Thank you for your prayers.

I guess there is a God. Probably many Gods, of many religions. Today (Friday 27th February) was going to be another extreme fire danger day for Victoria, according to the experts. Whether it was by chance or by people praying, it was nowhere near as bad as predicted. Here in Eltham it got to about 34 deg.C, and the wind was barely a breeze. I used to think 34C was HOT...I doubt I will ever feel that way again. It was warm, yes - too warm for me to sit outside for any length of time, but it was not unbearable.

The air was full of smoke this morning, probably drifting across from the Dandenongs and Warburton, poor buggers. But it dispersed during the day, and tonight I think most people in Melbourne will be able to sleep a bit better than they did last night.

Our kookaburra visitors didn't turn up first thing this morning, which worried me some, as you know how birds and animals are about sensing danger. But four of them came into our yard about 10 am, and had a nice snack of pet mince. The whole lot (about 10 of them) arrived later in the afternoon and were treated to minced beef, which they flew down to take from my hand...gee those beaks are powerful. I would not like to be a mouse or lizard at the wrong end of a kookaburra. Even worse to be a snake. At least the mice and lizards are pretty much swallowed in one gulp. Snakes have to be smashed against a tree or rock until they die, before the kookaburra can eat them!