Seems things are just not destined to go well for my family...at least not yet anyway.

About 8:50pm last night I get a call on my mobile (that's cell for you yanks), and all I hear is an extremely hysterical and distraught female crying and trying to speak. She was so distraught I could not understand a word she was saying and I had no idea who in blue blazes it was on the phone. I jumped in and said "who is this??" She said it's Renee, Dad. Renee is my eldest daughter...she is a single Mum trying to raise two boys (13 and 15) and a girl (12) on a single mother's pension. Anyway, she managed to get out "the house is on fire and I've lost everything".

She took her kids to the movies in the tiny country town she lives in, a place called Toogoolawah, and about half way through she gets a call telling her the house is in flames. She left the kids with a friend and raced out to the house (an old timber weatherboard farm house). When she got there the entire house was pretty much engulfed in flames. They managed to move her horse from the yard beside the house and saved my grandson's chickens (he breeds and shows them) which is good. They thought her horse float would be OK where it was...no such luck...the heat was enough to melt the aluminium clad walls, burn the 3/4" marine ply sides to ashes and buckle to metal framework. I have just recently spent about $1200 rebuilding and painting it ready for registration this week. Now it is cactus.

Long story short, all that is left are the stumps of the house...she has lost everything her and the kids had in the world. This girl has struggled her whole life with depression off and on, and was recently diagnosed bi-polar, but she has been fighting to get on top of this problem, and slowly succeeding. She does anything she can to give her kids a good life (someone had to because her sh1tbag ex won't have anything to do with her or them and has never paid a cent towards their upbringing), then this happens. Why is it that the good honest people in this world are the ones that bear the brunt of the majority of bad luck and misery?

I am absolutely gutted and devastated at the loss my daughter and my grandkids have suffered. It has left me feeling totally drained emotionally and so deep down in the dumps it will take me sometime to climb back up again. I feel so down I don't even feel like having a beer.

My wife and youngest daughter went out this morning and spent $650 buying clothes and necessities for them, that's OK...it's what families do for one another when times are bad, but it is a drop in the ocean compared to what they will need. My wife, Tricia, has been saving furiously for some much needed home improvements, but that is obviously going to be put on the back burner now...we have more important things that need doing. Seems every time we start to get our head above water things turn to crap. Fortunately my daughter is adopting a positive attitude...she said to me this morning, "I have started with nothing before and built our life up, and we can do it again". A good attitude, but I am fearful for what this may have done to her and the kids on an emotional level deep down.

Apologies for the long winded tome, but the way I feel I had to get this off my chest, and talk about it out in the open.

Vince, I am so sorry to hear of your families trouble. All I can say for now is that I will pray for your daughter and her kids, and you too . Although I need to say at least they were at the movies and not at home, they may have been injured or worse had they been there and tried to save more from the house or put the fire out.

God bless you and yours and may he help you through this time of adversity.

Thank you Lester, for your good words and prayers mate. Your prayers especially can only help and are much appreciated. God bless you my friend.

Sorry Vinnie that's about the worst thing to happen to that family. Project your power and strength, spread your love and she'll be able to pop right out of it. Painful at first, stronger in the end. Nobody was hurt, they can start over. Yes I'm glad it's not me but I don't have so much to lose anyway. I don't have kids to worry about either. The hardest thing is suffering for others, but you're their strength and they'll see your strength and get through hell.



Suz

I don't even dare to think about such a thing.

Vince, only 1 advice: "What doesn't kill you, can make you stronger!"

Damn! What does one say at a time like this? Prayers for you and yours.

Mike

You're all in my thoughts and prayers my friend.

My families heart and prayers go out to your daughter an families , you for being there for her. Sometimes thing don't seam fair.

Sorry to hear the bad news Vince.
If anything I could do, please pipe up.

As you know I am pretty good in copying and printing photos that might have perish in the fire.
If they need such, do not hesitate to contact me. Free of charge of course.

Vince I'm very sorry to hear of your families loss. It's a blessing they were gone and not at home sleeping. No one was hurt, boards and material things can be replaced in time, lives can't. My prayers are for you and your family. Stay strong my friend...

The only good thing in all this is they are all alive and healthy.
Chin up mate it could have been worse.
Pm inbound.

Theres nothing I can say Vince but our thoughts and prayers are for your family.

Vince that just plain sucks !!!
Rest assured that we're thinking and praying for you and your family.
I pray your daughter becomes a stronger person through her life's struggles.

Thank you one and all...your kindness and sympathy has bought a tear to my eye and has certainly eased the hurt I feel for my daughter and grandkids. Tricia and I will stay strong for her regardless...we must because it's what parents do for their children, no matter how old they are.

Mate Im gutted Im not close enough to help out.
they are alive and well and got pets out too which is something to be grateful for. heres hoping the insurance is all up to date and the weasels dont try to wiggle out of coughing up.
give your grandkids a hug and let em know you are there.