Too many tears by so many people. Tears of utter despair and hoplessness. But there are tears of joy and relief as well. Then the tears of the rest of the country. We are all crying it seems.

Thank you for your kind offer, but you know me, always choccies squirrelled away somewhere!

Bill,

Good to see you here. Your blog posts musthave been a hard thing to report on. Images and words all painting a picture of total destruction.

I am amzaed at the donations total so far – 37 million, from here and overseas. Thank god for the generous hearts of people everywhere.

Kim,

I am with you. I have reached the point where I can’t bear to hear/watch/absorb the horror anymore. It is so much to take in. The heartbreak of the lady who had to set her horses free, only to find out they had perished horribly. But I still find myself tuned in, buoyed whenever there is a happy ending – the man who found is cat Mousetrap had survived. And these are just the animal stories that have affected me! The human side means so much more.

Enjoy Coles for me. No bananas here…..only the unripe ones on my backyard tree.

Mandy,

It must be so much more painful for you, family and friends that you know and love. You must want to be there just for them.

It’s not just the mongrels who did this, but the ugly vultures who are now preying on the tragedy – pretending to be charities and stealing money from those who want to help. Anger and revulsion for those who would stoop so low.

It’s a wee bit drier today – I’ve actually go some sheets on the clothesline – a minor miracle. The clouds are gathering again though….

I cant bare to even look at the yahoo page….

I cant look at the paper – well read the articles….

Now, my favourite radio talk back show has dedicated itself to the cause, have had to turn that off now…..

Its all so very, very sad (and confusing why someone would deliberately light a fire for starters – if that is the case)

So…. I sit here, with NO noise around me, almost looking forward to the tunes of ABC kids that will be ringing in my ears in the next hour….

I did catch the weather this morning – a big line of rain clouds visible – wishing it to head down south – you guys could dry out, the fires could be washed away….

Has the flooding subsided? The price of bananas down here has doubled, so I am guessing not – not that I am complaining, just passing comment…

Will appreciate my full Coles supermarket Friday – they are donating all their profits to the Fire Appeal.

Cheerier news…….I love the cute bats – I remember being amazed by their sheer numbers when we were there – the kids couldnt believe it – and the noise!!!

Good luck on the food front – stay dry !

Interesting pictures about empty shelfs in supermarkets, something you only expected in eastern european countries. Hopefully things will get better soon.

I hope you get some food soon and tim tam offer is still open but I guess as you cant get mail……..

The tragedy keeps unfolding every minute. It is hard to get it round my head that 300 could be dead. 300. That’s like a war casualty figure. I still keep asking how?

Doda, they thik they are closing in on someone that started fires a few days before the Saturday inferno. Our Prime Minister has called these people “Mass Murderers”. It has stirred some strong sentiment.

Tazar, you grew up around there in Victoria? you must be feeling just awful. I hope all of your family are feeling safe.

I know I cannot watch a lot of the coverage anymore – it sort of seeps into your mind. A big wave of sadness just washes over me. Hearing the stories is just too much.

And thank you for your concern about my head. It’s almost stopped imploding now. It was the constant throwing up which was a real bugger.

Snos, BYO food, mozzie & croc repellant. Hopefully the roads will have reopened by the time you get to Ingham (although torrential rain is forecast tomorrow….) Dengue mozzies bite all day, and hang around houses only. WE are their food source. Just wonderful.

Fran, it’s unbelievable that some idiot in Adelaide was seen lighting 3 fires yesterday. I hope they catch him and give him “just rewards” for his efforts.

The bats pooh strips paint, so when they eat the fruit from our palms overhanging the deck, you gotta get in there quick smart. Did I mention they squeal like spoilt kids at night? At least it sort of drowns out the curlews and frogs…