Bushfire …

Just about everyone who lives in Victoria has, or knows someone who has been badly singed in one of our many ferocious fires.

They’re upon us again.

Friends of mine have a house at Coongulla on the bonny bonny banks of Lake Glenmaggie. They look across a narrow arm at the place where once there was a caravan park.

Imagine yourself in their position when they first saw this warning …

IMG_2166

The view across the Glenmaggie weir at night was both beautiful and terrifying …

bf

Their house is still standing, the fire is still burning. Presently the weather is more benign. Thursday could see another major test.

Good luck, guys, our thoughts are with you.

 

 

News from Cape Cod …

The Cape Cod Times has published an apology.

Apparently one of their reporters has been making it up as she went along.

The reporter was Karen Jeffrey, 59, a writer for the Cape Cod Times since 1981. In an audit of her work, Times editors have been unable to find 69 people in 34 stories since 1998, when we began archiving stories electronically.

On Tuesday, Jeffrey admitted to fabricating people in some of these articles and giving some others false names. She no longer works for the Cape Cod Times.

A sort of Lance Armstrong of reporters. Her best chances of future employment are probably with the ABC or Fairfax …

Mr Cricket …

Thank you, Michael Hussey, and all the best.

Your international cricket career could easily have started sooner and lasted longer.

Your cricketing brain was unmatched. Time and again you rose to the occasion, usually a crisis, and steered your team towards victory.

The quintessential cricketer, Mr Cricket, you will be missed.

Gold plating …

When I arrived home my clock was flashing. Elementary my dear Watson, a power failure. Enquiries revealed it was that very hot day last Friday, everyone turned on their air-conditioning and out went the suburb, all day.

Out in the bush it was a day of total fire ban. And hot as hades. And windy. Naturally you’d want to know where the fires were …

The CFA have been running TV ads urging people to check the warnings before they travel. Nonetheless I heard a spokesman today say that they were taken by surprise by the volume of hits on their website on the first real fire risk day of the season! Naturally the web site buckled under the strain. Meanwhile the CFA app is not working so well either.

Make sure your fire plan is in place. If it depends on access to real time information or the availability of power … make another plan.

 

 

And a happy new year …

Back in town.

I would like to say cool and refreshed, but can admit to being back in town.

I wish all of you a happy new year except Bashar Asad, if you’re reading … you’re not included.

I haven’t been in touch, so I have a bit of catching up to do. I’m pleased to see that America failed to disappear over the fiscal cliff. And they go on shooting each other, everything normal there.

Julia is charging from hot spot to hot spot saying things to improve her profile. Reminiscent of Anna Bligh, whatever happened to Anna Bligh?

In fact the prime minister’s special vehicle has been charging around a little too quick at times and has run up a few speeding fines. Her office is refusing to say who was at the wheel. Tim Blair is running a cheeky little poll as to who it might be. Pop over and join in – just click <HERE>.

The nice Mr Slipper has been summonsed to appear at the Canberra magistrate’s court, something to do with taxi vouchers. I expect Nicola or Julia will mussel up on his behalf.

Interesting year in store …

Merry Christmas …

Tomorrow, at an ungodly hour, I shall head to the farm.
I will in the next two weeks …
bottle the 2012 vintage which is shaping up very well
await the arrival of the NBN
sample the 2012 vintage
await the arrival of the NBN.
play my saxophone
await the arrival of the NBN
If, on my occasional trips to civilisation (or Maryborough) I have broadband I may make a post or two …
In the meantime, please stay safe, enjoy Christmas and be grateful that global warming has taken a break for the last decade or so …

Picture 4

There has to be something better.
Back January 7th …