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"She seemed to come suddenly upon happiness as if she had surprised a butterfly in the Winter woods"
(edith wharton)


Sunday 8 February 2009

it all seems so insignificant (update 2pm Monday)

the heat, the lack of water. my comfort. all of this pales with what has happened in our southern state of Victoria. 25 people lost their lives so far in the raging bushfires. countless homes have been lost. Heros, real heros are continually fighting fires in heat up and over 45 degrees C. (that is around 125F).....

once upon a time, I would not have known what you were doing nor would you have had a clue what I would be doing... but these days each of our lives come into each others .. many of you have emailed me about this dreadful heat and I thankyou for that. Now I ask that you wrap your heart around all those affected by the heat. those who are grieving loss of family and homes, the elderly, the animals and the plants for they too are part of us. Keep in your heart those brave souls who are battling the fires. xo

UPDATE 5PM: 49 dead, 1000 homes lost and whole towns have been completely destroyed.
UPDATE 9PM: 76 dead - this is just so awful. (Thinking of all those who are affected xo)
the worst thing is that most of these fires were deliberately lit by a fellow human. I have many ideas of what I hope will happen to whoever did it. One idea is to drop them in the middle of a fire like this and let them run for it. not nice. but truthful.
UPDATE 7AM Monday:
108 have died and many, many more are burnt, some seriously. My home is OK as I am in the state north of Victoria. Victoria is the state that Joe & I rode through just recently in January. I understand exactly what these people are going through as I have been in bushfire situations many times, as have most Australians during our summers.
UPDATE 2PM Monday:120 people have lost their lives. And the tally continues to rise as the fires continue to burn. Fire balls of up to 120kph. Many people are in the burns unit, some on life support. Severely burnt. Many have lost their homes. This will be my last update. I am sure all of you are hearing this on the news. I am going to sit in sadness for those lives lost.

a 15 year old boy has just been charged for lighting a fire just near our home. 15 years old. what is the world coming to.

at the other end of our country we have floods that are some of the worst our country has seen in many years. Please keep all of those affected in your hearts also. People are missing feared drowned.

(if you want to see how we coped on Saturday, there is a post below)

31 comments:

Tinker said...

The internet does make our world a smaller place, doesn't it...
We just finished going through the wildfire 'season' here (summer to fall), which was thankfully not quite as bad here as some years have been - but knowing what it can be like, made reading about the wildfires there all the more real. My heart went out to your firefighters and all of those poor people... My prayers are with them all.
((hugs))

Anonymous said...

I'm with you Robyn.

Everydaythings said...

Not flogging it either but people ( like miss anon) who dont live in this harsh country really have NO idea of how things are when the heat gets going and it ends up in bush fire disasters and people losing their lives. Hearing the fear and tears of those searching for loved ones over the radio last night really upset me - I just pray that those lost have been found safe and well. So many homes have been lost too.

myblogger did not show your post from yesterday so had no idea what you wrote... but just had a read of it.

Keep cool!

gma said...

Dear Robyn,
Perhaps someday we'll understand. My thoughts and well wishes are with you and those suffering in the heat(I know about that all too well.) Love the recent pix you've posted of Harry and kids in pool. I also give my plants a drink on conserve water days. Rolling the moon to ya.
xx

Anonymous said...

Thinking of you while watching the news :-(

Fire Byrd said...

Holding you tight in my thoughts.Hope your not in danger.
xx

Leanne said...

your firefighters and the poor victims are in my thoughts and prayers too

leanne x

laoi gaul~williams said...

i have family in that area~scattered across nsw so have been sending out e-mails to see how things are.

Ruth said...

Sending you some cold weather from UK and hope you get some rain down under soon. And by the way - I think people who leave anonymous comments should be ignored. And deleted!

Anonymous said...

Everything is connected in this world and beyond.That is why we have to think about all that is happening. My heart goes out to all of the firemen, victims, family, and everyone and everything that is suffering !!

Tori said...

Oh no, that is horrible! It doesn't get that hot where I live, so I can't even imagine this. My heart does out to every firefighter and family who lost a home, though. I hope things get better soon.

Genie Sea said...

This is horrific. My heart goes out to each and very one of them, and my prays that it stops. :(

Janet said...

This is so horrible, and especially knowing that someone set the fire.

Paula - Buenos Aires said...

So very sad. Thinking of you and your fellow citizens.

We went through something similar last year. I will never forget the smell nor the fog that never lifted because it was no real fog but smoke and you couldn´t even see the end of your block.

peppylady (Dora) said...

Just terrible.
I can offer a small word of prayer.

Coffee is on.

Tinker said...

As I see news updates, I keep checking back in to see how you're doing...
125 F. is just too doggone hot for anyone or anything. Wishing we could send some of our cooler, rainy weather your way...
Your mint drink and the pool sounds like a great antidote to the hot weather. Stay cool - and safe! XOXO

amelia said...

This is just awful! We've been watching and listening to it on the TV and radio and the loss of life is just tragic.
I hope with all my heart that you get through this unscathed Robyn.

Anonymous said...

Relieved to know you're safe Robyn, I was checking the maps to see if the NSW fires were near you.

The news reports now are heartbreaking.

Sheila said...

I've been following this on our news Robyn. It so awful, I'm glad you are out of harms way, but I feel so bad for those who are not.
Whoever is responsible deserves the harshest punishment allowable.

Jane Le Galloudec said...

If EVERYONE sends their thoughts 'heavenward' for the relief of those poor people who are suffering then surely... surely ... it will help. What else can we do? It is so awful to watch it on the news and hard to comprehend as we sit here with the snow melting and the slush forming. Keep safe.

Bimbimbie said...

You just can't figure out what people are thinking lighting fires in their own bush community. I hope they charge the 15 year old, same goes for idiots tossing out their live cig butts of cars.

J C said...

Came by to check on you Robyn. Prayers going out for the suffering people and animals and plants. Be careful. xoxoxoxoxo

Gill said...

Robyn I was thinking of you when I saw the BBC news yesterday. I am glad that you are well and so sorry for all the people who have lost loved ones or their homes and possessions.

xxx said...

Hello I've just landed on your blog. Nice Blog!
Best wishes & yes the fires are shocking. Floods too!

Anonymous said...

This is just awful!

Bless you for your collective prayers and sending positive thoughts out.

*Come to my blog - I have an award for you.

Kathryn Knoll said...

You came to me in dreamtime last night! When ever this happens it intensifies the connection and keeps you in mind and prayers in a very focused way. I am drawing a heart around you and your people, during this most trying time...

Julie said...

I just heard about the Australian wildfires this morning. I read somewhere in blogland that the fires were in NSW and rushed to see if you were safe.

I am so, so sorry for your countrymen and women who died, and I am so proud of your brave firefighters.

Here in ND we mostly have volunteer firefighters except in our five largest cities. We have had several instances where these brave, unpaid men were severely burned, one in an oil explosion and one in a prairie fire. Thank god for people like them.

Wendy said...

How terribly sad. I am keeping those (both people and wildlife)close to my heart and hope for healing soon. I'm glad you are safe.
Blessings and prayers for all.

gma said...

OMG Robyn,
I have been watching the news.
This is dreadful.
And to find out some fires were deliberately set.
Of course I send positive thoughts of love to all who are suffering.
with tears
xx

Moonroot said...

The situation is just awful. My family in Australia are all safe, but know people who have lost their homes. My uncle burst into tears while telling us about it on the phone yesterday.

I wish I could send you some of our snow...

laoi gaul~williams said...

i am so glad we get nothing on this scale here, all those poor people :(