Thursday 29 January 2009

We're having a heat wave

What a week we're having weather wise, we're set to break all of our previous records. The temperature was 43 deg C yesterday, 44 today and they predict 43 for tomorrow. 44 deg C is 111 F. We have a cool change to look forward to on Saturday, it's only going to be 35 ha, ha, ha.
I live in one of the most beautiful parts of the world, but, unfortunately it's also one of the most bush fire prone parts too. So I've been taking my 'special' things to work with me each day. Things that couldn't be replaced if the house burnt down.

It's amazing when you stop and actually have to choose what you would take. I took my external hard drives from my computer, they have all of my photos. I've taken drawings that my children and grand children did. My very old jewellery tools. Some of the jewellery I've made and a very special necklace given to me by Nina and one Jen made for me. My hand made journals and a very special one made for me by Judy and altered books.

Nothing practical, no undies or clothes. No food. Just the essentials, I couldn't possibly live without my jewellery or journals.

We just hope now that we can survive another few days. I was here during Ash Wednesday in 1983, it was one of Australia's worst fires ever, 79 people died in Victoria. We were surrounded by fire, it's a day I'll never forget.

Anyway I'm still doing art, only guess what, all of my photos are on my external hard drive that's packed up by the front door, ready to take to work tomorrow. This is the first post I've written and never had any photos, I'll have to make up for it over the weekend.

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

good luck to all of you in the area. it seems there is always a price to pay for extremes! we'll be thinking of you here in the cold and snowy u.s. lyle ps and pe0ple ignore climate change!

Chrisy said...

Hope ur managing to stay cool in the horrible weather down there...think i'd just end up a blog on the floor incapable of doing anything except shallow breathing...

Sam Marshall said...

Hopefully the weather will settle down soon for you. It's lovely that you treasure these special gifts.
Do you have air con?
We just had a cyclone in our town-only category 2, still managed to flood our classrooms, (which stink)and we're starting school on Monday...

Plum Blossom Lane said...

I've been dreaming of summer, but that is just too hot for me. Praying you and your home stay safe. Hope you can have a cold drink and find some shade.

Leslie Avon Miller said...

Oh Ro: my thoughts are with you. I’ve been through a natural disaster, a wind storm that destroyed the home I was living in, and a lot of the structures around here. It’s a power I will never forget. How wise you are to have your precious treasures packed up and ready to take with you. I hope the animals are okay too.

fontainefleurie said...

many times it is in my mind, what if... my house will burn down and what to take with me! Here in Holland we don't have these hot days and we are surrounded by water. But when the there is thunder and lightning, we have to be carefull. It is smart of you to take that the most important external 'brain' and external 'bodyparts', because life would be very 'disabled' if they are gone for ever... I will blow some cold wind from here! xDorie

Anonymous said...

Stay safe! (I'm in San Diego, CA...very familiar with the drill too.) Good thoughts for you...

Jeane Myers said...

yikes! nature has a way of making us prioritise our lives - the same thing happens often here in the summer - we live in a very forested area and in very dry summers we have the same fear that it will ignite - sponges in cold water! to stay cool!

Judy Wise said...

You are cool headed in the face of this, I must say. I'm praying for a quick settling down of your weather and maybe a good soaking rain. Life is an anxious proposition at times. Thinking of you and sending safe vibes. ((hug)) xo

Anonymous said...

Hi Ro, I haven't commented for a while but have been following your blog for a long time. We're having a cold snap in the UK, with temperatures for the weekend predicted down to -7, but uncomfortable as that is I don't think I'd swap it for Oz and the very real threat of a bush fire! Hoping you and yours stay safe, Cat

KRCampbellArt said...

Oh my gosh! And, in Michigan, we are buried in snow with more on the way. I love reading about the warm weather but 111F is a little too hot for me. I hope you get some cooler temps.

Corrine said...

The temps in OZ even made it onto the national news over here. I'm still waiting for summer, seems like we've only had a week of it so far.

Karen Cole said...

Please send some heat my way. I'm sending you some of my very cold dampness. I hope you like it.

Save the art.....that's what I always say.

Dot said...

Hi Ro

I have been thinking of you this week in this extreme heat. And know you live in a beautiful part of Melbourne ; one that is also prone to bushfires. I too, remember ash Wednesday in 1983. I used to live in East Doncaster and we smelt the fires up in the hills on that night. One of my cousins lost all her belongings when her house in Belgrave South caught fire. Luckily no one was hurt.

