I’M GOING to say something very controversial: I hate summer.
And it’s not about the excessive heat.
While everyone is hoping we don’t get the same summer weather as last year, I’m praying for it.
I loved that we hardly ever had to turn the airconditioning on and that it wasn’t stinking hot, but it was hot enough to swim, and at night sleeping was more comfortable.
But I really loved the amount of rain we had.
These thoughts are the result of living on acreage.
And people who live in the rural parts of the shire will probably sympathise.
Summer to me means not only heat and high electricity bills, it also means snakes and the threat of bushfires.
We have livestock, dogs and cats, so on those days of extreme temperatures I fear what’s going on at home.
Yet all we can do is be prepared.
And I’ll admit we are guilty of ‘‘planning to make a plan is not a plan’’.
While temperatures are low and conditions aren’t threatening, we tend to become complacent that ‘‘ it won’t happen to me’’ — unless you’ve lived through one.
The RFS website has a great online checklist and I urge you to check it out if you haven’t already.
I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank all our volunteers from the Rural Fire Service and the State Emergency Service who are really putting their lives on the line.