It's time we parted. You've been a great lover and I will always love you passionately but your tendency to burst into a firestorm of rage at the tiniest spark means we can no longer live together.

Last summer was the last straw for me. Yes, you hadn't had a drink for some time and it was so hot and dry but when you and your mates decided to destroy our home in a blazing inferno it was just too much.

I know you are not always like that. Small animals seem attracted to you and you give them shelter and food so you must have a kind heart. But you also have a dark side which makes it impossible to live with you.

You might not like to hear this but my next live-in lover will be someone who doesn't so easily ignite and will definitely be someone whose potential for love and comfort when times are good is not exceeded by their destructive capacity when things get tough.

I wish you all the best. For the benefit of everyone I suggest you and your mates stick together and live well out of town. I'm sure the animals will be happy about that.

Yours with love,

Aussie Rural Town

(Geoff Richardson, Bellingen)