This summer is merciless.

That by definition is a mensch.

I'm glad he performed and brought pleasure to so many and then saw the suffering and tried to alleviate what he could. Tikkun Olam....repairing/fixing faults in this world we live in.

 Mr. Cohen.

My parents are situated in Healesville, which is very close to Kinglake, and not far at all down the road from Marysville.

Both of those towns are pretty much non-existent now ...nothing left.

My parents and some relatives houses are still under threat as I type this, and I've just heard that they've been evacuated again for the second time in as many days.

There are now fires in the Mt Riddell area, which is just at the outskirts of Healesville.

This is a really horrible event, and I really feel very sad at the tragic loss of lives and property thus far.

My heart goes out to those who have suffered losses of friends/relatives/loved ones.

My thoughts are with them.

I got a call today from my mate from Adelaide...who stays with us each year for the F1 Grand Prix....[he's a Track Firie]....he's just got the call to fly over here to help with the fires...will be here tomorrow.

Already there are Kiwis over here as well.

It's probably about time we bought our OWN 'Elvis'....instead of borrowing Cali's one each year.....[another firie I know was Elvis's 'spotter' last time it was really needed a few years ago.]

saw last night...a segment on koalas being treated that would otherwise die with burnt feet etc....but when you think about the huge number of hectares burnt...it's a drop in the ocean....but it's something...

and many vets donating their services free.....

Koalas already got enough problems with chlamydia and other microbes that like them so treatment success will be guarded  and the Devils in Tassie got some real nasty flesh eating facial tumours too so our wildlife under big threat at present. Neither reproduce that fast due to somnolence for one and nastiness for t'other.

Healesville Sanctuary is still under threat too where lots of the koalas would be taken to normally for treatment.

Yeah Jafo,got warm here in Adelaide.We got lucky,Saturday was hot,dry and windy(no fires though).I feel for everybody in Victoria,not something you want to happen(especially when lit by morons who want attention).Have donated at work,need to get everything back to normal as soon as possible.Only problem is it will never be the same again ever.

To much lost.

It's time to revise the building code in 'fire-prone' areas.

Welcome to the nuclear bomb-shelter.

And screw those greenie legislators who prohibit tree clearing.

Either people grow brains and common sense or we get yet another black friday...ash wednesday...or whatever this will be tagged-saturday.

murph...the winter equivalent would be an avalanche that wipes several towns off the face of the earth, destroys over 1000 houses, kills probably 300 [many won't be identifiable for months] and makes about 3000 homeless....and fills hospital burns wards to a greater degree than the terrorist bombing in Bali.

I have always loved the winter months, and despised the heat in the summer so i feel for you guys down under, my thinking is, it is easier to keep yourself warm by adding more clothing or turning up the heat/fireplace, but in summer you can only take so much off before the police arrive and tell you to put more clothing on, plus during the winter, i can spend some quality couch time without feeling guilty, warm weather usually means i have to be outside doing something constructive, or destructive which it seems i am pretty good at

the communities are still doing it tough.....and now.....lost the li'l dude....that kinda symbolised hope....

li'l Sam....

I look at how the communites are still living....and wonder where all the millions donated....actually went....