Hi, Simon Marnie here,
 
While some parts of our state are still burning, there are also many NSW communities that are taking the first steps on the road to recovery. 
 
It's those voices and stories that I'll be sharing with you over the next few weeks as I travel the state, hearing of the hope, the resilience, and the heartache that comes with moving forwards as a community after the bushfires. 

After visiting Kangaroo Valley and Bargo last weekend, it's been a privilege to witness the community strength that resounds through all levels of each town. The respect for the RFS, the tales of facing the fires, and first hand stories of rebuilding afterward have been amazing.
 
Tune in or join me in person:

• Sunday 8 February: Bilpin Community Market from 10am at the Bilpin District Hall
• Sunday 9 February: Blue Mountains Ukulele Festival from 10am at the Carrington Hotel
• Saturday 15 February: the main street of Mogo
• Sunday 16 February: from the Surf Club at Bermagui

Listen live, Saturday from 6am and Sunday from 10am   

Under siege by fires on all sides, the small community of St Albans cancelled its Christmas party. Now they're finally ready to celebrate and start the long road to recovery.
 

We're living longer, so we may as well be in the best physical condition possible. Physiotherapist Anna-Louise Bouvier offers her tips while on Afternoons.
 

This nostalgic Iced VoVo tart is not only a crowd-pleaser but it'll also compliment any summer barbecue.
 

Answer this question: How easy is it for you to strike up a good conversation with your younger colleagues in the office kitchen?

It may seem like a strange question, but that's a benchmark some companies are using to decide who to hire, one Sydney-based recruiter tells us, and the assumption is that older Australians won't know what to say to their younger colleagues.
 

The enormous and unprecedented scale of the bushfire crisis has resulted in widespread calls for a return to Aboriginal land management practices, including "cultural burning".