Victorian bush fires.

Yesterday was the hottest day in Victorian history temperatures were recorded at 48 degrees. Here hot days are usually followed by a cool change, I hoped with all my heart that it would rain, not because I was hot but because I wanted the peoples whose lives were being destroyed to stand a chance at keeping there homes and their lively hoods. The cool change came but probably hindered the cause. The fires in the state of Victoria are unstoppable. To date 84 people have lost their lives and over 700 homes have been burnt to the ground, 1000’s of people are gathering at emergency aid stations with nothing apart from the shirts on their back and the fires are still raging. I never watch the news, I find it too upsetting, but this is happening just hours from our home, some as close as London is to Brighton and today we learnt that Marysville has been totally wiped of the map, the entire township destroyed. Marysville is the small town where El and I stopped just 4 weeks ago to look at their local market, have lunch, visit the waterfalls and swim in that wonderful outdoor pool. To hear that it has been erased from the planet by fire which they believe deliberately started is just such a terrible tragedy. I am so angry, I am so saddened. They believe that it may take up to a week to distinguish the 16 separate fires currently raging. I do not have words to express how I feel I find myself in floods of tears at every news flash such total illogical destruction. It is an incredible reflection on the Australian people, already funds have been set up, helplines and donation lines. And the Government have set aside a huge chunk of money in such uncertain times to help try and restore the lives of all those who have been affected. If I had one wish today I would wish for a way to stop this, to control the fires, some currently 80km across the front line. Sadly there is no way. The firemen will work through the night for the 3rd day running, the hospitals will work overtime to deal with the victims and the poor people, the poor unfortunate people who have lost everything will awake tomorrow to try and assemble some sort of a life. What a cruel world we live in. Certainly I shall be counting my blessings this evening.

Love to you all.