Friday
Dear Elsie
Today was the day the fire came very close to our house. There are a certain exceptional set of circumstances that would cause the mountainside behind our house to burn and today one of them nearly happened. For fire to get to our house, there are two worst case scenarios. The first is if someone lit a fire the Fish Hoek side of the quarry while there was a south-easter. That would bring fire to behind us. Alternatively, if there is a fire on Fish Hoek mountain, Glencairn side (which there was today), it has to burn over Elsie’s Peak (which it did) and then the wind has to turn to a northerly wind causing it to blow back down the mountain to behind us. Today all that happened, including the wind coming from the north and at 1pm, it looked like it was going to breech the ridge and head our way….
The wind started turning to the south and since then it has not been as much of a threat to us, but rather to the houses on the other side of the mountain – not far away – only about 1km away. This was at 3pm.
To prevent damage to property a couple of water bombers were sent to Fish Hoek beach to get water. This is a rare sight.
Overhead…
And dropping the water…
There was also a fixed wing plane of which local Peter Kemp got a fabulous photo…
We are so blessed to have such expertise. The fire further down the peninsula is still raging so the city’s resources are stretched to the limit. Hopefully, they will be able to get them under control before nightfall. The water bombing certainly helps.
This drama detracted from two other things that happened today. With the fire, someone suggest putting water out for the birds. I haven’t had my water bottle out for more than 6 months. Now the cats are settled & used to seeing birds around – pigeons often land on the balcony – I thought it would be okay to put the water bottle back. It was maybe 2 minutes before the birds found it. The cats now have big screen entertainment of moving birds. Raiku…
Claw’d watching from bed!
They haven’t gone outside to watch.
And the beach this morning was delicious. The water temperature was in the 20s. Summer holidays for sure!
The guests in the cottage left. Ruth cleaned the cottage and then Ruth, Courage and Brian ended work for the year. We are waiting for Gerrie, Jess, Baby Lizzie, Minette and Jen to arrive in the next hour or two, having driven down from Johannesburg. They seem to have made good time.
And finally, our thoughts are also very much in Swellendam with you and your family, Elsie, where you are looking after Oupa. He does not have much time left before he sheds his broken body and gets a new eternal one. I am praying the end will come gently. This is what it’s all about. This earthly life is temporary.
Isaiah 51:11
Those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
It’s not about now – we are only passing through.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you.
In His Grip,
Gran xx