Good Morning - just. How lovely you may have some rain at last. I’m just coming up for air, literally, and to say a big thank you to all who have expressed concern regarding the terrible fires, almost everywhere in France. Spain, Greece, Turkey are badly affected.
Yesterday and the day before saw two fires successfully contained not far from us. With eternal blue skies everyone here in 40 degree plus temperatures scans the horizon almost constantly for any grey wisp of smoke. I’m very grateful that, if all else fails, we’re 2 blocks from the sea.
But, for 24 hours now, the sun has been put out by grey and stinky fumes in the smoke from the Gironde fires. In spite of a strong Tramontane wind today, we’ve been advised to stay indoors to avoid the particles swirling around us. The smell of rubber and plastic is horrible. We are 400kms as the crow flies from the Atlantic coast and the area of the flames (then Spain) and today our brigade of firemen report that in the Gironde alone 42,000 hectares/104,000 acres of land is already destroyed and the blaze is still out of control. The biggest French forest fire ever. Nearly a quarter of a million people have been displaced/evacuated. The resilience of people is astonishing, and in these temperatures…..but the courage of the firemen beggars belief!
I send huge hugs to all that remember me. May you all have more sensible temperatures soon along with rain ☔️.