Finally I’ve managed to sit and have the head-space to write another blog post. After the horrors of our summer in Australia, we have some relief.

Of course, Australia being Australia – think of Dorothea Mackellar’s poem – a land of droughts and flooding rains – well, that’s just it. We went about 10 months of no rain – the land was parched, the grass and trees died or were dying. There were patches of bare dirt. Cows, horses, goats and sheep were starving and many a farmer despaired.

Then the temperature soared into the 40s (C) and we burst into flames.

Australia burnt – everywhere. The landscape changed radically. Paddocks were blackened. Stock still had nothing to eat, and feed was expensive, when it could be found. Trees became roaring torches and burnt from the inside to the top, then toppled. Houses, built by frail humans were no match for the ferocity.

People cried.

The Australian spirit of endurance was called upon for this second wave of horror.

Finally, Mother Nature gave us the rain … and rain … and more rain … and even more rain. The paddocks were stripped of their top soil, but somehow seeds germinated. Dirt became mud. Bridges washed away. Water soaked the ground until it could no longer hold more.

Floods are our third disaster.

But I’m not complaining – not really.

The dams are full and so are the tanks and water catchment areas. Water is so necessary. After all – you can put your toes in the water, but not in flames.

People are now starting to re-shape and re-build their lives. Now we must adapt to our new Earth and its vagaries of climate.

Keep your chin up, hold on to hope and keep battling on. Fight against the whims of nature and now the new threat of disease. Do the best you know how, to improve the small area of this Earth that you occupy. Save water, reconsider your use of plastics, use your car a little less often and be aware of the waste you accumulate. In other words, walk gently upon this earth – she is the only home in the Universe you have. Don’t destroy it!

And don’t forget to keep peace with your soul and those around you.

Smile.