Christmas Down Under

This should have appeared in the February newsletter, had there been one - better late than never....

Message from Down Under

Trust everyone had an enjoyable Christmas and we look forward to news on how the Austrian holiday went. We spent a quiet Christmas this year, had Yues’s folks over for lunch. It was a grey old day, not much sun, which brought a welcome cool change from the heat.

We still have drought conditions in the eastern states and of course this does not help the bushfire problem. There were some extensive fires in New South Wales and Victoria. Lives and property was lost in these fires. The threat has eased for the moment but the place is tinder dry and no significant rain in sight. The way things are going it looks like Sydney is soon to get a water desalination plant on Botany Bay to help out with drinking water.

Just to prove that this is a crazy country, would you believe it, we had a white Christmas.

Snow fell in three states-Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania. The photo taken on Christmas Day shows a fire crew in front of their tender on Mount Bullah in Victoria. They were a little bemused at having to fight bushfires during a snowfall! Meanwhile in far north Queensland they had to batten down the hatches when a couple cyclones passed through the area. They are now recovering from extensive flooding.

Couldn’t resist including a photo of the fairy on our Christmas tree.

Yes, it’s Mister Bean’s teddy, his name is Warren. It’s a long story that I best relate when items of news are thin on the ground. All I will say for the present is that Warren was fostered to us after I lost my Voodoo Doll. It was Helen’s idea I think she had just started high school, so it’s a few years back. Talk about the “Perils of Pauline” well, that was nothing compared to what Warren went through. One day the story will be told.

And, finally, there is some beauty in bushfires. I took a photo at sunrise from our back verandah, it looks like we are on a tropical island. The photo was taken the day after we had some bad fires on the north side of Sydney. The vivid colours are due to the smoke and dust in the air.

All our very Best Wishes to you all from the land downunder.