attn: Sally Squirrel

[wendywombat]

Thinking of all of you 'Down-Under' at this time!
Those horrific scenes on our TV's of devastating fire storms! I know that you are further north but I seem to remember that you have relatives in NSW.
I hope that they remain as safe as possible and I am sending Heartfelt Vibes out there for everyone affected by these awful fires.

[Garnet]

Same here Sally.

Every day we have reports on television of the devastating scenes and the brave brave firefighters (a lot of them are volunteers!)

My heart aches for those who have lost loved ones and/or homes.

It was said today there will be no let up until February or maybe even March, I cannot fathom that, I pray your loved ones are safe Sally and pray this may end sooner than thought.

Also sending Heartfelt Vibes for everyone caught up in the appalling fires.

[Mabel Figworthy]

What can you say in situations like these except "may everyone be safe!"

[Roland]

I haven’t been on-site for a while, and came back to check how you are. Glad Wendy mentioned you are not close. I hope you and your friends and family are safe.

I have a friend in Opua (as far as Arizona is from Alabama) and pictures yesterday were like an eclipse.

[rcperryls]

Saw photos today in our paper (I've been on a news black out for most of the holiday season) and am also hoping your family and friends are not near the fires. I worry every year about my sister who lives in fire prone Los Angeles and has had to evacuate her home several times (last October most recently) and no the kind of stress families go through. I can't imagine living through that kind of disaster. Praying that the rains come sooner rather than later and for the victims and firefighters and other rescuers who are in the middle of this.

Carole

[Serinde]

Can’t add much to what everyone has said. My heart bleeds for all of you.

[poppy]

Thinking of you and your family, Sally. Prayers are said for rain and for an end to the fires. xxx

[Squirrel]

Thank You All for your kind words of support and care. We really do have a very caring gathering of people.
Currently there are bush fires burning all around Australia with perhaps a bit of a gap way up on the north east coast of Western Australia.

I have a son and grand daughter on the west side of the city of Perth and so far no fires near them - this time.
Another son (my eldest & family) live in eastern Victoria right by the Yarra Valley where are the vineyards are. So far nothing has come too close to them - as yet. I know he and his family will be keeping up to date and no doubt has plans all ready to action. He is a builder by trade.
My 2nd son lives inland from us here in Brisbane and well clear of any of the recent fires.
Youngest son lives near the inner city well away from problems.
Jenny Phil & I live out near the coast about an hour's drive to central Brisbane and nothing burning near us at this time..
All of us are thankfully OK at this time apart from the smoke haze which is now a part of our daily lives.

Why so many fires in so many places. Australia is a huge country sparsely populated about the shorelines with native bush close by. some States are governed by the "greenies" who bring in laws to stop regular safe burn offs of the undergrowth in the bushlands. A fire breaks out and there is plenty of fuel and off it goes.

Recent estimates "by experts" reckon that over a billion wild life creatures have been lost which of course include Kpalas, Kangaroos Wallabys and so on. A post on FB was from a farmer who had just had to shoot dead his 9 remaining cattle who had been caught in the fire. He has no way to escape except a small dam of water enough for him and family way out in the wilderness.

So a brief over view of Australia. Please pray for the rain to fall all over the country, nearly every State is in drought. We are in big trouble.
Thank you for your concern and your prayers.

[wendywombat]

Thank you Sally for the update. We see so much on our TV's about the fires, but as I don't know the geography of the areas concerned, it seems as if Everywhere is burning!
The loss of life, both Human and animal is dreadful, those poor volunteer firefighters who risk their lives to save others. They get no respite from it all.

I'm glad that your family are all safe and OK and I hope that they remain so.

[poppy]

Thank you for the informative update, Sally. I am glad that your family is not near any of the fires. Prayers are going up for rain and for all caught in these terrible fires.

[luv2craft2]

A bit late in posting this but glad to hear you & your loved ones have not been affected by the tremendous amount of fires.

The sights on TV are devastating with so many people trying to keep safe & having lost everything except what they wear. Cannot imagine how desolate they must feel. Your heart goes out to each & everyone of them. Just pray that they will end sometime soon & help arrives from all over the world as it is going to take so long to sort out everything which needs to be done.

[Squirrel]

Thank You all for you kind comments and concerns for Australia.

Yesterday, here in Brisbane we had a wonderful 15.8mm of rain but even better SOME inland drought places had a whole lot more - not drought breaking yet but a start. Pictures on the news last night showed children out playing in paddocks and kicking water over each other etc. A good start for ssome but sadly it was a fairly smallish area of the drought ridden interior. Still it is a start to a very late wet season.

[wendywombat]

LET IT RAIN!!
I'm pleased that you, at least, are getting some relief from the heat.

I have been reading about Kangaroo Island in the South. Awful there, so much destruction, so many lives lost in the animal population.
I hope the Rains get there soon.
Of course after so long a drought a lot of rain causes it's own devastation as the ground is baked hard so ant water just runs off...causing different problems!

[rcperryls]

LET IT RAIN!!
I'm pleased that you, at least, are getting some relief from the heat.

I have been reading about Kangaroo Island in the South. Awful there, so much destruction, so many lives lost in the animal population.
I hope the Rains get there soon.
Of course after so long a drought a lot of rain causes it's own devastation as the ground is baked hard so ant water just runs off...causing different problems!

My exact feelings.

Carole

[poppy]

Thank you for the update, Sally. A bit of a relief! Hopefully, more rain will be on its way.

[Squirrel]

A good dump of rain here in Brisbane in the early hours this morning with a bit of thunder and lightning around. Lovely to go back to sleep hearing it falling. A wonderful 15.9mm fell and helped to put a little bit more into the water tank and garden. Tuppy however it NOT IMPRESSED, I watched him as he headed outside to where he usually toilets near some bushes and he rushed out shaking himself and telling the world it was NOT RIGHT.
Thank you all for your prayers and support and Please do keep the prayers coming - it is going to take a lot of water and cooler days and nights to even begin to break the horrendous drought and fires.

[luv2craft2]

Glad to hear some rail has fallen & hope that more follows soon. Hopes & prayers I am sure are being given up all over the world for this trauma to end soon..

[karen4bells]

It is so good to hear that Australia is finally getting some rain and I do hope and pray that this nasty drought and the devastating fires will soon be done with. Such a tragic thing to happen--my heart just breaks with all of the loss of wildlife, human lives and all of the vegetation and peoples' homes. Prayers continued for those affected and to those who are doing so much to help with fighting the fires and helping with everything