Sudokuaholics Anonymous 7

And to start another page.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25026070-661,00.html

Cyn, a link to the sad news about Brian Naylor and his wife.

Sorry Cyn, should have said Hi to you too. Very hard for Susan as well. Living in an area with both floods and fire I always said you had more chance of saving your things and your life with a flood.
I was talking with my sister last night as she lived up there. About 30 years ago they had three weeks with continual rain of three feet (90 cm) and her husband was away the whole time. They did not get flooded as they had a levee bank and the flood did not get over.

Sorry, a new page should have brought a new beginning.

To Liz and Suzy, my apologies for leaving both of you in the middle of our msn convos. The phone call was from a dear friend in South Australia who rang concerned for us. She has gone through many fires, including Ash Wednesday and is shuddering at the memories.
I had been unable to contact her when I was in Adelaide in January, so unfortunately, I had more bad news to tell her, so we spent some time reminiscing about our Mums.

Hi Gail.So sad, so devastating. It is all hard to take in. I think I might make to bed.
Talk tomorrow. Nite.

Goodnight June.
Goodnight SA.
Goodnight John Boy.

Gail - thanks for the link to the news of the Naylor deaths.
Yes, June, I think I would prefer to be flooded out than burnt out but that's probably cold comfort to Susan at the moment. I think whatever extreme is bloody awful - when you're living through it.

Goodnight girls!

Good Mean Sudokuland. My heart goes out to all who are watching their country, their state go through such devastation. I do hope the weather has changed and the worst of it is over.

About the fires being started, last 2 summers many of the big California fires have been set. They found a couple of the arsonists. Here last summer we had been under fire weather warnings, but you would see people out burning brush or trash, paying no attention to the "no burn" orders. Stupidity.

GAIL, good to see you posting and back home after that evacuation. Did you remember to pack underwear?

Susan, how are the water levels? I hope the water starts down again and goes down. Running the dehumidifier sounds like a good solution to help prevent the mildew. Bleach is a good mold/mildew remover. Hubby has repaired a home that was flooded from broken pipes, and they used bleach/water solution, half and half, to spray on painted surfaces. got rid of a majority of the mildew.

Good afternoon friends.
Having read the BBC news and now posts on hear my heart goes out to all who live in Victoria at the moment. Yes we have had more snow this last week than we have in the last 20 yrs, but that is an inconvenience. After reading the BBC news I had to come straight here to find out if my Friends were OK.
Fortunately they are.. so far. Thoughts and good wishes are sent your way.

Hi folks...what a shocking day in our nations history.... The events down here have overshadowed what is happening to poor Susan. I cannot remember when I last spent so much time watching the news. I want to cry every time I think of Marysville... it was one of my favourite places in the state. I have lost track of the number of breaks we have had up there at all times of the year... bush walking in summer and building snow men with Lachie in winter. I cannot believe it is no more...

My brother has been evacuated to Euroa and awaits news as to whether he will have a home to return to. It is too isolated where he lives to protect his home without a plentiful water supply.

I dread what we will learn when we turn on the news in the morning. Thank heavens we have at least had some cooler weather...hard to believe it has been a pleasant 24 degrees today [75F]... over 22 degrees cooler than yesterday...
Would someone please send us some rain...

Bean, I hope your brother has good news about his property, but at least he is safe.

latest tally : 96 confirmed dead ...
http://www.theage.com.au/national/deaths-climb-to-96-with-more-to-come-20090208-810r.html
Good night everybody.

Thanks Brenda..
There is a google map on the link above that you can enlarge to see where the fires have been. I have a sister in Warrandyte which was engulfed in smoke ...fire was at St Andrews..less than 20 kms away which is very close with the speed the fireball has been traveling through the trees. She was very relieved when her husband got home from work...their fire plan is to stay and fight and have prepared their home accordingly. VERY scary... My elder sister was traversing the perimeter of the area which a few hours after she had traveled through were engulfed in flames...I was very relieved when I heard that she had arrived home safely as well.

Viv to you your health problems may seem to be minor at this time of devastation in the country, but it isn't. Hope you manage to get the thyroid meds sorted and get the advice and diagnosis of the brain calcification problem looked at too. Hugs are heading your way as I'm sure you are more worried than you let on.
BTW how is your hubbies new job working out? (or am I having an moment and mixing you up with someone else)

Bean thanks for the link.
Having looked at the map it strikes me how many town names are familiar. I have already admitted on this site that I'm a Neighbours fan so names on the map are familiar from that, but quite a few names are the same as towns we have here in the UK.

