diff --git a/databaseReset.py b/databaseReset.py
index 1d8427b..ae1ea55 100644
--- a/databaseReset.py
+++ b/databaseReset.py
@@ -89,11 +89,15 @@ def reinit_db():
         else:
             print(" - No database file found: " + currentdbname + " ..continuing, will create it.\n")
     else:
+        print(f" - Attempting to nuke : {currentdbname}\n")
+        # this is now completely failing to nuke MariaDB adequately, and it crashes when creating Area objects with a no null parent message
+        # when null parents are explciitly allowed in the model.
         cursor = django.db.connection.cursor()
         cursor.execute("DROP DATABASE %s" % currentdbname)
         cursor.execute("CREATE DATABASE %s" % currentdbname)
         cursor.execute("ALTER DATABASE %s CHARACTER SET=utf8" % currentdbname)
         cursor.execute("USE %s" % currentdbname)
+        print(f" - Nuked : {currentdbname}\n")
 
     print(" - Migrating: " + django.db.connections.databases['default']['NAME'])
 
diff --git a/parsers/caves.py b/parsers/caves.py
index 91f353a..feb0f83 100644
--- a/parsers/caves.py
+++ b/parsers/caves.py
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@ from troggle.core.models.caves import Area, Cave, Entrance, CaveSlug, EntranceSl
 '''Reads all the cave description data by parsing the xml files (stored as e.g. :EXPOWEB:/cave_data/1623-161.html )
 and creating the various Cave, Entrance and necessary Area objects.
 
+This is the first import that happens after the dabase is reinitialised. 
+So is the first thing that creates tables.
+
 BUT in Django 2.0 and later we cannot do any queries on data we have just entered 
 because this is all happening inside one transaction. Bummer.
 
@@ -184,8 +187,12 @@ def readcaves():
         
         print(" - Creating Areas 1623 and 1626")
         # This crashes on the server with MariaDB even though a null parent is explicitly allowed.
-        area_1623= Area.objects.create(short_name = "1623")
-        area_1626= Area.objects.create(short_name = "1626")
+        area_1623= Area.objects.create(short_name = "1623", parent=None)
+        print(" - Saving Area 1623")
+        area_1623.save()
+        area_1626= Area.objects.create(short_name = "1626", parent=None)
+       print(" - Saving Area 1626")
+         area_1626.save()
 
         print (" - Setting pending caves")
         # Do this first, so that these empty entries are overwritten as they get properly created.