Grapes, bushfires and birds

We have just harvested our grapes. Though not as prolific and luscious as last year, there is still a sizeable crop and they taste beautifully sweet. We have adark red variety which is under bird netting to stop the birds from cleaning out the entire crop before they even change to their ripe colouration.
I was listening to the radio when there was a discussion with one of the Yarra Valley vintners. Their grapes had been affected by smoke from the bushfires raging throughout February. As a result once the first batch had been pressed, the taint from the smoke had made its way into the vintage. Thus the grape harvest had to be abandoned, the nets pulled off and the remaining grapes were available to the wildlife. I imagine the birds were able to have a feast.
I had been wondering how the bird population is surviving as food in the fire affected areas must be in short supply. Perhaps this grape harvest disaster (only for some of the Yarra Valley producers) will ensure that the lovely, raucous native birds of the Australian bush can survive for long enough before the bush regenerates and provides their normal food.

Reading and films

So what have I been reading lately? My book club has read Helen Garner's "The Spare Room" a somewhat harrowing read. The protagonaist shares her house with a friend dying of cancer for three weeks. This promoted a lot of discussion about caring for others and whether the protagonist in the book was selfish or not. You find out lots about your friends experiences through reading books like this.
Another book to promote lots of discussion will be this months "Infidel" by Aayan Hirsi Ali. Another topical book discussing her transition as a migrant woman from Africa to a political life in Holland, with serious discussion of her experiences growing up in war torn countries and the role of Islam in her life.
After viewing the film "Slumdog Millionaire" which made me close my eyes at times due to the violence, I am just starting the book "Q and A" by Vikas Swarup on which the film is based. I am told there is much more violence in the book. All I have ever won from "Who wants to be a millionaire" game is a flight to NZ.
So to round off the last month of reading on a lighter note. Dan Brown's "Angels and Demons" was very similar to the Da Vinci Code so I expect the new film to follow suit. I don't think I will be seeing it but the book was a good bedtime read for a few nights. I wonder what others are reading now that the days are shortening and the cooler months approach. Or perhaps not reading like my colleague taking three months off to travel through Asia.

Hooray we have rain

The last few days have produced a wonderful release from the long hot dry. Rain has fallen and in sufficient quantities to almost fill the water tanks, release me from watering the garden and encouraged me to bring out the cool weather clothes. It will be interesting to see if the garden responds by budding back into life, though its time to start ripping out the tomatoes and rejuvenating the vegie garden for winter plantings.
Whilst driving to work the other day I did notice more than usual numbers of dead animals on the side of the road. Looked like possums and the odd cat. I was wondering if the wet and cold weather have pushed some of the animals into death and whether this is normal for March, or whether the hot and dry have created a lack of food and habitat for some animals.
It was fun watching the scenes of the Sound Relief concert in Melbourne over the weekend and seeing the drenched but happy faces of the music fans. Paul Kelly and John Farnham sang as well as ever.
Midnight Oil seemed also to be as good as usual, dancing in that signature way on stage. Just shows you Oil's are Oils!

Also very pleased to send half the proceeds to the Queensland disaster relief effort as they also need lots of funds. Perhaps the drenching rain was a good omen for the future of both disaster sites.