The weather is fine and sunny, the beaches are crowded with holiday makers and family parties and heaps of kids as it is school holidays. But further inland our brave fire fighters, 70% of them volunteers, are fighting to save houses and property from bush fires in western New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. It was a scorcher today up to 110 degrees here on the coast, unheard of by most people and scary with those hot winds and tinder dry bush all around us. And further inland it was even hotter, and not a rain cloud in sight to give us hope of cooler weather. Which reminds me of last year's posts by Fred (fking) on his Texan summer.

Down in southern Tasmania, a place where it snows in winter, a small town was almost wiped out by fires. It is so sad to see, via our TV screens, someone going back to the pile of twisted metal and smoldering wood that was once their home, pitiful to see an older man cry as he looks at the crumbling fire blown ash that was once his small retail business. It is all very well for the politicians and the insurance companies to say "they can rebuild" but what of the emotional damage to people, the lost pets, the irreplacable memories, the forsaken neighbourhoods as neighbours give up the fight and move rather than rebuild. You can never rebuild a small community back the way it was.

I spent today visiting two old friends, one a lady now fading after a vigourous life, the other my age and after two years a widow finally setting off on adventures. She is flying off to join her son in San Diego next week for a two week vacation. It is the first time she has flown so far away from her home near me, her first visit to the United States and like most women she was wondering what to pack, what to wear, how she would find her way around. But she was excited! She said she will keep in touch and let me know how she is doing. Can't wait until she does. Two women very dear to me, both good supporters in times of trouble - God's blessings to me.

I also had two different visits from two old friends on Saturday, people that I hadn't see for a while, one two years, one for 35 years! It is so good to have friends and acquaintances, especially now I am on my own. I need people who have know me since...school...work...marriage...pregnancy and the birth of three children...middle age and retirement...all different people from different parts of my life. I need them and somehow I manage to drag some of them through life with me...hanging on tight when times get tough. No, some of them didn't appear through the bad years and are only just getting back in touch now. It is so sad they couldn't have been here but some people do not cope through the tough times, yours or their own. I used to think that mattered, now I don't.

Last Friday my grandson Christopher fell off the top bunk bed where they are staying for their two week vacation and broke his elbow, today he was operated on in a hospital in Canberra and the elbow has been pinned back in place the way it should be. He is in hospital for one night and then hopefully he will be having a six week period of healing and be back to normal. He is a philosophical young man and will cope. It will be a dull summer, no swimming, no going to the beach etc but he will cope with that too. I am proud of the way he goes through life, he is a credit to his parents. But then I am a doting grandmother and somewhat prejudiced.

I've had a few meltdowns the past week, the 2nd of January was the anniversary of my Dad's death and that was not a good day. I had some problems with the car, another reminder I have to do things for myself now and I have to take it for repairs tomorrow. The interrnet provider changed my plan and I don't know what to do about that. I got some bills which were a lot higher than I thought they would be. Those are the kinds of things we all deal with every day but another reminder that all problems are my problem now. An old proverb says: A trouble shared is a trouble halved, a joy shared is a joy doubled. Single and alone means no-one to share it with.

So prayers for all of those affected by bush fires, especially those alone who have to work it out all by themselves. Prayers for young families who have no home, kids who have no school to go back to, old folk who will lose valuable links in their friendship chain. I pray a lot and like an old rector of mine I probably need to carry a little book with the names of those I am praying for so I don't forget anyone. I could use it in those long supermarket queues that come from living in a delightful area of coastline where holidaymakers love to come for the school holidays, especially at Christmas time.

My memory is also not what it once was. Maybe that is one of the blessings of ageing, a memory that fades out the bad times along with the good. Imagine what is would be like if our memories were always fresh and painful as well as happily remembered and joyful.