I would like to thank the many kind friends who have asked about the fires in Sydney. As you would know from news reports, thanks to the incredible work of the official fire fighters and volunteers, no human lives have been lost by burning. (One tired fire fighter was killed by his 4WD falling on him while he was repairing it.) After Max wrote, the situation deteriorated, particularly from the Macquarie University viewpoint. New Years Day a fire broke out (arson suspected) in the Lane Cove valley between the University and my house in Turramurra. This was very reminiscent of late December 1993: Todd Trimble had just arrived at Macquarie, we were walking to the Union Building for lunch, and saw the smoke billowing out of the Valley. This time I was at home, about 3 kilometres away, so could see the smoke clearly again. That night with the smell of smoke and sounds of sirens we told ourselves that most property losses have been adjacent to large bush reserves, national parks, etc. But I have also seen, in Santa Barbara, how eucalypt fires can consume 500 suburban houses in half an hour. Yesterday I came to work wondering whether my usual road home would be cut off by the gusty hot westerly winds, while Alf van der Poorten was wondering whether the fire would reach his street as it did in 1993-4. Macquarie University sounded like a war zone with choppers (including a big American one called Elvis) filling up with water from the little lake on campus. One of my vacation scholars who started today says he was told to prepare to evacuate. They seem to speak of three categories: out of control, contained, and under control. Fires don't seem to go out absolutely unless there is considerable rain. None is predicted. The fire mentioned above is now said to be under control. This happy news is no doubt helped largely by the local resident fire group that was formed and trained after the 1994 fires. Today I am able to concentrate on my work. Unfortunately the story north, west and south (there is no east) of Sydney is not so good. At Sussex Inlet and Jervis Bay (near Nowra) the fires are out of control. For a week or so the number of houses lost stood at 150. But more were destroyed last night, at least 20, but accurate figures were not known this morning because the fire is still raging, too hot, windy and smokey even for choppers. Warrimoo in the mountains west of Sydney has had a bad time. One of our neighbours has a son, with wife and two daughters, who lost their house. We just found out that Ron Andrews (from our Department) who moved to Warrimoo is okay. Murray Adelman (retired Macquarie category theorist) lives at Blackheath in the mountains, but I think that area is okay. The fires north of Sydney continue to breach containment lines. It is an ongoing disaster for plants and animals, and a continuing threat to people. However, the Sydney weather is not as hot as in 1994. Today is around 28 degrees C. This should help somewhat. Mike Barr also asked how our friends in Buffalo are fairing. Is there any word? I guess we cannot blame 7 ft of snow directly on crazy individuals; but is the worldwide crazy weather really natural Mr Bush? Let's continue to hope for a Happy New Year to all, Ross