Fire

Oh why oh why did I decide to take on the canteen rostering? Was I mad? Probably. Anyway, at least I am creating good karma for my next life- that should be worth a mansion by the sea at least!

Last weekend we had a quiet, lazy time. It was extremely hot, not so bad here in Wollongong, about 33 or 34 I guess, but we were lucky, there have been shockingly bad heat waves crossing the country, with South Australia and Victoria having 2 weeks of 45 degree days. And now the worst natural disaster since European settlement has occured, with more than 170 people (at the time of writing) dead in bushfires in Victoria. I watch the news and I just can't comprehend it- there are still 80 people missing- whole families are gone, people burnt to death in their cars as they fled, found dead in their homes. It's like a war zone. Today I took some clothes to the local radio station, who are orgainsing a charity drive, and added them to the pile of household items, toys, linen, clothes etc to be delivered to the Salvation Army in Melbourne. Ruby came with me and seemed to grasp the gravity of it, when she became upset that her (too small) pink windcheater was in the bag. I explained that it would be given to a little girl whose house had been burnt down in the big fire, and she said, "That's ok Mum, I'll give my jacket to that girl, I don't need it anymore." Unfortunately though, she thought the girl would actually be there at the drop off point, so that took more explaining.

The past few days have been much cooler after a southerly change came through. We have had some much needed rain, and my veggie garden is looking much better. I'm beginning to feel that autumn is around the corner, and next I will be organising Declan's 7th birthday!