The Wash Up From the Fire

It has taken a while to get back to the blog and finish the story, but I think our stars are well out of alignment!  I have been sick, Allan 'almost' as sick as me, one of the wheels caught fire on the boat trailer as they towed it to the boat yard, dad backed into my car the morning after and to top it all off the hard drive of my brand new notebook crashed.  I picked it up this morning thanking God that all the data was retrieved and that included 8 months of photos!!  I was backed up to the end of 2010 but had been lazy with this years photos -when will I learn my lesson!!!?

 We had 32 firefighters attend from Port MacDonnell, Allendale East, Mt Gambier and Donovans just over the border.  Half were on our side of the fire and the others were at the rear of the shed saving the house that was only a few metres from our shed and in the direct path of the flames.  Lucky no damage at all, just some smoke in the house.

 The fire boys were awesome

 The freezer only took a few minutes to become totally destroyed.  This time last year it was FULL of salmon ready for the fishing season - that would have been a rather large snack!!

 The boat was pulled from side of the shed almost as soon as we were aware of the fire.

 The photo below shows the total devestation of the fire.  The only things that have been found and usable are the branding irons and a few pot bases.

 The fire was no sooner out when the offers of help started pouring in, from food to physical help for Allan to get his gear done (all of his hard winter work of preparation, 100 pots fully rigged out were in the fire), a shed to house his gear and the list goes on ...  THANK YOU.

The police stayed all night keeping an eye on things, the CFS returned around 6pm to a couple of spot fires that had reignited.  We had no electicity to the house so we went to Aunty Bev and Uncle Bruces for the evening and were very spoilt with a wonderful meal and hot shower!

Next day the CFS, police, forensics and CSI from Adelaide attended and they were fabulous to deal with.  I have a few pics still on my little camera to up load yet.

Thank you everyone who has sent messages, called in, offered help - it has been overwhelming :) The biggest of thanks to RB, without you it would have been so much more difficult to deal with - mmmwah.

Even though we have a mess to deal with and some shopping to do!! we are blessed.

Well, What's Been Happening in Your World Lately?

Well, it has been a little hot way down south. This is the horrible scene from our shed burning down on Wednesday.  Have you any idea what you have in your shed?  If not, grab your camera and go find out, record for the hope that you may never have the need to use them.

I'm thinking we are mostly over the stress and shock.  I was home from work sick, the three girls were also sick, so were all being sick together, when it happened, unfolding right in front of our eyes.  There is not one item salvagable and the shed is totally destroyed, along with the freezer on the left of the photo.  More pics to come when more time and inclination allows.

We are so very grateful for the support and assistance shown by family, friends and total strangers, thank you just doesn't seem enough.

During last week's devotion at school we had to choose a favourite Bible verse and combine it with some art  - mine being John 14:27 starting with "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you......" This has seen me through some tough times not the least being the past couple of days.  But last night around 2am when my coughing was keeping me and everyone else awake I headed to the couch to watch some early morning TV and came across Joyce Meyer's "Boot Camp" show - Enjoying Everyday Life and she spoke at some length about the gift of peace.  Just the right time and the right place!  Thanks Joyce :)

A Few More From Day's Gone By

There are some real treasures in this lot.  This one is the 'first' Almyra (my dad named his boat the same, Al for my Mum's older sister Alice and Myra for my mum). 

On the boat my mum's beloved big brother Fred and his wife Gwen, who also happens to be my Dad's sister, along with my Grandad Hercules.

 My Mum's family, in the only official and dressed up family portrait.  This photo was in my home as we grew up - I wonder where the original has gone?  Mum the little one int he middle.

My Dad's family, photo taken in Hobart Tasmania - before Dad was born though! 
There are 5 of his siblings in this photo, he was number 6 of 7.

 There are not too many of Carol, but his one is a cutie and a real find.  Carol with cousin Leonie

The whole crew from the Rocks. We usually had similar photos taken at the beginning of each school year. Me front left in the grey uniform, sister Carol three along in the front and big sister Linda in the rather oversized beret in the back row!  I wonder why they lined us up in front of a car?
Still trying to work out the little boy in the front - he looks like a ring in!

 Little me at around six months of age by the look, don't really know for sure.

 Little me with the dog and the chook.

 Baby sister Carol - we couldn't be more different!  Me with blonde curls and Carol with black curls!

 Here we are again, the girls cousins: me, Linda, Leonie, Keryn, Carol and Rosemary.

The girls cousins in this photo, me, Linda, Leonie, Carol were a little closer in relationship - boy meets girl, boy introduces little sister to girl's little brother, they get married, they get us - get the picture :)

 Below is my absolute favourite.  I don't know the occasion, but I suspect it was a special one for most of the family to be 'dining' al fresco.

 My Grandmother in the front, my Grandad to the right and my Mother next to him.

Just love it!  I wish I could crawl into the photo and experience the occasion with them all.

"A Few Nice Shots of Chase"

Bron sent these photos of Chase via email with the quote, "A few nice shots of Chase"                          Bron, they are a bit more than nice!

 They are just so cute

 And so sweet

 And so gorgeous

And so beautiful!

Thanks for the 'nice' shots Bron xx