can't wait to hear how he was tracked down!

[Ronin]

Wow! Thats just stunning.

[oldrider]

This is an old thread but thought I'd just add an event which is an example of Karma if ever there was one.

Our Melbourne-based son who was caught in the Samoan Tsunami disaster and lost everything but their lives posted this on Facebook this morning:

"My camera has washed up in Samoa with memory card intact. And the guy who found it tracked me down and is sending the pics to us!!!!!!!"

That's unbelievable and we can't wait to hear how he was tracked down!

Really puts a whole new slant on "message in a bottle" doesn't it! :lol: