FRIDAY 13 MARCH     QUEANBEYAN

Another one of those horrible dates!

Stinking hot – 37.5 degrees, which was a record high for March for Canberra, since records have been kept. It was also their 21st Total Fire Ban day this summer – another record. The previous highest tally was 17. No wonder it seems so dry all around, and that the kangaroos are out in force in the suburbs, looking for food.

A bushfire started out near Bungendore, to the NE of us. It looked fairly serious, for much of the day. We could hear lots of sirens, regularly.

We decided it was too hot to do much. Stayed at the caravan park, except for a trip to the local shops for groceries.

It took John several trips to the phone box, and most of the day, to get through to his Melbourne physician. The news was that there is nothing wrong with John’s blood, it is normal – and therefore, he has no need of Warfarin. Hooray – but it confirmed what we already thought. Physician recommended that John take a half aspirin per day, though.

The air con in the van is great to have on a day like today. John reminds me that he was right to insist we have it installed!

I wrote a letter to my former in-laws and one to K. John printed them for me.

Tea was cold roast chook and salads.

Tried to phone K twice and got answering machine both times. Coming back from the phone box, could see a big fire glow over the back of the hills to the east.

It was a lovely warm night for sleeping – only needed a sheet for cover.