In the land of no worries, Sydneysiders are preparing to send plumes of barbecue smoke up even as the threat of bush fire smog hangs in the air.

Caught between Christmas preparations and bush fires to the west (Blue Mountains), in the north (from the Central Coast to just south of Queensland) and in the south (Southern Highlands), they are making the most of what has been a dreadful summer. Only the Pacific Ocean stands in the way of bush fires erupting in the east.