In 2013, I will...

Whenever a new year rolls around, we humans tend to make a heap of resolutions that, according to research, tend not to last even five days into the year.  Given it's the fifth, I thought it time to see how I'm going.

Resolution #1: Finish the coursework component of my Masters degree
Given I am still on uni holidays, this was rather an intelligent resolution on my part - I can't 'fail' at this for quite some time!

Resolution #2: Be kinder to myself
Well, this one isn't going so well.  I have a total of 4 days off in January, my first of which was today - and I am utterly exhausted.  Combined with the distinct lack of anti-inflammatories circulating around my system, my body is aiming to shut down entirely, irrespective of my work commitments.  Basically I don't think this one even made it 10 hours into the new year, working far too hard seems to be part of my DNA!

So on the resolution front, I'm running at 50%.  Unfortunately, everything pales into insignificance in the current crisis facing so many of my fellow Tasmanians.

We've had a heatwave here in Tasmania over the past few days - and sadly it has led to bushfires in the state's east and south.  Many homes have been lost, animals perished, but luckily, thus far, no human lives lost.

This photo was taken by Ian Stewart - fire is so beautiful, yet so devastating all at once.

Friends of our family have lost their home, their possessions, everything.  Other friends have evacuated and left their homes behind, hoping for the best.  For now it's a waiting game.  Waiting for the cool change to come, waiting for the rain, waiting for the luck of the Tasmanian people to change.  We can only hope.  And wait.  And offer what little help we can.  I hope the rest of the country joins me in opening my wallet and donating what I can, just as we did following the Black Saturday bushfires of 2009.

There are two appeals running thanks to the Bendigo Bank - one for the South-East Tasmania (eg. Dunalley, Forcett, Nubeena, etc) and one for the Bicheno fires.  I'm sure more appeals will come to light as time goes on, but all help is needed.  It breaks my heart to think of these people who have lost so much, who are tonight trying to get precious little sleep so that tomorrow they can continue to look for loved ones, continue to defend their properties, or try to begin the agonising task of cleaning up.  Tonight, all Tasmanians are heartbroken for them.