February 8

Fire and Flood

Every Summer, Australia faces hot and dry weather conditions and bushfires become a reality. Most of the time these fires are brought under control due to the heroic efforts of firefighters. Occasionally, however, conditions conspire to cause a disaster. This is what happened on the 7th of this month as firestorms raced through several country towns north of Melbourne. They left behind wastelands.

I can’t begin to magine how those affected are feeling right now. They have lost their belongings, their homes, their lives. At last count sixty people had perished, burned or boiled alive. Some had attempted to drive away. The burned out shells of their vehicles are testimony to the swiftness of the fires. None of us can imagine the terror and suffering of those that perished. None of us can imagine the despair and desolation of those that survived.

The Victorian fires have dominated the news yet, further north, Queensland is suffering devastating floods. Let’s remember them too as they strive to get their lives back on track.

All our thoughts are with you, Victoria and Queensland.

Category: Disasters, Weather | LEAVE A COMMENT
February 8

A Huge Surprise

I received some wonderful presents on my birthday but none of those can compare to the present that the Librarian and I received today. It all happened after the family lunch at Mum’s.

Little JP had turned five on Friday but we waited until we saw him today to give him his present. We were reasonably sure he didn’t have any Lego toys so we gave him a couple of their castle sets. Youngest Bro and his wife had also given JP a Lego set so the little guy was swimming in the studded, plastic pieces. His sisters, being older and naturally bossy over their little brother, asked the Master Builder to help put the sets together. I waited for Master Builder’s usual look of annoyance but it didn’t come. My jaw hit the floor. Then the Master Builder sat down with JP and the girls to help with Lego building. I almost fell over. In short order he was regaling them with his expertise. I had to sit dwn for awhile. Then the Librarian and I grabbed our cameras to record this, possibly, once in a lifetime event.

The surprises didn’t stop there. The Librarian took the kids to the park across the road and Master Builder joined them. She later told us that the Master Builder actually joined the other kids in play and (gasp) continued talking to them. I was flabbergasted. Happily flabbergasted.

Is it possible that he is willing to make some friends? It’s hard to tell with Asperger’s but we can hope. In the meantime we have photographs of this unique event.

Category: Health, Lego | LEAVE A COMMENT