You are being very wise to take your special belongings with you to work every day. I am thinking of you and hoping the weather cools down very soon.

Much love

Dotxx

juliaD said...

Hi Ro,
I am sitting in front of the Air COn, in one room, drinking water and spraying myself...have no clients left this week, thk gdnss..as I cant think strgt, I am Praying for you and yours up there where you are...as I gave birth to Rachel when Ash Wednesday was happening and remember it so well..so I feel for you...very much...and agree with your choices of emergency stuff to take with you, I would too...but how bad must you feel leaving all your beautiful art behind...hoping its there when you get home..how awful for you...
and pray all is going to go well....Julia...xxx

Joanne said...

Oh Ro, so many things you have to be on top of at the moment! At least you are fire aware and thinking clearly in advance. I would not know where to start. The only problem I have to worry about is if the air cons can hold out for a few more days! Not looking forward to the electricity bill though.

sharon young said...

I've only experienced temperatures like this once camping in France in 2004, without air conditioning or a pool, we had to go to the local supermarket for some relief! And the rest of the time I spent wrapped in a wet scarf in the woods, I couldn't even go to the local lake as the sand was too hot to walk on!!

I hope it cools down soon for you, it must be a very uncomfortable & tense time.

lindacreates said...

Ro, what a horrible feeling to have to think about losing your home everyday as you leave for work! It sounds like you are really having a horrid heatwave. That is too hot to even think. I hope it passes very soon.

Kim Palmer said...

Hi Ro, thanks for the lovely comments over on my blog. Hope your expected change has kicked in by now and it is all you could wish for, which I'm sure is a substantially larger drop than only down to 35 degrees!

Julie said...

I cannot imagine how it must be to leave your house in a morning not knowing whether it will be there to come home to in the evening. We take so much for granted here. I do hope it cools down for you soon. I will never complain about the cold again.

Judy said...

you crack me up sometimes - maybe you can make an altered book out of...hmm. better leave that out

Katiejane said...

Oh Ro, that is horribly hot! And we are so cold here. Everything is frozen here, looks like Antarctica.

I hope you and everyone you love escapes fire. That would be so devastating, to lose so much.

Anonymous said...

Hi Ro: my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Stay safe : )
Blessings, Sandra in AZ

Jen Crossley said...

I have been thinking of you and this heat worring about fires I wait to hear hoping there not near you.Your sweet to take my necklace but save those old jewerly tools for sure
Jen
melting away

jo horswill said...

Hi Ro...like you I have all my precious photo's and (mums) jewellery, ready to go. Cat baskets are ready and that's about it.
Bit scary, thank goodness we didn't get last weeks winds!!!
Feel for the people out in Gippsland, I have family in Yinnar...

Steph said...

Told you to send some heat over here! ;)
Well I hope everything will be ok and no fire close to where you live. Take care!

girlgonethreadwild said...

I'm melting over those CARVED stamps you did Ro!

Hitting the road for two weeks,

if the tree is still there when I get back...

OO.

XOXO

girlgonethreadwild said...

You're TOO kuhl for that heat.

Anonymous said...

and now i breathe a sigh of relief ...a cool breeze. I was thinking of your lovely garden during the heat and wondering how it fared. I'm so glad the threat of fire has passed for now. I've never seen it like this tho', Ro - (even in Adelaide) - so many animals here have succumbed to the heat. I'm seriously considering going south....much love mandy

Candace said...

I have been lazy and not even lurking here lately, Ro! Seriously, work and other bits have been nutty but as always you are up to your usual adventures in good living -- the temperatures notwithstanding. Wow, that is some heat wave. I think I would melt into a waxy yellow puddle like a candle. Or spontaneously combust...take care!

Jane Eileen said...

I can only imagine what you must be going through. Please post and let us know you're ok whenever you can. Eyes will be on the news and our hearts will be with you and all the the Austrailian people.

Gaby Bee said...

OMG Ro, hoping you and yours stay safe. What a horrible feeling to have everyday to think about losing the home. We don't have these hot days in Germany... my thoughts are with you.

Gaby xo

Ann Christine Dennison said...

I would melt and whither too in 45 degrees, phew! No more complaining about the cold weather here!