Dear Annette, Merry Christmas to you also, slightly belated. I am so sorry to hear of the devastation in Australia right now. We here in Northern California are having just the opposite kind of weather. We have now had over 22 inches of rain in two months - more than double the average. If it keeps up, we are going to flood here. Last year we had drought... My wishes to everyone are peace throughout the world, A Houghton in Northern California, Arlene ----- Original Message ----- From: "Annette Pringle" <annettepringle@ozemail.com.au> To: <HOUGHTON-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, December 25, 2001 1:18 PM Subject: Christmas Day in Australia > Merry Christmas to you and yours. Have a lovely day with your families. As > you know, yesterday was our Christmas day and it was hot and very windy, not > a very nice day at all but much better than many had in this state where > bushfires are raging. About 80 houses lost, thousands of acres of farm land, > tens of thousands of acres of bushland, both farm and bush animals. What a > terrible day for all those involved from the victims to the firefighters who > do the most wonderful job and to those who can not be with their loved ones > because so many road closures have prevented them getting to their > destinations. > > Having been involved in bush fighting when we were on the farm my heart goes > out to all those involved not just the firefighters but also the support > people who have worked tirelessly for days and who do not expect any reward > and have missed out on Christmas day. > > I can only be thankful that none of mine are involved. > > Have a great day, I see on the web that it is snowing in Canada and > Scotland - a traditional northern white Christmas. > > Best wishes to all > Annette and Ian in Dubbo Australia > > >