We'll all be rooned," said Hanrahan

We are in the grip of a heatwave. Suddenly the old song "we are having a heatwave" is not as funny any more. We are very fortunate but other parts of Australia are doing in really tough. Poor Tassie and Victoria and New South Wales are really suffering. All we can hope for is that there is no loss of life and minimal damage to propertry and animals. Many of my FB friends are in the firing line and have evacuated and then gone back fortunately all that have reported in are safe. How can we say that Climate change is not happening when we are experiencing the hotest days on record ever Australia wide. When I woke at 5.00am this morning it was cool but the sky was tinged with pink heralding a really hot day. I love where I live but I looked at the mountains that surround us and the bush and do not feel safe. We have seen towns swallowed up in flash bush fires before. What do we take.. what is essential to survival. Standing there in the cool dawn light I came to the conclusion that the only things I could not live without are my wonderful man and my beautiful 4 legged babies who could not fend for themselves in a fire. I have lived through a house fire and lost so many treasures... some I still look for but all my loved ones were safe and thats what matters at the end of the day. Every thing else is simply a possession. Yes it is inconvenient to try and replace things and somethings are unique. But at the end of the day do I really need those things. All that really matters is keep myself and my loved ones safe. 2 and 4 legged Lets hope we get a change and some decent rain where it is most needed. At the moment I feel a bit like Hanrahan

SAID HANRAHAN "We'll all be rooned," said Hanrahan, In accents most forlorn, Outside the church, ere Mass began, One frosty Sunday morn. The congregation stood about, C Coat-collars to the ears, And talked of stock, and crops, and drought, As it had done for years. "It's lookin' crook," said Daniel Croke; "Bedad, it's cruke, me lad, For never since the banks went broke Has seasons been so bad." "It's dry, all right," said young O'Neil, With which astute remark He squatted down upon his heel And chewed a piece of bark. And so around the chorus ran "It's keepin' dry, no doubt. " "We'll all be rooned," said Hanrahan, "Before the year is out. "The crops are done; ye'll have your work To save one bag of grain; From here way out to Back-o'-Bourke They're singin' out for rain. "They're singin' out for rain," he said, "And all the tanks are dry." The congregation scratched its head, And gazed around the sky. "There won't be grass, in any case, Enough to feed an ass; There's not a blade on Casey's place As I came down to Mass." "If rain don't come this month," said Dan, And cleared his throat to speak-- "We'll all be rooned," said Hanrahan, "If rain don't come this week." A heavy silence seemed to steal On all at this remark; And each man squatted on his heel, And chewed a piece of bark. "We want a inch of rain, we do," O'Neil observed at last; But Croke "maintained" we wanted two To put the danger past. "If we don't get three inches, man, Or four to break this drought, We'll all be rooned," said Hanrahan, "Before the year is out." In God's good time down came the rain; And all the afternoon On iron roof and window-pane It drummed a homely tune. And through the night it pattered still, And lightsome, gladsome elves On dripping spout and window-sill Kept talking to themselves. It pelted, pelted all day long, A-singing at its work, Till every heart took up the song Way out to Back-o'Bourke. And every creek a banker ran, And dams filled overtop; "We'll all be rooned," said Hanrahan, "If this rain doesn't stop." And stop it did, in God's good time; And spring came in to fold A mantle o'er the hills sublime Of green and pink and gold. And days went by on dancing feet, With harvest-hopes immense, And laughing eyes beheld the wheat Nid-nodding o'er the fence. And, oh, the smiles on every face, As happy lad and lass Through grass knee-deep on Casey's place Went riding down to Mass. While round the church in clothes genteel Discoursed the men of mark, And each man squatted on his heel, And chewed his piece of bark. "There'll be bush-fires for sure, me man, There will, without a doubt; We'll all be rooned," said Hanrahan, "Before the year is out." John O'Brien