Back in September and October last year, the grass was dry and turning yellow. It crunched underfoot. Rain was infrequent and the talk was very much of the potential for a bad fire season. 

Living in a National Park has its benefits which are apparent to both visitors and residents alike. But the downside is that when bushfires strike they can do so with devastating speed and vast impact. Back in the 2013, the string of towns that comprise the Blue Mountains were besieged by huge fires on many fronts. Ten years later we feared a resumption of hostilities.

But then came the rains. Aside from the summer storms and accompanying drenching's, there has just been a lot of damp weather. We are no longer 'tinder dry', as they say, though  the fire season can extend into late February. So we are not out of the woods yet.

The new growth that will result from the rains will present its own untimely threat come the next fire season in about 10 months from now. One cannot escape it forever - it is only a matter of when the fires strike - but this breather is more than a blessing, which we gratefully accept.