Santa Paws ... - Ken Boddie - Australia

Ken Boddie

4 years ago · 3 min. reading time · ~10 ·

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Santa Paws ...

This year the kids in the bush and their mums and dads are all wishing that Santa brings one thing and one thing only ... sustained and heavy rain (and pretty bloody soon) so that the relentless bushfires can be gone, along with the smoke that's filling our skies throughout Australia. As some of you may have seen in my earlier post ("well-strike-a-light"), our rural fire service volunteers are flat chat keeping hundreds of raging bushfires away from properties, as best they can. Certainly we are now becoming almost immune to the daily news, which invariably includes pictures of flaming trees, exploding eucalypts, smoking and blackened post fire debris (which can so easily be rekindled with a change of wind conditions), and, of course, the marathon effort being performed by the men and women on our fire fighting front line.

Our wildlife is also bearing the brunt of these fires, with countless numbers of our unique species gone, but, thanks to our kind hearted wildlife volunteers, many of our koalas, possums, wallabies and kangaroos are being slowly nursed back to near normality, spared from being a statistic of the blackened landscape. Here are a few of the lucky ones that have been saved and are being looked after (pics courtesy of ABC News and various other on-line news agencies):

And, needless to say, Santa has been involved already, having put in an appearance at many a fire brigade HQ, spreading some good cheer to keep the spirits up of those who are on the front line.

Santa's also been involved with the many folks who are bushfire trauma survivors, and here are a couple of pics of his activities, from our Aussie Discussing Dissociation (DID) website:

But fear not, kids, for I have it on good authority from the Clause household, that Santa will be departing on time this Christmas Eve, delivering present to all the boys and girls who deserve them. So have you been naughty or nice this year, cause the Aussie Santa has only one delivery list?

http://ken-boddie.squarespace.com

The author of the above, Ken Boddie, besides being a sometime poet and occasional writer, is an enthusiastic photographer, rarely leisure-travelling without his Canon, and loves to interact with other like-minded people with diverse interests.

Ken's three day work week (part time commitment) as a consulting engineer allows him to follow his photography interests, and to plan trips to an ever increasing list of countries and places of scenic beauty and cultural diversity.

#Santa Paws #koalas #Australia #bush #Santa

Comments

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #29

Much of the east coast of South East Queensland got heavy rain last night (Xmas Eve) and today is much cooler. Not enough rain to break the drought but enough to hopefully give the fire fighters a bit of a break. Merry Christmas to one and all!

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #28

#35
Ms Sabattoli I do not speak Spanish but, thanks to Google Translator, I understand that you are offering me a loan, which, at my age and stage in life would be an imprudent move on behalf of both of us. I fail to see why you think that the comments section of my beBee post is appropriate for your blatant advertising, that is unless your loan contract were to include the ‘Santa’ clause. Said ‘Santa’ clause of course means that the loan becomes a free gift in perpetuity without incurring any interest or, indeed, requiring any payback whatsoever. Please direct your contributory free loan, complete with ‘Santa’ clause, to the following: Drought Angels PO Box 451 Chinchilla QLD 4413 Tel: +617 4662 7371 I trust your generosity will show no bounds at this festive time.

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #27

#32
Thanks for the offer, Lisa Vanderburg, but we’ve got enough hot air and galahs over here. Furthermore, if we took them up in our air tankers they’d have them flying off course or round and round in circles in no time. Protect our Planet from Pollies!

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #26

Thanks for the offer, Lisa Vanderburg, but we’ve got enough hot air and galahs over here. Furthermore, if we took them up in our air tankers they’d have them flying off course or round and round in circles in no time. Protect our Planet against Pollies!

Lisa Vanderburg

4 years ago #25

#31
'lacustrine'.....had to look that up!! Such excellence in the heat of battle! You shall not be toppled, most admirable Ken Boddie! Would it be awful to ask if you could use a few of our leaders as water dumps? I know they're not ideal as retardants and their girth many temporarily mar the landscape, but they'll surely ab...ah...'absorbed'?

