Family Re-Union in Victoria

I got a call from my sister late yesterday letting me know about a family reunion this weekend. Apparently my invite disappeared into 'netland. What fun I had organising how we are going to get there with my sister living 100km away. I hope she doesn't faint when she gets her phone bill.

One and a half hours later trawling flight sites and finally rail sites we were able to book our trip.
Tonight I will be driving up the coast to stay overnight with said sister. Tomorrow, Saturday, 6am catch a plane to Melbourne and then a hour train journey to a 'farm' where all the relos will meet up and party staying overnight then up bright and early Sunday to catch a train back to Melbourne then another all-day train back to my sisters place where I will stay overnight before heading back to my place by train to get ready for work a late start at 10am.

I'm exhausted already but what fun I will have had.

Sunday Cat Nap

In My Garden just before Sunset.

After all the rain and humidity we have had recently my wooden steps leading down to the garden had some mildew on them, so I made up a concoction of water and bleach in a bucket and with a BBQ plate cleaning brush I spent some time getting them back to a slip-free condition.

During this time I could hear a Kookaburra 'chatting' away
( they make this sound which is not the full-throttle laugh
but a sort of 'clearing the throat' sound) lol.

Anyhoo, after I finished hosing off the steps I went for a
wander around the garden to see if I could find him/her.


Here Tis


Sneaking a little closer-


Oops! too close, he/she flew to another higher branch

The old cubby house also was affected by the rain and will need to go as the plywood walls are water-logged and spongy.

My youngest son has returned home for a while so it looks like another job for him on top of the front garden makeover he is currently doing.

Friday Drinkies

Before...

...After

Enough said.

I was playing around with Photobucket's editing tool to get the bottom photo it came out better than I expected. As you can see Bailey loves to be the centre of attention.

Quintuplets

Five well fed Kookaburras sitting on a railing waiting
for their breakfast.

Clean-up continues: The recovery effort will be boosted by
the arrival of international experts today.
(AFP : Corporal Ricky Fuller)

International Help Arriving.

Meanwhile, a group of 60 United States fires recovery experts is arriving in Melbourne today to help with the aftermath of Victoria's bushfires.

Twenty-six specialists in assessing burnt areas and damage to water catchments are among the contingent.

Bodie Shaw, from the US embassy in Canberra, says the experts have been told they could be here for a month or longer, depending on the challenge of the task ahead.

He says almost half of the team's task will be assessing water catchments.

More here

Darcy tired of waiting for me to open the desk drawer

so he could play with 'his' tape measure.

"It rained (fire), it was like lava,"

HEALESVILLE, Australia (AFP) - Firefighters are battling to save Australian communities threatened by searing wildfires that have already claimed 181 lives, a toll that is expected to rise
here

A total of 450,000 hectares across the state have already been burnt out and 1,033 homes destroyed and authorities warn the threat is not over.

The 100,000 hectare Yea-Murrindindi blaze burns at the bottom edge of the deadly Kinglake Complex and if they were to merge with Bunyip, a 250,000 hectare mega-fire would be hovering close to Melbourne's outer eastern suburbs.

Firefighters were working furiously to build containment lines on Wednesday night.

"There certainly is the very real possibility that these fires may join," a Country Fire Authority spokesman (CFA) said.

He said hundreds of kilometres of control lines were being built to keep the fires apart.

More here

Australia's Bushfires
Today in each of the homes I visited, televisions were turned
to all the news channelsso even though I was working I was
able to keep up with what was happening.
Everyone is in shock, disbelief and sadness.

We are well prepared in Australia for Bushfires
but nothing could prepare the lost communities for this
horrific event.They say the firestorm at one stage covered
1.5km in 5 minutes. No-one could outrun it.
People who tried in their cars were blinded by smoke and
crashed into fallen trees.
Perished.

It is now 1.20am Tuesday morning and the last update was
135 dead and many injured.and on the other side of the
world people are trapped in their homes by snow.

Good Night.

Oh Dear!
Brian Naylor a retired television Newsreader ( 30+years) was amongst those killed in the Victorian bush fires. Sadly, his death has put a 'face' to the nameless victims
also-

except from MagnetoBoldToo! Blog

night in the day time.
Posted by: admin on Saturday, February 7th, 2009

I sit here whining.

I am hot.

I am snarling at everyone

‘Stop hogging the fan.’

‘My boobs are sweating.’

Outside the temp has reached over 46C.

Hotter than I have ever known.

I whine and complain.

Then I look out the window. The air is choked with smoke. Bushfires surround us.

http://magnetoboldtoo.com/2009/02/07/night-in-the-day-time/

SYDNEY WATER MEDIA RELEASE


Green light for kids to play under the sprinkler
http://www.sydneywater.com.au/Savingwater/WaterRestrictions/
Friday 7 February 2009

Water Minister Phil Costa today announced the Government will amend Sydney’s water restrictions allowing kids to play under backyard sprinklers on hot days. Mr Costa said the common sense measure is being introduced ahead of an intense heat wave likely to hit Sydney this weekend.

“With the mercury headed well above 40 degrees there is room for flexibility and common sense,” said Mr Costa. “Nobody will get a fine for having a sprinkler in the yard to cool down the kids this weekend.”

Mr Costa said there has been an influx of people contacting Sydney Water seeking more information on current restrictions and swimming pools due to the hot weather.

“Level 3 water restrictions remain in place,” he said. “This means that a permit is required to fill a new or renovated swimming pool larger than 10,000 litres. Once you have the initial permit you can top-up as needed.

“Play pools for the kids or your animals are fine.”

Mr Costa also reminded people to slip-slop-slap before spending any time outdoors this weekend.

“Families enjoying the outdoors with a bit of water play have to remember the danger of the sun,” he added.

All other Level 3 restrictions remain in place and include:
• Hand-held hosing of lawns and gardens and drip irrigation is allowed only on Wednesdays and Sundays before 10 am and after 4 pm
• Hosing of vehicles at residential premises is permitted only with a trigger nozzle or high-pressure water cleaning equipment (to a maximum of 10L/minute)
• Hosing residential building structures including windows, walls and gutters is allowed using a hose with a trigger nozzle or high-pressure water cleaning equipment (to a maximum of 10L/minute)
• No hosing of hard surfaces such as paths or driveways at any time
• No other watering systems or sprinklers are to be used at any time
• A permit from Sydney Water is required to fill new or renovated pools bigger than 10,000 litres
• No hoses or taps to be left running unattended, except when filling pools or containers.
For more information visit www.sydneywater.com.au

Delurking for daisymum's Friday Camera-Grab.


I have been reading the blogs of Adelaidians who have had 40+C temps for the last couple of weeks and also lately the Melbournians.

I feel like the Palm tree in the background a little aprehensive about the coming heatwave this weekend.

Just some pics of Sydney Harbour Bridge I took recently

I love this view, the iron work is so beautiful.


Two of the four Pylons that hold the bridge up.

The view from Sebel Pier One hotel window