(no subject)
I can't even articulate what I think of people who deliberately start fires. It makes me so, so angry. It's enough to make you lose faith in humanity, but then other people stand up and prove you wrong. Support for victims is pouring in, and not just money - The Red Cross is being inundated with people eager to donate blood to the burns victims. And of course there's the amazing and dedicated SES (State Emergency Service) and the CFA (Country Fire Association) - a lot of whom (I'm not sure on the actual numbers) are volunteers. There was a heartbreaking story on the news about a CFA Firefighter who had gone to fight the fires, and returned to find that his wife and 2 children had been claimed in the disaster. With temperatures reaching a staggering 46.7C/116.06F in Melbourne, and incredibly strong winds - one can only imagine what a daunting task fighting these fires must be.
I'm one of the lucky ones - I haven't been directly affected, nor has anyone I know. I hadn't realised that this was being documented on the world stage though, it seems like Australia's in this bubble and you (Out there in the US, UK etc) don't hear about what happens here. This morning I was woken by a phone call from my Mum's side of the family in South Africa. They'd heard and were concerned about me, so they rung to make sure I was okay. We're not estranged, as such, but I've only met them all once and I only sort of remember them. We've never had a great deal of contact, and the last time I spoke to them was shortly after Mum died, in 2005. So it was a surprise, that they were watching this and thinking of me.
I'm one of the lucky ones - I haven't been directly affected, nor has anyone I know. I hadn't realised that this was being documented on the world stage though, it seems like Australia's in this bubble and you (Out there in the US, UK etc) don't hear about what happens here. This morning I was woken by a phone call from my Mum's side of the family in South Africa. They'd heard and were concerned about me, so they rung to make sure I was okay. We're not estranged, as such, but I've only met them all once and I only sort of remember them. We've never had a great deal of contact, and the last time I spoke to them was shortly after Mum died, in 2005. So it was a surprise, that they were watching this and thinking of me.