Aussie Summer

[Pedr]

You darling lady!!

We are scared witless of big storms like that at this time of year. Saturday last it was 42 degrees celcius here in Adelaide. ( Sorry ain't working out an imperial conversion at 2.30 am )

...And those big trees in the centre of the picture aren't just recovering from winter, they're "Gum Trees" - Eucalyptus and they don't loose their leaves unless they are extremely stressed or close to death from lack of water.

The really dissappointing thing to us is that most of the time lately those storms only do damage and don't bring the much needed water that we are desperate for. They are responsible for a huge number of bushfires ( wildfires, forrest fires ) that are caused by lightning strikes on extremely hot days.

At the moment I drive around with a fire-fighting backpack in the back of my car, for the times when we go out of the city limits.

We'll all be off high alert by the time you get here.....providing ofcourse there's some rain by then.

Ours is a country of harsh extremes. Snow covered mountains and scourcing deserts all on the one continent.

( In a North American Senatorial accent...or like PM John Howard ) " Global Warming....what the hell is Global Warming....is that some idea to fight of an ice age"

Still looking forward to your arrival

Pedr

Picture courtesy of ABC Australia. www.abc.net.au