Hi guys

Well that was quite a weekend. I live about 500 metres from Brooklyn which was saved last friday night by the dedicated actions of several hundred firefighters. However the fires burned to literally inches from most of the houses through town. Also there were two Ericson Skycrane Tanker helicopters working frantically- not just here but throughout the Sydney Metro area. These giant choppers , known as Elvis and The Incredible Hulk have saved thousands of homes during the last few weeks. I watched them filling up just by the island yesterday and they can fill their 9 tonne tanks in 35 seconds. These guys flying them are just heroes.
Access to Brooklyn has been cut off for all but locals since friday and it took me several hours to get home on friday night.
Our power dropped out on friday but was restored last night- we have all had to throw perishable food out which must be hard for the local restaurants. Also, all the local shops have lost the contents of their freezers and fridges- icecreams, frozen food, vetgetables and meat - all gone.
The volunteer State Emergency Service turned up on a barge yesterday with two pickup trucks full of Ice so at least we kept the beer cold otherwise it would have been a complete disaster.
This morning, Monday, apparently there has ben some easing although the Ku-ring-gai National Park across the river still has a couple of very large fires burning in inaccessable places and these will once again be a problem when the weather heats up again later in the week. I can't see Brookly through the smoke this morning and this is a bit of a problem for me as I only have one lung and smoke definitely does not agree with me.
Nobody killed amazingly and a miracle that not more than 49 houses lost.
Thak you for all your concern
Michael