I have to say I’m not religious in any sense of the word … but I’m praying for a reprieve for those poor people who are suffering so badly in the tragic bushfires raging south of us here. It is heartbreaking to see the death toll steadily climb each day, and anyone who does not feel touched in some way must have hearts of stone.
Watching the news tonight had tears rolling down my cheeks. One generous soul who had lost his own property and seen so many of his neighbours properties destroyed spent 6 hours driving around the township helping living victims to safety. After saving 12 lives, he was found by his brother laying in the street in front of the local pub with his dog at this side. On asked whether he would go back to live there, he said how could he? He would be forever haunted by what he had seen – that people were normally trained to view such horrors as he had seen. I can’t even begin to imagine what he went through in those 6 hours, not to mention those other poor souls who have been at the centre of this tragedy. I don’t know what else to say … it breaks my heart …
The death toll is now sitting at 131, and the possibility to hit the over 200 mark … such devastation … such loss … such tragedy 😦
On a different note, it’s unlikely I’ll be online much over the next week or so until a new modem turns up. My modem has died a horrible death (it actually died almost a week ago now) – I just remembered on Saturday night after working all day (thankfully in air-con) that I’d forgotten to cancel my old mobile broadband account with “3”, so I’ve managed to log into my emails over the last day or two. It doesn’t have much upload/download space, though, so my online time with be very limited for a short while.
I did a whole heap of stitching yesterday on Winter Queen, but I haven’t taken a photo yet … I’ll be stitching most of the upcoming weekend, so will likely take a photo then.
In the meantime, please keep those affected by the bushfires in your thoughts and prayers. As for the mongrels that set some of the fires in the first place, I truly hope there is such a thing as karma … and hope you’re not sleeping too well with that death toll on your conscience!
Feather Stitching 
The news reports have been bringing me to tears too. All those affected are in my thoughts and I really hope things settle down soon.
I really haven’t seen anything on the news – but I can imagine (I’ve been through similar fires – but not to that extent in California). My heart goes out to all of you.
The fires are truly awful. I really hope that things get better soon.
I was horrified to hear about Brian Naylor and his wife, I remember him so well from when I lived in Melbourne…….. I was sitting in front of the computer last night, reading the Age and crying as I read about the towns destroyed.
The fires are truly horrible. I heard stories on the news on the way home tonight about people trying to escape. I can’t imagine the terror. It’s even more sad that there were sick monsters that started some of this.
It makes me feel so helpless, Anne. I’ve donated to the Red Cross, specifically for this tragedy. Wish I could do more.
Praying along with you, Anne, for these devastated lives, families, homes, and land. It reminds me of the fires that so often plague S. California and that my dd is preparing to go back to work on the firelines this summer.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. We are so saddened to hear about lives and homes lost. Please stay safe friend. We’re praying for the fires to end soon! and Karma…oh yeah….it’s a bitch!
Hi Anne,
Thank you for your concern and kind thoughts re the bushfires down here. We are only 30 kls from Kinglake, and the smoke has been drifting over us for days. I’ve seen dead kangaroos and other animals on the side of suburban roads, where they have come in from the bush – safe from the fire, only to be killed by cars. It is too awful.