Devastation

Last night has we enjoyed the company of friends around the pool at the Cortijo a fire broke out, about 10 Kms away.

We watched with horror as the thick smoke filled the horizon. Yet little did we know that the 35 degree terral wind would help the fire travel at alarming speed ripping through the mountains all the way down to the coast.

Our home in the mountains near Marbella was badly affected. Our neighbours were evacuated so we could only get news from the radio, Facebook and Twitter.

All roads were closed and with nightfall the fire was left to rage.

We returned home this morning to devastation.

The beautiful forest, of such ecological importance on a European level is destroyed. The fire brigade was overwhelmed so there was no one to protect our homes.

Luckily ours is still standing. We'd put down the heavy steel shutters on the windows and thankfully these had stopped the flames entering the house. But the heat was so intense that the steel is buckled and glass melted.

We came home to see neighbours dousing flames and smouldering trees and garden fixtures with hoses and buckets.

Everything on and around the property is gone. It's like a cremation; a huge Balinese daybed is just a few ashes. Terrace furniture incinerated; it's steel frame molten into globules that are fused into the broken terrace tile.

We spent the day clearing up debris and then after sharing time with neighbours we left. It's such a tragic scene we need a few days to contemplate it.

We're back at the Cortijo and I'm about to open a bottle of wine!!

Strangely we feel lucky - some people have lost their homes, others injured. In fact living here with these fires makes us less and less connected with our material belongings.

But the devastation to the forest is heart breaking. Nature brings me huge joy and is a big part of my life as many of you know from my pictures. So I just hope it can start to recover.

Poor Spain - after such a dry year it's suffering so much. Her beautiful landscapes destroyed by mad and selfish arsonists.

Pray the raging fire can be controlled before nightfall.

Well it's a long entry but I want to remember this day. The fire last year inspired me to start this journal and the last 24 hours has just reinforced to me that whilst we're healthy and loved we just have to be grateful!