There's a real world out there?

[katiefoolery]

You know you’ve been far too involved in internet matters when you step outside at midday and are incredibly surprised to discover that the suburbs around you are blanketed in smoke.

And I face a window when I sit at my computer, but I still didn’t notice.  Although I could blame that tree sitting right there, blocking the view.  Curse you, tree!  If it weren’t for you, I might have been noticing things!

Or not.  Probably not, actually.  Considering I was doing about six things at once and constantly getting side-tracked...

But there I was, when I finally left the house, standing by the side of the road, staring up at the sky in amazement. I mean, it was clear and blue just hours ago when I’d hung the washing out. The strangest thing was the fact that I couldn’t actually smell any smoke.  Surely you should be able to smell smoke when the sun is being blocked out by it? Or maybe I just have an incredibly useless sense of smell.

But there you go - Melbourne, blanketed in smoke.  It’s a little alarming, really.  Especially if, like me, you’d been watching the predictions of how the bushfires are all going to gang up and go off and bully quite significant areas of the state.  After which, they will presumably turn their sights on Melbourne.

Oh, I do so like a good panic.

Comments

[talmina.livejournal.com]

It's the same in Canberra, and we can't smell the smoke either.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

It's quite weird, isn't it? You'd think with all that smoke in the air you'd smell something.

[charliemc.livejournal.com]

That's alarming! Is this common? (Yes. I'm stupid about Australia. Sorry to admit it!)

That reminds me. Marilyn mistressmarilyn and I are planning to visit Australia in late January of 2008. I can't wait!

(smile)

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Smaller bushfires are relatively common during Summer, but this one is looking to be enormous! There's an image on this article (http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/gippsland-towns-bracing-for-weekend-fire-onslaught/2006/12/06/1165081019861.html) of the smoke as seen from a NASA satellite, but that was taken yesterday. I imagine it looks even worse now. It's particularly nasty because there are so many fires joining up and we've had so little rain. It's ridiculously dry out there.

Where in Australia will you be visiting in 2008?

[silver-pegasus.livejournal.com]

awww so you're ok where you are????? Our bushfires just went away. Now it's your turn. While there was bushfires they often blocked the sun. Often I could smell the smoke, but not always. I think it just depends on which way the wind's blowing.

*Hopes all the obernetters in the area are ok*

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Yes, all we have is smoke. It's still concentrated in the north east and it's much more impressive where my parents are. But Melbourne's safe for the moment.

[rilla06.livejournal.com]

Eeeeevil smoke. Where I am, you can smell it... And I'm quite worried, for my friend (miss_earhart) lives in one of the towns where everyone is evacuating... *worries*

And it's going to be 37 degrees tomorrow! Ack!

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

That is worrying. I rang my parents last night to find out how things were going in Beechy, but they mostly had smoke. I hope it can be contained somehow.

[seagull-fred.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was cursed with it yesterday in a bad way...in Ruthers, the cloud sat around for the WHOLE day getting the kiddies all hyped and feeling ill. Then just as school finished, it seemed to disappate...by moving north to Albury!! So I ended up driving straight back into it. Blah.

Then it was back again today, but not as bad...apparently it was like this with the 2003 fires, and it stuck around for weeks :( I hope that's not the case, but it's looking unlikely...moving day tomorrow too!! in 39', smoky heat! Get me to the rainy UK NOW please!! :)

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Yes, my parents said the smell of smoke hung around forever, long after the fires had been put out.

So it's following you around is it? Hmmm. Have you thought about taking a trip to the middle of the ocean? That should take care of it nicely. :D

[alankria.livejournal.com]

Get me to the rainy UK NOW please!!

Got to admit, our lack of bushfires is starting to look like a distinct advantage where weather is concerned... if only there were more advantages ;)

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

If only we could work out some sort of happy medium...

[alankria.livejournal.com]

To the Mediterranean! Being more specific... to the Greek islands!

I've heard they have rainy, sucky winters, but I doubt they're too dreadful, and they have kick-ass summers. Low thirties, generally a decent breeze, lots of sunshine. Mmmmm...

Speaking of "Mmm", check out my icon. It's from one of the mangas I've recommended to you, Godchild by Kaori Yuki. Aren't those boys lovely? So far no slash, but it is so suggestive (and there is actually a compelling real plot) and the artwork is pretty and I need to go drool now. Bye!

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

That icon is rather lovely, I must admit. I'm going to be spending some money on manga after Christmas, so I might just have to try a volume of that. Suggestions of slash are always good. :D

[alankria.livejournal.com]

I don't know if it's going to become slash, sadly. All I know is that it's suggestive ("You're the only one who can touch my scars" and suchly) and the art is beautiful and the plot is wonderful, so you should get it anyway. Even if the suggestiveness never develops into anything more there'll be fanfic or fanart somewhere it will still be good.

[etherealdeva.livejournal.com]

You can't smell any smoke in Melbourne? Wow. Our entire town is completley blanketed in smoke and you can definitley smell it. A lot. It's almost choking here. I can't imagine what it's like close to the fires.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

No, it's very weird indeed! I mean, there was nothing but smoke as far as I could see, but not a hint of a smell.

My parents are in Beechworth and they can definitely smell smoke there. And see it. They were driving along the road to Wangaratta and couldn't even see the paddocks by the road at one stage - it was completely blocked out by the smoke.

[flamehail.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. Don't die, KatieBunne!

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Well, I'll try not to. At least all we have is smoke. If we start seeing flames, then I'll really panic.

[elfie-chan.livejournal.com]

Eeep! Stay safe!

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

I shall certainly try. If you could arrange for some rain to be sent over, though, it would be most helpful. :D

[elfie-chan.livejournal.com]

I'll do my best. I live in Oregon, which is famous for rain! We haven't been getting much lately, though. I'm sure we have some extra we can spare hanging around somewhere.

*goes about attempting to arrange clouds for shipment*

[naelany.livejournal.com]

smoke??? Uhm..you safe overthere??

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Well, mostly. There is an enormous fire front burning in the north-east of the state that's casting all of this smoke over us but I don't think we're in any immediate danger. We can actually smell it today, though.

[naelany.livejournal.com]

ahh, I see...be safe, ok..and pay attention to the "outside world" ^_~

[tangledtale.livejournal.com]

Urgh, you can really smell it today though, can't you? I lived in constant fear that maybe the dry leaves in our gutters would spontaneously combust and the smoke that I was smelling throughout the house all day was the result of that rather than the fires up north, so it's put me on edge all day. Also, it's so freaky having the sky blotted out by the smoke. It's even more disturbing when you can actually see bits of blue struggling to peep through the density of the smoke, because without that, at least it kind of reminds you of just another overcast (37 degree) day in Melbourne. Hope you're keeping yourself cool, somewhere, good KatieBunne!

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Oh, you can most definitely smell it today! It was so strange to get those sudden bursts of sunlight before it was all swallowed up by the smoke again.

Heh - I'm stuck here in the marvellous house with no air-con, but it's still cooler than outside.

[drscruffy.livejournal.com]

:( I hope everything is still okay - I just heard that the situation was worsening ...


It must have been eerie walking around blanketed in smoke and not being able to smell anything. Smoke always gives the air a strange kind of glow... The other day in Brisbane there was smoke in the air and there was this odd yellow light effect for most of the day... It felt very War of the Worlds-ish...

I really hope everything is okay for your parents...

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

It was quite weird! But then the smell turned up yesterday and hung around today. I couldn't do my washing until the afternoon because the smell was just so strong.

Thanks for your concern. :) My parents are seeing a smelling a lot of smoke, but no fire so far.