General Chat

Today I got an email from my cousin who stays in the village of Tahmoor. The fire had spread so close to him about 5 km away and people were evacuated from their homes nearby. he could not leave the area for 3 days as the roads and railways were closed.
To top it all my aunty died on the 17 dec and could not be transferred to the crematorium until 27 Dec!
He says they now have the fires in his area under control but the smoke hanging in the air is awful, you need to wear a mask or stay indoors.

By stark contrast we have gales force winds and pouring rain here today.

To anyone else who has relatives or friends in the area, hope and pray they are all safe.

Florence in the hebrides

I have been following the news re the fires very closely as I have a cousin who although lives 50 miles away he works at Sydney University and has been emailing me telling how the air quality is affecting everybodys daily lives.

Seeing it on the television, just so so awful.Really brave of all the volunteers and emergency services risking their lives to save others. Puts everything into prospective really.

Florence In the hebrides

We often take our Volunteers for granted. :-(

There have been many instances of Volunteers' homes being razed to the ground whilst they have been helping to save others.

Tragic times!

That's awful Allan, the fires have made our news over here. Tough job at the best of times.

RIP

We did in WA, Caroline, but unfortunately the Eastern States are still copping the heat.

Not only horrific fires, but yesterday two young Firies were killed while fighting the fires, both with very young families :-( :-(

RIP

Glad to hear you had a slightly better weather day today Allan...rain beats heatwave any time

Yep! Pauline is a Senator from Queensland who has had various incarnations, including jailbird for electoral fraud, although she did eventually get away with that on appeal.

I don't follow her politics, but she is always worth watching and listening to. A natural comedian, although she thinks that she is being serious. A bit like Boris :-D :-D

Sunday, as you quite rightly point out, will be our longest day. Dawn is currently about 0430 :-D

Unless you're downunda! :-D

The lack of decent twilight hours make for eerie drives homes in flat country lamp-less areas - something I always enjoyed.

Doncha just love those civil/public service 'please explains', Allam. :-D

The shortest day - that is shortest daylight hours is Sunday so we'll soon notice it getting lighter at night :-D

But here the clouds have shifted and the sun is just out. It doesn't take much to please us. And.... isn't Saturday the longest day so we can start looking forward.

It is has been raining here too but now just murky and grey ( definitely to do with the weather) :-D :-D :-D :-D

:-D :-D :-D@LG

Living as I do not 40 kilometres from the town Of Collie, the only producer of coal in WA, I am aware of the Indian connection with the mines, and also some of the most audacious proposals and rip-offs perpetrated by some of that ethnicity.

This couple were interested in the North of WA.

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/billionaire-indian-couple-dreamed-of-building-australias-biggest-home-tajonswan-20160323-gnp6va.html


But again, this has absolutely nothing to do with the weather
:-D

Be thankful we don't Allan ;-) :-D we would lose more friends than we gained for sure :-D

Sheesh, LG, I wish that I had that gift :-( :-D :-D

Allan, it is known as attention seeking methinks

The thing he never can do!

Sorry, I'm still trying to work out the connection of your post with the current bushfires, Rollo :-S

In the words of Pauline Hanson, 'Please explain'

Burning bright
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_companies_of_Australia

My niece and her children live nr Brisbane and have a very hostile view of the current shambles of a government in Canberra and even more the coal companies.

While the mines cannot be shifted offshore the ownership certainly can with Indian companies for instance highly involved.

India, Indonesia, China ... Australia

It will help in WA, but not over East where they have been burning for weeks :-(

It has been a horror start to Summer in Oz :-0

That's good news, Allan .....not about the power cuts but the rain:-)

Hope the rain helps to dampen the bushfires <3