Aussies, I just wanted to tell you that lots of prayers are being offered for you for all your fires. We watch every day for news of how horrible it is .Colorado has our share of fire, and last summer we had the smoke billowing down our steet as we were evacuating. It came within 1,000 feet of our house, but the firefighters were able to get it out. My DIL grew up in Paradise California and her whole town totally burned to the ground. They lost everything and about a thousand people are still unaccounted for. So sad. Please stay safe.

when we had to evacuate i had already gathered computers, recoeds and family heirlooms. but kitties and food along with them. of course we forgot litter box. they were not happy being put in their carriers. we brought so many things and FORGOT the stack of dollar bills we have saved in the desk for an emergency. So here was the emergency and about 1,000 dollars was just left where it could have burned. So, now we have a list of things to grab. It is hard to think clearly when a fire is drawing close. I think you are probably suffering from Post Traumatic Stress disorder. You will need rest to begin with and someone to talk to about your trauma and stress following. So many in Australia will be feeling the same. Hugs to you all, and prayers for regrowth.

1 comment

by killiecrankie 14 Jan 2020

Maybe you should think of taking photos of your belongings to avoid any argument with your insurers.

Thank you so much Jan.
Humans all over the world suffer through natural disasters and it breaks my heart every time, but some of these fires were deliberately lit and that makes them criminal acts, not acts of nature. Though they are all just as devastating, aren't they.

We have lost several townships during these extreme fires, several were historic, so can never be replaced, town museums especially. Even ski resorts have been destroyed and they had their snow making machines running, at the time, to try and protect them, but they burnt too..

Many thousands of people have been displaced with nowhere to go. They not only lost their homes, but everything in them, and while we say material things aren't important, imagine, as I know we all can, living without even the barest essentials, nothing but the clothes on your back and whatever you could stuff in your car, that is, if you had enough time to grab anything.

At the height of our own fire scare, just before we went to evacuate, I went quickly from room to room, looking at years of accumulated stuff and I saw it all as fuel for the fire, until I looked at, and thought about, all the precious gifts I had received from loved ones: parents, siblings, nieces and nephews, children and grandchildren, and my many dear friends, alive and deceased, a whole lifetime of love and as much it may have upset me to lose them all, all I could do was close each door and think of my Hubby and our two fur babies.

Now I think of all those people who HAVE lost everything and now I break down for them and ask what can I do? How can I help? I am not physically able to help, I could go through my things and find items to donate, but they say money is more important so they can purchase items they really need and pay for accommodation and other of life's necessities. We are not rich, so our donations are small, but we will give what we can as often as we can, and know that every dollar will help.

Some areas are still without electricity and phone services and there is supposed to be a shortage of power poles to replace those that have burned.
(I can't help thinking how stupid it is that in this country, which is so susceptible to bush fires, our power is supplied via cables run above ground on timber poles!!!!) Some of these have even CAUSED fires.

Thankfully some areas have been getting some rain but so much more is needed and more has been predicted, but we all know what weather predictions are like, don't we? :-(

We had three large Water Dragons visit from across the river today, which is heartwarming.
I have heard the Doves cooing and Ray saw some Magpies feeding, across there, from feeders put there by our young (agile) neighbour. I even heard a Kookaburra in the distance.

All we can do is have faith that mother nature will regenerate, the drought will break, the flora will germinate and regrow, and the fauna that survives will repopulate as it always has in the past.

I apologise this is so long and disjointed, I can't seem to switch off my thoughts lately.

Hugs n Roses and much love dear friend.

2 comments

by killiecrankie 14 Jan 2020

The bird life here is not as plentiful as before but they enjoy using the bird baths.We had a Koel come calling the other morning ,it didn't stay for long.I hate these birds which are a type of cuckoo which call 24 hrs a day & lay their eggs in the Wattle birds nests.They come from Indonesia ,usually turn up in October.I had forgotten about them until I heard the calls.The ultralites were flying that morning as well,the smoke haze must of kept them grounded,hadn't had any flying over for awhile

by pennyhal2 14 Jan 2020

You have really opened my eyes about what to do in an emergency and the horrifiying loss that people experience. I did read that money is the most important thing to send because everything else has to be sorted, cleaned, shipped etc.I don't think anyone ever totally recovers from disasters but find a way to move on. I watch the news or read about the fires and keep hoping for some good news. The news here (in the USA) said that some firemen from here were going to Australia to help out and it warmed my heart to know that they set aside thier lives to help others.