Fires again

11.1.2013

It is searing hot outside. All the apples have dropped off the apple trees and other deciduous trees are shedding their leaves. The lettuces are just about cooking so I cannot see them lasting much longer. We picked the first cucumber today and there is an eggplant ready so at least we will have something left. 

The good bit is that th e house is staying beautifully cool and we have started working on the wet room.

Al is coping well with his injury but he cannot even sit up for long. He came here to stay earlier in the week when the fire danger level was very high in Warburton. He even finds being a passenger in a car difficult, but on the good side he is getting feeling back in his fingers. I think we are in for weeks and possibly months of difficulties here.

Edd has also been to the doctor. His knee has got so bad he can hardly walk which is making it difficulty for him to do even simple things. He has already had several tests but he will probably need scans and x-rays next week. Pia injured her hand by hitting it with a hammer (not deliberately), but luckily it was not broken. I had visions of having to nurse everyone! Arden and Ti are on holiday at the beach with their mother so apart from watching fires in their area we do not have to worry about them for two weeks.

The fires are a big problem. Australia is getting higher temperatures than normal and the grass is burnt to a crisp. Tasmania has been badly affected, but luckily not where our friends live and so has NSW. As a country we seem to have learnt something and so far there has been no reported deaths. This is only a slight consolation to people who have lost their homes and their animals.

Life is slowly getting back to normal after the holiday season. We have had committee meetings for the fire group and another for permaculture. I think I will have to reduce my involvement now that I have two family members struggling with health issues. The fire group has been awarded the grant we applied for and employed our neighbour Eva to sort things out so  this is probably the best option to drop. There has been an awful lot of energy wasted on squabbling over a coffee machine. I really joined this group to try and get help for people who are still struggling with basics and we seem to be being dragged further and further from that aim.

Interestingly when the group considered how we could help people in Tasmania we were all in agreement that things like plants were given much to early and were often wasted. We all know for a fact that giving money as donations spawns its own industry before helping individuals, so we decided to start by just sending over an advise letter about things that were good and things that were not. Then at least people can benefit from our experience.

Bo and family have booked tickets to fly to England in February so I am madly knitting jumpers and hats. I have the three kids sets ready and have started on one for Bo. She has her own design ideas so I am trying to do what she wants.