Morning Cat Carl Curvy, and all those not blessed with C as their starting initial. Have a great Saturday, been there done that and you will find it good.
I am off to bed this Sunday morning (well it is 12:30 am.) A little welcome rain today but not enough to quieten the fires. Read all the competition stories, a challenge for the judges, but looking forward to seeing the decision.
Just the sweetest person, and such a wonderful writer as well.
Hey two poets, like writers so I am fond of Steph, and Ashley too
Over the last few days I have had a number of messages asking of I was okay and hoping I would be safe. Can I take a moment to assure you that the experience of the fires in the large cities like Sydney is way different to that of rural and regional Australia. Sydney is surrounded by National Parks none of which are burning (though there are fires in the adjacent Blue Mountains and a mega fire about 50 miles north of Sydney.)
Were one of those National Parks to burn then properties in Sydney would be vulnerable though as we live about 15 kilometers inside the northern perimeter of the city we would be reasonably safe. There is as always the chance of localised fires, one broke out in the suburb adjacent to my parents before Christmas but was quickly extinguished by helicopter water bombing. The most significant impact of the fires on urban areas is the smoke which has blanketed Sydney and this week even worse in Canberra.
Australia is one of the most urbanised nations in the world, with 90 per cent of the population living in 0.22 per cent of the country's land area and 85 per cent living within 50 kilometres of the coast. So while vast tracts of the country are burning and there are reports of almost half a billion animals having been killed by the bush fires, the threats to homes should not be overstated. But it exists and the focus since Christmas is on the coastal and inland areas south of Sydney all the way to Melbourne 1000 kilometers away. That this has occurred in the peak holiday weeks for communities that depend on tourism makes the economic impact of the fires that much higher.
Like earthquakes in other countries like Japan, fires are part of the Australian natural environment. Fire is not without politics, for instance how much controlled back burning should be allowed in National Parks? There is a long history, pre-European colonisation, of annual burning in what are now iconic National Parks like Kakadu. But we have all been bought up with the idea of having a fire management plan so we dont get into the position that some have got into of being told to shelter in their basement as it is too late to leave.
That said two things have really affected me this time.
Kangaroo Island off the coast from Adelaide is a large nature reserve. When I visited I saw by far the largest collection of koalas in the wild that I have ever seen. And many more Echidnas, or spiny anteaters, too. Much of that island has been destroyed by fire. I haven't dared look at what has happened to the wildlife
Secondly Eden a smallish town on the border of NSW and Vic has been badly damaged. The police even enforced the evacuation of the jetty as it was not safe to stand over the sea. It was only six months ago that I wrote about Eden in my pride competition story Oxford Street, and it was a particular shock to see it burning on the news.
Thank you for your thoughts and support. A significant load at these times are taken by volunteers who are the ones that most deserve our praise and support.
Good morning, New Years Eve has dawned stinking hot and smoky in Sydney.
Occasionally when conditions get extreme there is a total fire ban across the state. Just on a few days but today is one of those days with the hot temperatures and winds expected to make the fires potentially more catastrophic. Much has therefore been cancelled including fireworks in all towns including those in Western and Southern Sydney.
There are no flies on the Rump bar flies, so you will be thinking that is a shame the iconic Sydney City New Year's Eve fireworks cancelled. But no the Sydney City Council applied for and got an exemption from the fire ban, to let us say less than universal approval. Fire politics at it's best, can't take risks with Sydney's tourist reputation despite the most dangerous weather conditions in this state.
The economic impacts are already huge, holiday related businesses in the Blue Mountains are reporting revenues of 10 percent of last Christmas. People have been asked not to vacation on the South Coast in the busiest holiday period of the year.
I have kept up with my competition reading, all but three stories read and voted on. Some wonderful ones from the regulars here. Thanks to those of you who have read and voted on mine.
A coffee to start my last day of 2019. Happy New Year from down under to you all.
Merry Christmas. Christmas Day has dawned warm but not too hot down under.
Fabulous Christmas eve, part one of what will seem by the end of the day as continuous overeating. I hope you all have a safe and happy Christmas.
Up to date on competition stories and so looking forward to those still to come. I will take a coffee, even on Christmas day 8am seems a tad early for anything else.
