So here is the thing about Australia and Australians. We are a country that does what it has to do to get shit done. We have plans. We have a never die spirit and we have a government whether it is local,state,federal that always tries to be one step ahead of the game.

I was born here and since I was old enough to understand (and probably even before) we've had it drilled into us that bushfires are apart of our lives. We know that every summer (and in those freak occurences other seasons) the mercury will rise and there is a very real chance that fire is going to happen.

We have volunteer firefighters, people who take time off from their jobs, give up holidays and family time to prepare themselves for the inevitable. We have contingency plans within our own households. Clear the gutters, clean the yards, be constantly vigilant and be ready to go at the drop of a hat. You don't get a warning, you don't get time, all you have is that split second to make your choice. Stay and fight or haul ass and take as many people with you as humanly possible.

We know just by looking around what can start a fire. We see a pile of dried out sticks and we pick them up. A glass bottle, we pick it up. A clump of leaves, we pick them up. It's annoying but it can be the difference between living and dying.All of these things have been done and are done.

These bushfires didn't happen because someone didn't clean their gutters. This happened because nature thought fuck it let's give them some 46 degree heat and see how they deal. I've never been in 46 degree heat before. I still havn't. Whilst Victoria was burning, New South Wales was sitting at 34 degrees. Still hot but not that hot. Meanwhile Northern Queensland is under water. All we can say is welcome to Australia. Here's your map, your coupon for a free beer and oh, make sure you are fucking prepared for every possible weather situation.

Even in schools here in New South Wales, if the mercury hits 40 degrees they send you home. It's happens. It's not an old wives tale. It's happened in winter. Extreme heat is a fact of life here in Australia.

All of this leads me to one point, No-one is too blame (except for the possible arsonists. I'm not to sure about that though so I won't get my tirade on). Everyone did everything they could, everything they've been taught. It was just bigger this time. Bigger and faster and deadlier and there was no time. You can plan and plan and plan but sometimes shit just happens and you can't prepare for that.

This is where the Australian spirit comes to play. We don't get hysterical. We don't blame god for hating us, or the government for not doing enough, or the guy in Number 17 who didn't dispose of his bottles properly. We just assess the situation and do what needs to be done. If our house is ok, we help our neighbour. If our neighbour is ok we help the guy across the street. If our street is ok, we move to the next and so on and so forth. If we are in another area of the country we donate money and food and clothes and we band together and we rebuild.

We don't have time to bitch and moan or place blame. All we have is the knowledge that next time it could be us. Next time it could be worse. Next time is always going to be sitting there waiting.

Sometimes there are arsonists that we can blame. We can hate them, wish for the little bugger to get what's coming to them but we don't dwell on it because there isn't time. The longer we spend plotting the little bastards demise, the longer Mr.Gray with the fake leg and the sixteen cats is without a home.
However sometimes we aren't enough. Sometimes we have to look to the rest of the world and ask for help. Some of us don't like it but sometimes we have to sit back, take stock of the situation, put our pride on hold and let people help us. This is one of those situations.

The best place to donate to is the Australian Red Cross. I know it' a lot to ask, that times are tough and money is short but it's be really awesome if you could help out.
Australian Red Cross

Also if you are in Australia it'd be awesome if you could keep all of your shopping needs on hold until Friday and do it at Coles. They are donating all sales to the Bushfire Appeal.

By the way, because my knee is now partially functioning but BENDY I am no back to semi regularly using the internet.