Smokey...

 Yesterday saw Jake and I going off to investigate the thick smoke billowing up into the sky near our local high school (in the background of the picture above).  We followed the trail and were on the scene before the fire brigade.  Needless to say, it was any boy's dream - you show me the 7 year old that doesn't want to be a fireman/policeman.  We watched for a while and decided to head home to fetch my camera and watch the action.

The fire was burning in the nature reserve, protected for being the only place for a specific orchid to grow.  I've never seen the orchid, but I guess it's pretty special.  Jake's adamant now that we need to find it and photograph it, so watch this space, if I find it, you'll be the first to know...

 It's not so easy taking photos of a moving fire through a wire fence from inside a car, but just a few to show how big the flames actually were...

 My dad was mowing my lawns for me yesterday, so he came with us to watch the drama unfold.  He was roped in to help open a tap for one of the volunteer firefighters...

 This is the guy he helped...

 There were more than 3 firefighters, they were all off in the bush doing their thing.  These guys came to work near us, so it was fun for Jake to see how much hot, hard work they need to do...

 Jake did wonder (aloud) what would happen if this guy decided to turn the hose on him...

 A super stoked boy...

 The water started to do the trick and the fire started to smoulder, but was still raging a little further on...

Jake was even more impressed when his new found hero came over to chat to him.  Seriously, I don't think he could've been prouder if a Springbok rugby player came over to say hi... 

 I overheard him asking Jake for his name and then ask Jake to please look after this little guy...

 In amongst the smouldering ashes, they'd picked up a little tortoise.  Jake was beyond ecstatic and totally thrilled with his new pet.  In amongst all the destruction of the fire, how sweet that these big men could take the time to save a little tortoise...

 We'll call her Smokey, because she was saved from a fire and we'll keep her in a box filled with grass (because my dad was mowing the lawn) and feed her tomatoes and hibiscus flowers (they like them).  And she is so pretty...

 Jake cleaned her off, her shell was muddy from the ash and water.  He used toilet paper that he left on my lounge floor.  She was very friendly, or maybe to small to bite him, but she was sweet and he fell in love in a heartbeat...

 Pretty shell...

 Letting her free in the front garden for a little stroll....

 Unfortunately, we just couldn't keep Smokey.  We have a dog, Duracell, who'd eat her in no time and her rightful place is either in a safe garden, or back in the wild.  My parent's neighbours have a gate going into the field where she was found, a little further away from the fire.  We tried to go out to set her free, but the neighbours also fell in love with her and have decided to keep her in their garden.  They have a big, very natural garden, so she'll be very happy there and Jake'll be able to go visit as often as he likes.  If he can find her.

On my way to work this morning, I took a drive past the scene of the fire.  It's so bleek, but the animals (grey heron below) are still there and hopefully there'll be lots of new plants in the not too distant future... 

 A lesson was learnt by Jake, as we watched the fire engulf plants, listening to seeds pop open - no smoking (especially in the bushes), no littering and always, always look after animals.

Sue X