As I write it is bucketing down in Lismore — the ABC's gutters barely cope. It comes as the premier prepares to visit the city to inspect a Landcom Build-to-Rent project and a once-flooded-now-auctioned house. With so many survivors missing out, the government will continue to face difficult questions about the merits of the scheme and what its commitment to the flood-affected towns and villages of the Northern Rivers will be, especially when the final CSIRO report looking at mitigation options lands mid-year. Whatever approach state and federal governments take, it will be costly.

There was a time when the 'M' word was never mentioned but now women are openly discussing the problems of life-change and even better, finding things to laugh about. Donna Harper certainly laughed a lot when she reported on Mandy Nolan's comedy clinic aimed at middle-aged women.

Hope something this weekend brings you something to smile about too.

You can reach out to us by email abcnorthcoast@abc.net.au

Have a great week.

Jo Shoebridge

ABC North Coast editor

Thousands of music fans will be left scrambling to rearrange their Easter plans after Byron Bay's famous Bluesfest was called off at short notice.

Senior police have praised the response of officers who arrested a female learner driver who allegedly fired at police from a car during a pursuit in South Grafton in northern NSW.

A man and woman have died and another person is in hospital after a boat capsized near the Yamba breakwater.

A funny thing happened on the way to menopause. Twelve first-time comedians are finding the humour in some of their most confronting life experiences.

For more than a decade, Haley Miles used scissors every day in her hairdressing business, but, at 32, she picked up tools of a different kind and built a career as a carpenter.

After 30 years of "patchy progress", women in agriculture are striving for more recognition and understanding of their crucial role on the land.