Rikki and all my Aussie friends, I really want all that fire stuff to stop. PLEASE!!! Take care, and let us not forget our leader Nigel is from Australia. Most likely he has friends and family still living there. We are thinking of you all and want you to get through this safely.

Thank you everyone.

Waiting to hear how my brother and family fared last night. They live in an alpine region, with a pine tree plantation just across the way.

Bit too early to get in touch with his wife, who is staying in a shelter in town along with her daughter and pets. I certainly don’t want to distract him.

Finally daylight, not looking forward to catching up with the news as to what happened during the night. They were predicting a horrendous day and night.

We’re still fairly safe our closest fire is 20 miles away.

Our town is the little blue dot about third of the way up the page.

Rikki, years ago when Florida was having heavy fires I was caught, with my motorhome, in a Smoke Fog, it was frightening. Could only see a few feet ahead of us. A short time later the horizon was filled with flames, I had never seen anything like that. I wrote his just to say that I can feel some of what you are being forced to endure. It is times like this when we begin to realize how small we are; how unimportant our everyday problems are.

Rikki, I just learned about the fires today, I wish you and your family safety.

I would be interested in hearing if this very difficult period has taught you something.
John C.

Plus one!

Rikki wishing you the best during this awful time.

Thank you Stephen .

Sadly a place called Kangaroo Island went up in flames last night, 2 people killed , a beautiful holiday resort up in flames, thousands of farm animals and half the islands koala population. 25,000 of the poor little things gone.

It is just so heartbreaking.

Hi John,
That sounds horrendous.

Basically feel reasonably safe where we are. We don’t have forests and bushland near us, only the dry grasslands. I think grass fires are easier to control than the fires in the forests.

About the only thing one can learn is, if the firefighters knock on your door and tell you to leave, you do it. Not worth risking ones life for house and possessions.

Grab the pets, important papers, my USB stick, a couple of bits and pieces and go.
Just hope for the best.

Thanks all for your concern. Fortunately family and friends there are out of danger and are praying they stay safe. It is all very tragic.

Hi Rikki....howzzzz it going now? The media finally giving us some decent coverage on what's happening down there. And....it made the front page of our state newspaper.

At one point when I lived in London, I was living in an apartment house (they call them "flats") with maybe 20 other groups from various countries. One day a group of male Aussies moved in....big guys...look like they could (and would) snap a tree in half on a bet. Also...very rowdy, and I thought "there goes the neighborhood!" They would "party" every night...drinking, joking, singing. Turns out, as I got to know them (through their partying), they were the nicest people you ever want to meet. I ended up speaking to them and, upon inquiring why they spent every night drinking and partying, they told me (true or untrue?)....most Aussies save up their money and go to London in groups for one big and final fling. They then proceed to have the wildest time they could 'cause after they go home it's back to the "grind for the rest of their lives." I never forgot that. But they were such great guys and good, decent people I never forgot them.

I was leading up to....I've had a fondness for the Australian people ever since. New Zealanders too. Having said that it's really disturbing me what's going on there.

Now...back to you. I Googled where the fires were but I still can't get a handle on it. I CAN see that they're all around Australia coastlines, and mostly in New South Wales, I think.

Has it changed at all now? Any present danger to you and Ray (post above) and hubby and "Rikki's bears? Are you guys becoming more concerned at this point?

The teller at my bank is Aussie. She tells me a lot about Australia when we talk. Today was about the Koalas. Cute as kittens but I understand they'll scratch the heck out of you if you get too aggressive with them. Kind of like the giant Panda bears in China....only the Pandas don't scratch you...they EAT you!

They're reporting that Australia will never be the same again after this is over....too much terrain burned up...too many natural animals killed (heading for extinction?).

I hope what I wrote is not depressing you 'cause last time you wrote you sounded "optimistic."

So....howzzzz it going now???

Your friend

Mark

Hi Mark, your thoughts, and the thoughts of others are appreciated.
I think Rikki is reasonably safe where she is, I live in Sydney N/W suburban area which is reasonably safe.
I played golf today and the smoke haze was quite intense, even though the fires are mostly 100 km or more away.
Recently we were concerned with the drought to a point I was getting depressed just listening,watching news reports when there was nothing of significance that I could do to make things any better for the farmers. The loss of breeding stock is horrendous, and will take so long to get back to productive stock numbers.
Now the fires have killed thousands of sheep and cattle, destroyed 1800 homes just in NSW alone, residents and firefighters lost their lives.
Kangaroo island lost 25000 koalas who were free of clamidea (spelling), one third of the island burnt.
It is still very hard to imagine the intensity of these fires, and we can only pray that those affected get some assistance and relief.
It is humbling to see the amount of support being offered from around the rest of the world.
Thanks to all for your concern.

Ray

It is heart breaking even here in Tasmania, but please stay safe guys in the rest of OZ, the fires here in Tasmania are now where near as bad as on the mainland. The skies here in Devonport and Launceston went red then dark grey with smoke from the Victorian fires over 200 miles away, across Bass Straight.

Some have been deliberately lite by some idiots - fortunately they have caught one of them, a 35 year man.

Here in Tas in the east in Fingal blazes started on December 29 and have burnt about 14630 hectares. Destroyed countless animals and property.

Keep praying that is ends soon please.