Fires in South-Eastern Australia

You can see it on their faces (and you can read it on their 'blogs). People in Victoria are trying to live today as normally as possible today, but there is air of simply being stunned by the weekend events. The temperature rose to between 46 and 49 degrees C, the hottest day on record. And after a lengthy period of dry weather, fires have set south-eastern Australia ablaze. At last count over one hundred people have died, and more have fatalities are expected. Whilst the worst seems over (thankfully there was a sudden 20 degree drop in temperature on Sunday, a change of wind direction and even some rain - God knows what it would have been like if Saturday's weather continued on Sunday), some blazes remain out of control. Some of the fires appear to have been deliberately lit; words fail me.

For international (or local) people wanting to donate via electronic means, that's "Victorian Bushfire Relief Fund" at National Australia Bank, 345 George St, Sydney. BSB 082001 Account 860046797. SWIFT CODE: NATAAU3302S (from mirelle21).