We're having the worst drought in living memory and nearly every day Armidale has been affected by smoke form bush-fires located up to 100 km (60 miles) away. Things are fine, except for lack of rain, when the wind is the right direction - blowing towards fires when the smoke travels away from us.
Yesterday, when temperatures were in the mid 30s C (over 90 F) we saw SW winds in the morning and fairly clear air. Then, around 2 pm, the wind suddenly shifted to the ESE, a direction stricken by bush-fires, and the town was enveloped in really thick smoke. Many people stayed indoors and the town became very quiet.
Then, at 6 pm, Dot and I had to head for an evening meal organised by our Rotary Club (North Armidale). The meal itself was amazing and cooked by apprentice chefs at our Technical and Further Education (TAFE) college. Several of the trainee chefs had just returned from South Korea where they were taught the culinary treats of that nation. And our 4-course menu was entirely Korean: initial nibbles, an entree dish including 'banana prawns', meat dishes and then desert.
Alas, I forgot to take photos of the event ... the food was so good and I ate all mine with chop-sticks. One thing I didn't forget was to take pictures of the setting sun over the TAFE college. It was blood-red, though unfortunately the pictures below didn't quite catch the colour I saw. If you look below, the sun comes out mostly white, but is circled in red at the edge. Believe me! The sun was entirely bright red!
I went for an early morning walk today and, again, the rising sun was bright red - as shown below - but seemingly larger and brighter.
Yesterday, when temperatures were in the mid 30s C (over 90 F) we saw SW winds in the morning and fairly clear air. Then, around 2 pm, the wind suddenly shifted to the ESE, a direction stricken by bush-fires, and the town was enveloped in really thick smoke. Many people stayed indoors and the town became very quiet.
Then, at 6 pm, Dot and I had to head for an evening meal organised by our Rotary Club (North Armidale). The meal itself was amazing and cooked by apprentice chefs at our Technical and Further Education (TAFE) college. Several of the trainee chefs had just returned from South Korea where they were taught the culinary treats of that nation. And our 4-course menu was entirely Korean: initial nibbles, an entree dish including 'banana prawns', meat dishes and then desert.
Alas, I forgot to take photos of the event ... the food was so good and I ate all mine with chop-sticks. One thing I didn't forget was to take pictures of the setting sun over the TAFE college. It was blood-red, though unfortunately the pictures below didn't quite catch the colour I saw. If you look below, the sun comes out mostly white, but is circled in red at the edge. Believe me! The sun was entirely bright red!
I went for an early morning walk today and, again, the rising sun was bright red - as shown below - but seemingly larger and brighter.
Fortunately, the wind today has shifted to the north and the smoke effect is diminishing. By the way most of the east coast of NSW has been affected by smoke from massive fires - even in some of Sydney's up-market suburbs. The drought is almost nation-wide, except for parts of Tasmania and Victoria's coastal regions.
AS
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