In My Country, The Sky is the Same Colour as the Dirt: Happy New Year
Happy New Year dear Steemiverse! Just a quick post from the near-end of New Year's Day in Australia - it's nearly 6 pm here and I've just been chilling most of the day. Had a three hour surf this morning which was relatively uncrowded. New Year's Day is a good one for a surf as there's many too hung over to stagger to the beach. It was glassy and warm and just beautiful - it cheered me up a bit since most of yesterday I'd been watching the fires unfold on telly. It's utterly devastating, and we definitely didn't feel like celebrating, though we did get a few beers in (resulting in a bit of a headache today - ugh). We're safe where we are at the moment but many aren't. The images and videos coming out are just horrifying. It feels like the end of the world.
Best thing that happened on NYE? Tex Perkins giving Scott Morrison (our Aussie PM) the finger. Definitely not our prime minister. Scomo had Tex on his Spotify playlist - was he listening to them at Kirribilli House whilst he enjoyed a party with his mates? I know thousands of people didn't have that luxury NYE. Many only just got out with the clothes on their backs.
I love Tex Perkins - his energy in his band Beasts of Bourbon was always something to be seen on stage back in the day. I shared a joint with him once after a gig. One of my favourite songs by the Beasts is Psycho. Creepy and weird.
And then there was the screaming sexy energy of Chase the Dragon.
Anyway back to Scomo - definitely #notmypresident. As people stand around in eery red light on beaches whilst their towns burn, Scotty from Marketing is getting picturers taken with cricketers. Coal obsessed, he's unable to take the lead we need him to in a country that's burning to the ground. Whilst you might argue that he can't do anything right now, he sure as hell could be at least comforting the firies that have been working for months fighting these fires. If you haven't seen this video yet, you should - it's insane what these guys have gone through.
4,000 people taking shelter on a beach whilst gas bottles explode is inconcievable. We've holidayed in Mallacoota so often - it's awful to think of what they're going through.
Meanwhile, in NZ, the world's gone dark as smoke from the fires drifts over there. Looking at aerial shots, the whole country is covered in smoke.
This, from Xlordes on Twitter says it pretty well.
So yeah, people might be shocked by Tex giving Scomo the finger, but there's more thing to be shocked about, methinks.
Excuse the lack of sourcing for any of these photos. They're all freely available on the Internet - I'm not saying they are mine and it's clear they are not.
My house wasn't too far from the stuff happening in Adelaide (about a 20 minute drive through the hills) - I saw some of the devastation yesterday when driving through the hills enroute to another location.
It's not pretty, and its an idictment not just on federal governments, but local governments that allow land to be released, built, and habitated upon when there is significant and ongoing environmental risk.
That's a really good point too. These days they know the risks - unlike the past, so it's clear that as usual money drives most decisions.Here, new builds in bush have quite stringent building regs though I dont think that makes a helluva difference. Glad you are safe and hope you remain so. We choose to live outside the most forested areas (only 5 or 10 minutes to closest national park) because as tempting as a bush block is, the fire risk is just too scary!
I don't know who Tex Perkins is and don't really care about his political view, or about Scott Morrison, the nations Prime Minister, either...But there's many people losing their houses and livelihoods all around the country due to the fires and it's worth taking a moment to remember that whilst one set of people are partying another set is sifting through the ashes that once were their lives....All while Tex Perkins get's paid to do a televised concert and push his own political agenda.
I've had mates on the back of CFS trucks for days on end, walking amongst the burning bush and working to, and beyond, the limit of their endurance to save fellow-Aussies' property. It's worth a moment to think of them too, and to show some respect...For all Australians.
True that. Remember its just one snippet yesterday of a much, much bigger picture.. the irreverence by Tex tickled me silly on a day I spent hours crying over the country burning and in awe of the firies... which Morrison has barely nodded to. He IS our PM and his response has hardly been reassuring to a nation that needs reassuring. Meanwhile, the real heroes of this land are doing it hard. How they do it is beyond me - so mucg respect for the fire fighters who have MONTHS ahead of them, and to those who have risked their lives. I hope your mates stay safe. Much love.
Morrison is a dick for sure...A big one. Another politician feathering his own nest, like the rest of them. They all do it. I'm considering taking over the country myself to be honest...Dictator style. Someone has to take a stand and put the country, and its citizens, first. It should be good! Then again, maybe some won't like my policy...You know, those who want handouts, preferential treatment or those who want to stay here without actively contributing for the good of the country.
Come to think of it, maybe Australia isn't ready for me to take it over. It's people seem unwilling to change for the better...Rather, they wish to follow in the footsteps of the USA, whose people are good at talking about liberty whilst doing everything thing to relinquish it...Like sheeple.
My mates and their CFS buddies are all ok so far but as you say, there's a long way to go this summer and it's looking like a bad one.
Man if I ran the country I would be a dictator.
Maybe what the country needs. Worked in Singapore.
Maybe I could head up security.
So sorry to hear of the tragic fires gripping Australia. It's a truly shocking scenario. Wishing you all strength and the ability to bounce back with a spring in your hop.
❤💚❤
In Adelaide the sky was cloud free and dark blue yesterday. Amazing stuff.
These events, including the fires here, and the lack of official response to it are very troubling indeed.
Tex Perkins is a legend.
I hope that 2020 is a fantastic year for you.
And you! I love Tex... honestly, could you love him more for that? Totally legendary!
My heart goes out to everyone affected by these devastating fires @riverflows, must be absolutely terrifying! Praying it comes to an end and that the people get back in their feet again so their lives can return to normality!
Wishing you and yours a wonderfully blessed 2020.
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Happy new year back. Its hard isnt it - there's not much we can do to help, though our hearts want to.
It is sad to know about the devastation across the board. I am wishing for you and everyone a much better New Year.
Happy New Year!
And to you! Heart is definitely going to all those suffering right now. It's a tough summer for many.
So much fire and destruction so sad.
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Hope your part of Tas is safe. Happy new year x
I pray for all who are affected by these fires.
Happy new year to you. Glad you had a good surf this morning. I was at snapper rocks this morning but was already crowded, but not as bad as yesterday. Horrible what’s going on in NSW and Victoria the moment. I heard that there are 4000 people trapped on the beach in Mallacoota. What a nightmare.
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Yeah the Mallacoota situation is terrible. I have been there many times and can visualise the horror. There's quite a few places I know burning which feels much closer to home. Scary.
Yeah we were lucky to catch early tide before massive crowds. Only had one guy drop in who I shouted at and he pulled off. Seriously wish people would get some surfing etiquette classes before paddling out. Got heaps of waves though... hoping for a couple tomorrow then that'll be it til early low tides again... Its dawn or nothing for me, cant cope with crowds. Yoga instead.
I´ve never surfed the breaks down there. Maybe I can make it to Victoria next summer. :)
I checked the surfcam yesterday and it looks so much better down there.
Swells been good last few days. We have a bus in back garden you are welcome to, mind, we are half an hours drive from beach. It's a good stretch of coast. Another 3 hr surf this morning! 2 to 3 foot, glassy. Crowded after 10.
Thanks for that offer, I might come back to it :)
I feel with you, and all of Australia.
Over the years I have sort of gotten used to hearing about "record breaking wildfires" both in California as well as in Australia, but this time it really looks like its completely unprecedented. I hope the fires will be put out soon!
There's months of dry weather ahead. I know right... every year with the record breaking! With increased temperatures, the bush just becomes a tinder box. I was listening on radio to an Australian fire fighter who consults with Cali re fire responses and he said we have.. he has.. NEVER seen fires of this intensity and expects more to come.