Sunday 31 December 2017

Christmas and Summer Weather


For the first Christmas in a long time, I was organised early. Sadly, it may just have had something to do with the fact that this year, our table was only for two. 
On Christmas Eve morning my husband suggested we go out for coffee. He chose a cafe at a nursery, in a rural setting. We had driven passed many a time over the years of transporting our boys to soccer/football games. 

We will be returning!


The forecast for a cool Christmas day was not good.The weathermen actually got it right and at 9am we watched the mercury quickly rise to 32C. Even my little snowman couldn't make me feel cool, with the humidity also rising.

By midday, the temperature had reached 38C. The air con was working hard, as I cooked the traditional hot lunch of beef and yorkshire pudding for my English husband. He came to Australia in 1975.

Our very successful flambe of the christmas pudding. The recipe was given to me by one of Frank's Irish aunts, when we visited on our first Christmas together, 37 years ago.

Look what Santa left in the garden.

Just as well it is the holiday season, as this jigsaw has become an obsession to finish.


Day 1 effort.

This week has been the week of thunderstorms, the first hitting about 7 pm Christmas evening and dumping 2 inches / 50mm in just half an hour and rapidly cooling the air. The change didn't stay long.
These photos are of another storm 2 days later, when another inch or 25 mm were dumped in the same time period.

Walking each morning is hot sweaty work, even starting between 5.30 and 6 am. The street walking at this hour is quite pleasant, with little traffic and the latter part of my 8 kms, beside a creek with lovely views across the valley. The marked green trail is for cooler weather, climbing up and walking along a high ridge.

Boxing day.


This creek rarely flows, but is happily gurgling after the storm.




New Year's Eve walk.
Crocus's looking splendid beside the road. I'm sure the rain has had something to do with their abundance in this very rocky ground.

Lots of mushrooms to be seen.

Cheerful pink and yellow alamanda shrubs.


The view of the Albert River and Windaroo Golf Club.

Again, looking across the Albert River, to cattle grazing and the early morning low cloud on the distant Tamborine Mountain.

How Aussie is this view, with our flag and a red flowering eucalyptus?

Our plan for this afternoon was to drive to a lookout, with a view west over Brisbane, to view the final sunset of 2017. Alas, it's summer and the radar heralded another storm approaching. A quiet evening is now being spent at home.

So as 2018 dawns, I wish you a happy, healthy 2018, but more importantly a peaceful world to live in.


18 comments:

  1. I love seeing your greenery and flowers, but you can keep the heat. We have snow on the ground here in CO. Happy 2018! Keep hiking!

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    1. Thank you Barb. I too would prefer the cold, although the -28C, with -35C windchill factor of Banff Canada, where my son lives, might just be a tad too cold. I still regularly read your blog and so enjoy your photography and the beauty of where you live. Happy New Year and peace in 2018.

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  2. Happy New Year! Thanks for sharing and for your wonderful comments. And a big ol' hug from me!

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    1. Thanks Bill. Sending a sweaty one back to you and look forward to enjoying your wonderful part of the world, through your camera lens.

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  3. I enjoyed seeing a bit of what Christmas looks like "down under." Hope things cool off for you a bit. I spent Christmas in Montana with my son, enjoying the snow and ice (not fun to drive one!)

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    1. Hi Linda. Wonderful that you got to spend Christmas with your son. I look forward to a snowy post of the celebrations.

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  4. Thanks for sharing some images from a Down Under Xmas and New Year. I can't imagine trying to cook a traditional full Xmas Dinner in 38C heat - very committed.
    Happy New Year to you both :)

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    1. 12 years ago the temperature was 42C and the power went off halfway through the cooking for a couple of hours so this was a breeze! I look forward to continuing hhiking with you in the year ahead, via your blog. Have fun.

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  5. Beautiful images Helen. I can't imagine a hot Christmas day!! Cooking a roast must be a bit of a challenge in the heat!!
    I love the new bugs Santa brought you!!
    Happy New Year to you and your family :)

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  6. Thank you Prunella.I imagine you have been having some snowy adventures since I last read your blog. I believe Ladybird and ant would also be very happy in your garden. What fun you would have together.

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  7. I loved seeing how you spent Christmas and New Year, I hope 2018 is a good one for you and your family xx

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    1. Thanks Lyn. Such a contrast to your cold one. The storms continue to roll in and since Christmas day have brought 200mm / 8inches of rain.

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  8. I'm not a big Christmas person so holidays in the tropics sounds good to me! Hope it cools a little bit for you.

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    1. I love where you took yourself Mary. Still hot and steamy!

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  9. We've been in the "deep freeze" here in Kansas for the past week or so. We would gladly take some of your rain. We haven't had appreciable moisture since September. It was fun to see all your beautiful colors since we are in the depths of winter right now.

    I'm impressed with your dessert skills! Fancy!

    Happy New Year!

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  10. I sincerely hope the rain clouds find you soon. I follow a facebook group called "Who got the Rain". People from all over Queensland [my state] send a short report and / or a pic / video of their rainfall, or non existence of. Of course the majority are farmers. Through winter, spring it was quite depressing. Thankfully now their relief and joy is quite palpable.

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  11. I don't think I could stand up in 38C, let alone cook a roast. You deserve some sort of medal.
    Love the flowers and the...is that a kookaburra?

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    1. Yes, such a wonderful bird with its infectious laugh.
      We have just survived a 38C weekend with I'm sure 99.9% humididty. It was difficult to keep standing!

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