Heatwaves, Bushfires and Floods

The bushfires in Melbourne and the floods in north Queensland have affected everyone in Australia. People have lost houses, family members, pets and all their belongings. It is just so difficult to comprehend how they must be feeling and the devastation they have left behind. Donations are being made to the Red Cross and adverts and links are on tv, radio and various websites to encourange people to give.

People are also donating beds, bedding and clothing and other items which might help through the Salvation Army. It's amazing to think that at one end of the country it is so wet, houses have been covered and in the opposite end, it is so dry that a cigarette butt thrown out of a car window could be the cause of a horrendous fire which has killed over 130 people.

The sheer scale of Australia is hard for us poms to understand unless you have been on a road trip here or studied maps for hours on end. Adelaide where the heat wave was last week, is as far away as Gibraltar is to Colchester. Where the floods are is the distance between Cambridge and Prague. So although we are no where near either a lot of people round here know someone directly or indirectly who has been affected by these two disasters. It makes you feel very lucky.
The weather here has been warm, but we nearly always get a lovely breeze so the heat is manageble. It helps having a pool. I have been in it to cool down a couple of times today and it's the first thing Alex does when he walks through the door at night. The kids have an icelolly when they get in from school followed by a swim. Makes a nice change to a handful of biscuits and flop in front of CBBC or a playstation! Sophia and Mads ended up having a dip with Alex at 7.30pm which means going to bed with damp hair and having fun detangling in the morning!!

Our container is going through customs tomorrow and as long as everything is ok, will be delivered on Friday. Alex is taking the day off so hopefully between us we can make the most of the unpacking service we have paid for and put away things as fast as the men can unpack!

We cleaned the annexe at the weekend with the help of Harvey and 3 of his mates. I washed curtains, windows, the boys mopped the floors and hoovered and Alex cleared up broken glass from a window and put all the stuff the owner still needs to dispose of to one side. We hope to put all our borrowed furniture there on Thursday so we have a clear house on Friday when the container arrives.

Alex and I went for an explore in our garden yesterday, all 3 acres of rainforest. We found an overgrown path which we cut back about 300m, of, but the path is probably over 1km or so it will take us some time to tidy the rest. Didn't see any beasties, but it so peaceful in there. Some of the Gum Trees were over 40 metres tall and they were just beautiful to look up at with the blue sky behind. We picked up enornous palm tree frongs which have fallen down and put them along the edges to show where the path was.

We've met a few neighbours now and we are having housewarming drinks after Sophias party on the 21st. Lots to organise over the next few weeks but we are getting there.

Off to make the bed as I had a massive washing day today, which I don't mind, it's just all the blooming ironing I have to contend with. Especially as everything dries quite stiff here. Still I am using the elements and not the tumble drier so I am being green and then I don't feel so bad when I put the air con on to cool our bedroom down!!