THE MEANING OF OZ - All you need to know!

yep its definitly the heat. You know how aussies always shorten things, well saying 2fer is the same. the number of runs really doesnt matter. Try it 2fer (2 wickets down) plenty of batting still to come so the number of runs is not really that important. Your mate walks in sees the cricket on and says "'szitgone bloke" you say "8fer" hes immediatly got the picture of where the innings is at and you havn't had to exert yerself in the heat. Get it.

...so he goes down the bookies and buys oz at 310+ but when he gets back and asks the score again you say 223/9....and he throws a tinny at ya

Now why would he do that?

*sigh* at 9fer you wouldnt back the batting side anyway dont matter what the score is! Anyhow at 9fer OZ is still a fair bet for 300 "ohh ahh", magilla or BLee can hold their end up and anyone above them is capable of a ton.

More Oz summer. <Silly! >

And, of course, January in Melbourne means tennis & the Australian Open. Poor players today: 43 C! Hot, hot, hot!:

.. & <sigh> in my own state (Victoria) extreme temperatures & more bushfires. :

Braced for a burn as Victoria wilts by degrees



This fire came dangerously close to the hamlet of Moondarra in Gippsland.

Victoria is bracing for a day of severe fire danger today as temperatures soar to 43 degrees in Melbourne and hotter elsewhere, and firefighters continue to battle blazes across the state.

The Country Fire Authority has declared today its first statewide total fire ban day for the summer, with high winds forecast.

"Under these conditions, a fire that gets going will spread very quickly," CFA spokesman Alex Toomey said. "We're expecting extreme fire behaviour."

The Department of Sustainability and Environment has urged people in high-risk fire areas to make early decisions on whether to stay and defend their homes or evacuate quickly.

The ban follows a day of furious fires across the state, which destroyed 8500 hectares. There was also distress at the Australian Open tennis tournament, with many fans succumbing to extreme heat.

Melbourne's temperature peaked at 40.2 degrees. .. <cont>

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2006/01/21/1137734188634.html

Ah, it happens just about every summer. Most fire fighters are volunteers, by the way.:

Last Updated:Monday, January 23, 2006. 6:16pm (AEDT)

Firefighter dies battling Vic blaze



A firefighter has died in a truck rollover as blazes burn out of control in Victoria.

A firefighter has been killed while fighting a fire in the Strathbogie range 20 kilometres north of Yea in north-eastern Victoria.

Police say a fire truck rolled over at the Highlands fire. Four other firefighters were injured in the accident.

The firefighter's death comes as police investigate the deaths of two people in a car during a fire in the Grampians in western Victoria last night.

Two bodies were found in the burnt-out car on the Moyston Pomonal Road but it is unclear whether the two were trying to escape the fire or died after their car hit a tree.

No emergency services units were able to attend to the burning car .............

Halls Gap

Authorities have confirmed the Grampians blaze has destroyed eight houses at Mount Lubra, while three houses have been destroyed at Anakie near Geelong.

The Grampians blaze has intensified and ash and burning embers are falling on Halls Gap, with some homes near the town under threat.

The flames are being fanned by south-westerly winds. .. ..<cont>

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200601/s1553445.htm

Aw that's terrible, Oz. Sympathy.

I heard it was hot, but I was unaware of fires breaking out...have been away from the news for a day or two.

Here, it's cold & damp. A happy medium between the two weathers would be best, if it were achievable.

Oy!



Ouch.

Yeah, it's terrible that these deaths occur on such a regular basis, year after year .... I have the greatest respect & admiration for the fire fighters - both professional & voluntary. Incredibly tough work.

Thanks for your concern, McTag.

Tad warm here folks, this is in my backyard on d=sunday

Oh, that's HOT, dadpad!

I was wondering if there were any bushfires up in your bit of the country?

About an hour away at Yea msolga, 600 firefighters. my mum works with the red cross who provided some of the catering. i have worked in the area of the fire and it is STEEP country in parts. One couple I know had the fire 200m from their home on the edge of the Yea, scary stuff. We are still Ok here as it is a little greener here.

Oh, that's a relief, dadpad. Good for your mum! There are fires on so many fronts in Victoria at the moment, aren't there? Say nothing of Tasmania, WA .... But Victoria is getting the worst of it. The fires around Moe/Yallourn Nth seem dangerously close to where my mother lives. The new year fires around Stawell came very, very close to the family home of a close friend of mine. Very touch & go for a while. They chose not to evacuate, which was a very scary & dangerous decision, in my (& my friend's) opinion. Their house is very isolated & it was sheer good luck that the wind died down & temperature dropped. Phew! I fear that there won't be much respite during rest January & into February.

You've got to admire those volunteer fire fighters, don't you? Every summer, every year!

Just now listening to Jon Faine on the ABC: 60 thousand registered volunteers in Victoria. Amazing. Bless 'em!

wow thats hot deadpad, sorry have trouble with your name dp

I've never seen temperature that high, and clearly the thermometer is in the shade...

Once in Toledo Spain we were in 40 deg C but found a hotel with aircon luckily.

Anyway best of luck,

45 man thats killing temperature

I was 'ere - in the 40+C heat - too bloody hot, I say, but they close the roof and amp up the aircon at that temperature, so tolerable for spectators and players in Rod Laver Arena. Outside courts - they have to suspend play!

And that grunting does get you down - on telly you can turn down the sound. In the Arena - well - I walked out on the Sharapova match yesterday - really sounded like some sort of grunt convention.

Now, back in Sydney - cooler, dampish, almost raining - sheesh!

Today, if you didn't know, is our annual Australia Day
holiday. Not a very happy day for many around Australia battling bushfires in incredibly hot conditions. Like many people in the vicinity of the Grampians National park, Victoria, many of whom who are battling their second round of fires since new year's day. The devastation has been terrible. Not just for people, but for innocent, trapped animals who can't escape the fires & for the wildlife in the regions affected. This is a newspaper report of just one family's losses.:

Small mercies as a farm is ravaged
By David Rood, Dunkeld
January 26, 2006/the AGE



John Thewlis walks past a pit containing hundreds of sheep.
Photo: Angela Wylie

AS JOHN Thewlis stood on the hill overlooking his farm watching the Grampians bushfire surge towards him, he could name the properties the fire engulfed in its path. First Argyle, then Hamish's place next door, before it arrived at his fences.

Late on Sunday afternoon, the fire had spilled from the Grampians National Park, fanned by hot north-westerly winds towards Willaura. The winds changed to the west, turning the fire's flank into its front, as the blaze "balled" across the farm at chest height. Mr Thewlis and his son John couldn't get into the paddocks to fight the front.

"It was just a wall coming at you, it was a massive wall of flames. We were looking at miles of fire front all of a sudden coming straight at you," Mr Thewlis said. "It's frightening but you sort of think 'just don't put yourself in danger'."

Mr Thewlis is the fifth generation to farm his property, called Mount Elliott, since it was established in 1864. As the fire spread, burning crop stubble and jumping firebreaks, Mr Thewlis and his son were forced to leave, outrunning the blaze in their ute. John's wife Heather was already in Ballarat.

When they returned to the farm an hour later, the Country Fire Authority was fighting the blaze. Together they managed to save a weatherboard cottage and some storage sheds and the workshop. .. <cont>

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/small-mercies-as-a-farm-is-ravaged/2006/01/25/1138066861264.html

Melbourne has one of the largets Greek populations of any city in the world. Right now they're going ga ga, absolutely crazy about this guy!:



http://www.theage.com.au/news/tennis/baghdatis-bag-of-tricks/2006/01/27/1138066929505.html

even if he didn't win! Good game though