My uncle in Vancouver died on Wednesday so I’m leaving off the posting ’til after the funeral next week. I didn’t know him all that well but some cousins occasionally drop by here so I don’t want to offend anyone with my daft bletherings while there are family-members are in mourning. I’ll be around other sites, just not posting here.

Sorry to be so tardy with my replies to your comments. All ship-shape and Bristol-fashion now though. Thanks for taking the time, chaps, you gladden a housewife’s heart each and every one of you.

Back from Canada on Wednesday. Bye peeps.

Ojai was under threat from the Southern Californian Day Fire lately. Flames crested the hills, the air was smokey and ash was falling everywhere for weeks. The fire consumed 162,000 acres in the end and was battled by 4000 valiant fireman. For weeks there have been firemen all over town with their sooty brows and heroic hoses. This is my tribute to them for their sterling work; heroes, every one:

Good fireman, let me mop your forehead,
Fighting blazes must be horrid.
Come a little while, and sit;
Catch your breath; relax, that’s it.

Tell me of the roaring fire!
Your courage, though the straits were dire;
The burning bush, the flaming stripling,
(Describe your manly muscles rippling)

If ’strue that all the worlds a stage
Pitting man ‘gainst nature’s rage,
Then you’re its hero, strong, bold, true,
And I, a villager, saved by you.

As you gave the blaze its drenching
Show me how your jaw was clenching
How through the smoke and raging blaze,
You kept your nerve, your steely gaze!

Beating back the fiery storm
To stride t’wards danger and perform
Lion-hearted acts of valour
(Oh! Be still my beating heart and ardour!)

Licking flames of crimson, orange
(There’s famously no rhyme for orange)
Hellish fire, infernal oast
For us, you risked becoming toast!

Oh, how can I reward you, fireman?
I, a young and comely maiden?
Some wine perhaps, delicious food?
To show the town’s great gratitude.

Perhaps your hose, now floppy, limp,
Needs filling so it will not crimp?
And what about your helmet, yellow?
I’ve just the thing for that wee fellow!

Does it need a polish? Buffing?
Some elbow grease? A right good sloughing?
I know of special oils and waxes
Intended just for choppers, axes.

Maybe, despite the stress and tension
Your equipment doesn’t need attention.
But, what’s your hand doing there, sir? Careful!
(My God, his thighs are huge and powerful!)

I know I said we love you firemen,
But liberties must not be taken!
Steady sir, don’t push your luck
(Sigh)
Oh, all right Smokey, lets go …

…Pluck some apples from the tree
And sing sweet songs, laugh loud and free
And if you’re nice and I feel plucky
Who knows, my friend, you might get lucky…

Fire In Ojai

Originally uploaded by Sam, Problemchildbride.

Described briefly in today’s wee post, below, here is a 10am shot of the smoke over Ojai from the Day Fire, September 2006

Not dead. And we remain happily uncrisped by the Day Fire which crested the hills over town at one eerie point.

Fire: bad, scary, dangerous, expensive, rotten and awful.

Sweaty, be-grimed firemen heroes running about all over town in a manly way, with their hoses: priceless. Also, delicious.

I haven’t posted for a wee bit because I’ve been having too much fun over at various blogchums’ sites at the expense of posting here. Take a look at my Chums bit at the side sometime and visit some of their splendid selves, yourself! You’ll have fun. I know it, or I’ll eat my own username and, what’s more… I’ll eat my password too!

Back with something postier in the next few days.