Good Maen dear ones...my heart is in anguish over the devastation in Victoria - glad all our friends are safe at this time...keeping good thoughts for your brother, Beanie.

Many thanks for the links - makes it easy to get to the best coverage.
Good Maen fellow topsiders...and sleep in peace to our friends down-under.
Viv - hope you get the meds worked out...Mike goes thru the same...blood tests and retesting, trying to get the med levels just right.

Wishing HUGE downpours over the fires in Victoria ...but none up Susan's way. Hoping things are drying out for you now Susan.

Everyone........ What devastating news from Victoria. Is there any end in sight? The human death toll is staggering. Nobody can count the animal death toll. It's numbing.
Viv..... with the Neurosurgeon. I hope everything works out as well as possible.

Heidi - you are back up on line and powered?
How are you doing??? Glad to see you - I've been off site for a couple of days, so I might have missed your grand re-entrance!

You missed it, all right!

Got power back on Friday night. Then all h*ll broke loose from the plumbing that froze and broke inside the walls. The plumber spent yesterday doing the basic repairs, so we have water now. But many holes in the walls, and soaked carpets.

Heidi came back with a splash!

OH Heidi, I did not think about carpets! Squish Squash as you walk through the house? will you have to replace them all?

HI VICI! Good to see you this morning too. How is California today?

He'll be back tomorrow to repair the pipes from the sump pump, and to repair most of the holes in the walls. At least one will have to be left open for drying, because the drywall isn't dry and more. It's saturated. We're praying that we don't have to replace those walls completely.

IH was ordered to soak up the water as much as possible with the shop-vac. He hasn't. So that does mean that the carpeting will probably have to be replaced as well.

MizT!!!!

Dang it Heidi...you must be having Susan sympathy issues (with all the flooding)
Good Morning Tricia! Getting back to looking like winter again here in CA - had some rain and are due for snow tonight and tomorrow...any precipitation is welcome!

I know back East, up North and over Brenda's way are not wanting this...but

I do hope you do not have to replace the entire walls, but go ahead and do it if necessary. that mold/mildew on the back side of the Sheetrock can be dangerous to your health. You do not need something new to affect your health, you have had enough lately!

YEAH VICI, you have been wanting snow, your area is needing snow, so I will do my snow dance for you and hope Mother nature can send it over there. do not want any here, we are having spring like temps, with a slight threat of rain. I have doors open to let nice fresh air in today.

I think you hit the nail on the head, Vici. At least my house is having sympathy issues with Susan's house. For Susan, the worst is still ahead. Flooring. Walls. Furniture. MOLD!!!! Her place is going to be a health hazard.

HEIDI, any more lambs and calves born? How about the Ewe that had the 2 dead lambs, did she make it?

As I drive out to the main road, I go by a huge pasture and have enjoyed seeing the calves, they can be so lively, running and jumping about. courious too. I stopped the car to watch a while and one turned to look at me. A car driving by was usual, one stopping was unusual, and it walked over to the fence to get a better look. Just too cute. I keep meaning to take photos of them to show you, but never have the camera when they are near the road.

MizT... when we had the drainage system installed recently (remember the jackhammers in the house?), they installed an air purifying system in the house designed to remove and neutralize any mold in the air. It's working nicely.

Heidi, Susan's lower floor, the one under water, if tile floors and concrete block walls. she sayd hose it out, power wash it and let it dry, useable again. Now she is having mold problems upstairs, just from all the moisture. the dehumidifier setting on the air conditioner is helping somewhat. I agree, still a LOT fo clean , still a lot to come , really for both of you!

I'm about to get dressed and go check that ewe. And check the cows.

Have a good day, Heidi...good thing you got that air purifying system put in just in time!

Oh good, Heidi, glad you have the purifying system to handle the mold! One less thing to worry about.

There are just to many things you and my sister have in common. The sister with Mono also had a flood, found it when they came home on Christmas night. They have a water exchange heat pump, water is pumped up from a creek coming from a cave, constant temperature year round. Well, a fitting just wore out, malfunctioned and they had water in their lower level. No carpets, she has allergies, but lots of lower wall damage.