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #24

#28
Funnily enough, Lisa Vanderburg (your grace 😁), we’re still getting the odd now seasonal hailstorms, which are not big enough to create your lacustrine solution, but do dent any cars caught out and about Still, things could be worse. We don’t have Brexit to worry about and we won’t be buying winter clothing for a while. 🤗

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #23

#29
Thanks, Bill, but I reckon we’d be better off cloning our fire fighters 🧯. Hope you get your iPhone fixed. Why not put it in a ziplock reusable plastic bag next time you go to the beach? 🤔

Bill Stankiewicz

4 years ago #22

#1
WE NEED TO CLONE THIS AUTHOR, SORRY ON CAPS, ON A BIKE TODAY AT TYBEE BEACH, GEORGIA. OLD IPHONE TABS STICK DUE TO THE SAND... :~))

Lisa Vanderburg

4 years ago #21

Oh my heart breaks for what y'all down under are suffering - animals included. I just caught up with your previous buzz, so add to that the relentless firefights and crews. The living displaced must be appalling in number. What you need is a hail-stone the size of Kansas to hit you smack in the middle and create a lake-for-life. Keep on keeping us informed from your unique perspective, Duke Ken Boddie, and be safe!

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #20

#25
As sure as old mate Noah built an arc, Prav, we’ll be swimming in water within the next couple of months here in Oz. We live in a land of extremes ... strange critters, alternating drought and flood, and even our folks are weirdly variable. As any man of the land will tell you, however, the droughts are getting longer and drier, the bushfires more difficult to fight due to their size and self propagating climatic power, and the floods and cyclones more unpredictable. Many of us know what needs to be done, but those corrupted by their positions of power, have their priorities all wrong.

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #19

#24
have no fear, Prav, because ... “You would if you could,” Sounds so terribly good, “But you can’t so you shan’t,” Is a god awful chant, So let’s not rant or rave, Or do anything brave, For I know, in the main, It must soon surely rain. 🤔🙏🏼🤗

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #18

#20
Have no fear, Franci\ud83d\udc1dEugenia Hoffman, beBee Brand Ambassador is on the case. See my #21 below. 🤣😂🤣

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #17

#19
For sure, Bill. 👍

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #16

#18
Hey, Prav, I trust that someone here in Oz knows your Megh Malhar raga? ... “Legends say that this raga has the power to bring out rains in the area where it is sung.“ If not please send over Tana and Riri. 🤣😂🤣

Bill Stankiewicz

4 years ago #15

Yes, we need to change out many leaders

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #14

#16
But what's saddest of all, Merisa, is that we know how to stop this climate change phenomenon from getting worse but our so called leaders, worldwide, are still refusing to prioritise the required actions.

Lada 🏡 Prkic

4 years ago #13

#10
I've just read your previous post, and I'll try to comment on it.

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #12

#13
I reckon we need a couple of your sadhus or faqirs over here pronto, Prav, to conjure up some of that wet stuff that used to fall from the sky. Any ideas?

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #11

#11
And a merry thoughtful post to you too, Pascal. Looking forward to reading many more posts in the New Year from my favourite running, French, Irishman. 🎅🏼

Pascal Derrien

4 years ago #10

A merry thoughtful post 👍 Ken

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #9

#9
Lada, I suggest that you read my previous post, the link to which is in this one. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that these tinder box conditions we are experiencing are directly related to climate change, resulting in extensive and unprecedented drought and prolonged high temperatures, with record breaking ‘highs’ now a virtually daily phenomenon.

Lada 🏡 Prkic

4 years ago #8

Hi Ken. Reading about Australia fires, I can only spare a thought for all victims and firefighters both professionals and volunteers. What heartbreaking images of injured animals! Though not convinced, I still wonder does climate change links with these fires. I'm sure that many affected by these terrible fires have no doubt these extreme conditions are connected to climate change. Merry Christmas to you and your family and hope you all stay safe. :)

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #7

#4
Many thanks, Cyndi wilkins, and the same to you and yours. At least this year the Christmas Lunch prawns might just cook themselves and smoked salmon takes on a whole new meaning. 🤣😂🤣

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #6

#3
Still waiting, Ian Weinberg, for you to send me the dance steps for that Tsonga samba rain dance. 🤣😂🤣

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #5

#2
Not sure what you needed, Jerry Fletcher, but glad you found it. 😀

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #4

#1
Thanks, Luis, but the pictures tell the story on their own. 🤗

Cyndi wilkins

4 years ago #3

Thanks for this reminder of how fortunate we are to be safe at home Ken Boddie...Sending love and prayers to all those affected by these terrible fires...And a very merry Christmas to you and your family;-)

Ian Weinberg

4 years ago #2

Tugs at the heart strings mate. Here's praying for rain and good cheer.

Jerry Fletcher

4 years ago #1

Thanks, Ken. I needed that.

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