A cooler day thank goodness. To be clear (unlike the Sydney skies) we are in no real fire danger in the urban area though there has been one fire outbreak in my parent's suburb. But a number of small communities hae been damaged and there will be risks of the fires again becoming uncontrolled as some were yesterday.
Have enjoyed the competition stories, Ping and Tangerine's, which are both excellent, amongst those read today. Twenty now done and only the last four submitted unread.
Thanks to those of you who have left such lovely comments on my story, I really appreciate the support.
It isn't too early this Sunday afternoon for a G&T, hope you all are having a great weekend.
Congratulations, so well deserved, Curvy. Thanks for all you have done, including modding (is that a word?) a fair few of my stories over the last 18 months. And being a great support to us newer writers.
Well to add to the barflies finishing competition stories, mine was published this afternoon. Titled Ice and Icing (link below) it is a love story and a change for me in that it is more serious than my other stories with no humor in it at all. Have read four other entries this afternoon (including Susie and Kat) which were all great, and I will get to Scott's next. While I have been writing over the weekend I had over 25 story notifications so I have a long reading list.
The weather down under continues to be hot and smoky. No sign of rain and none of significance forecast in the next fortnight, so the fires will continue to burn. While Monday and Tuesday were pleasant and in the 20's we are expected to go over 40 later in the week, and with higher winds, Thursday and Saturday are expected to be rough. Christmas Day, however, looks like being a pleasant 28 degrees, which is just perfect.
Evening all, hope your Tuesday goes well.
As an antidote to winter dramas, Tuesday down under was hot and smoky. Like usual you say. No today was something else, Sydney covered in a smoke haze, that reduced visibility so much that the harbour came to a standstill and sufficient dense to set of smoke alarms. Never seen anything like it, the source a mega-fire north of the city that has already burnt a footprint the size of Sydney itself. Respiratory issues have peaked in hospitals.
In a disaster in New Zealand a number of Australian cruise tourists were killed or seriously injured when the volcano (White Island, or Whakaari) they were visiting exploded yesterday.
I have managed to get three quarters of the way through my competition story which feels great. Well done to Susie for managing to complete hers with a month to spare. I might take a beer, this hot smoky evening. Take care everyone.
Hugs the lot of you, you are all wonderful
Above, and above Robin as well. One can never have enough presents to unwrap.
Afternoon all, hot and sticky here, and yes I am talking about the weather. Bikini weather and I have been in the backyard improving my tan while thinking more about my competition story. I will take a beer thanks.
Hi EW good to see you here, this is the best bar in the virtual universe, a great place for writers; a supportive bunch who generally say nice things even about my stories. Sometimes though they do forget to notice that I am from the future and am living their tomorrow here.
Not much to report as I am totally focused on the competition story, felt a bit becalmed today in the middle section, so will just have to pull finger and write. Did finish putting the Christmas tree up, which looks cool, first Christmas in our own home. Take care everyone, Annie (the Curious one not the Naughty one.)
I will join you for a beer, on this stinking hot Wednesday afternoon. Ironically the last two weekends have been the coolest days of their respective weeks. So swimming plans have not really yet been executed. But now we are in December the summer holidays are three weeks away.
Hope every one in the far north had a good Thanksgiving. That shows how long it is since I have dropped in here, the businessness of life I guess.
I have started my competition story, 2000 words done. Having managed to set the last winter competition story in an Australian summer and indeed setting the Halloween story in an Australian spring, for a change I have got with the programme and set my story in the snow. It has been one that has been bumping around in my mind, though when first conceived it was in the Australian outback.
No coyote stories not surprisingly, but I was attacked by a wild dingo in Queensland when I was three. Had me by the leg and dragged me across a path before my father decided that I was worth saving. Some in Australia say dingos only attack when provoked, not a view I now subscribe to. One of Australia's most famous miscarriages of justice was Lindy Chamberlain who was wrongfully convicted of killing her nine-week-old daughter, Azaria, while camping at Uluru in 1980. She maintained that she saw a dingo leave the tent where Azaria was sleeping, a view which was treated sceptically by most, but one which the Supreme Court in 1988 agreed with.
Where do I begin. Catherine is my bestie as she is gorgeous, kind, naughty, and oh so lovable.
Joining Cat and Sunny in an early morning coffee
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