While I was fiddling with my Pred - Albany was burning !!

[Rimmy]

While I have been focusing on my health and all its requirements we have just been reminded there are 'bigger things' to distract us at times like having to evacuate in the face of bushfires which are too close for comfort. The Lower Great Southern in - Albany - in Western Australia is wonderful - a beautiful place to live - BUT dry Summers, dry soil, high winds and a storm without rain can produce disaster very fast when people 'burning off' fuel loads - even Govt depts doing 'prescribed burns' to similarly protect from fires - get out of hand. Albany in the last few days has had many small and quite huge fires stretching volunteers to full capacity. Most under control now but strong winds can reignite even small embers. So almost forgot my Pred this am after sleepless night, urgent packing of essentials in car and being able to return home as things were controlled. Not fun - but we love this beautiful place so we have to take - like with our health - the 'good' with the 'bad'. (To see all the great things about this area visit if you wish the website of the Frenchman Bay Association - has some great flora and fauna pics.)

Here is a pic looking across Princess Royal Harbour to the opposite shore - only a few kms from our home showing a large prescribed burn getting out of control ... it's 'out' now !!

Best wishes

Rimmy

[Hidden]

Wow. That's scary. It's hard to see beyond our own little things going on sometimes. But everything Carrie risk and like you say...if you.live where you are that makes the risk doable.

I will keep my fingers crossed for no thunderstrims, careless ciggie disposal or numpties with fire starting equipment. 🌻

[SheffieldJane]

Oh Rimmy! This strikes terror into me, having 8 family members in Australia 4 in rural North Boambee Valley, on the East coast, where you can see the charred reminders of past bush fires. My son in law is both volunteer life guard and volunteer fireman.

How stressful it must be to leave your lovely home and orchards not knowing whether you will see them again. How are you feeling? I imagine that you may get some sort of physical reaction to your night time evacuation, and will need to take special care.

Sending you my very best wishes! I am so glad you and your partner and home are safe and the fire is out. Bless you! 💚

[Rimmy in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thanks SJ - you obviously have a good idea of how devastating some fires can be. We have been lucky in the decade we have lived here that we haven't had any major fire events despite being in a 'risky' location. Our orchard is located further away - but they also had fires in that area so lucky our trees escaped there as well !! Stressful but at least we had some time to decide whether to leave and we always agreed not worth the risk to stay and fight a fire to 'defend' our home as it can result in disaster very easily. Anyway all such experiences give 'relativity' in terms of what really matters in life !!

Thanks for your kind thoughts.

Rimmy

XX

[Pongo13]

Had there been a fire here prior to diagnosis, I would have been unable to get anywhere quickly and least of all out of bed. Thank goodness for pred. Happy fiddling x

[Rimmy in reply to Pongo13]

Agree !!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Oh wow Rimmy,

That’s scary. All best wishes for you and family. Keep safe.

[CT-5012]

First visited Australia tentyfive years ago, been back three times since then loved it. Stay safe.

[Hidden]

Oh my goodness... I pray no one was hurt! What a shame... Thank the powers that be, that you are both okay!!

xxx

[Rimmy]

Thanks Melissa fortunately no loss of life - some properties destroyed/damaged and some difficult fires still raging in the countryside outside of Albany - so fingers crossed for all involved there that they can resolve them soon. We are fine - thanks for your kind thoughts.

XX

[PMRpro Ambassador]

The world seems to be either burning up, you and Hawaii spring to mind, or drowning - Europe, Germany in particular, has had more rain than is fair recently! Probably as well since there have been major thunderstorms - always risky with dry weather.

Stay safe

[Jackoh]

Looks and sounds awful. - stay safe. Xx