Heat Versus Cold

 The week starting 26 January.

It started with Australia Day. The poem by Dorothea Mackellar always comes to mind. 

Here is the first verse. - I love a sunburnt country.

                                      A land of sweeping plains

                                      Of ragged mountain ranges, 

                                      Of droughts and flooding rains.

                                      I love her far horizons,

                                      I love her jewel-sea,

                                      Her beauty and her terror - 

                                     The wide brown land for me.

So very true this summer. People in all parts of the country have been impacted by cyclones, floods, bushfires, extreme downpours and landslides. South East and Central Australia have had temperatures reaching the mid 40's to early 50's. The heat wave has been notable for its intensity and the duration above a high threshold. Little relief at night as well. Here in our little corner of Queensland, we haven't reached 40C, but the humidity has been stifling. I might add that on Christmas Day, much of Tasmania had snow fall!

After an Aussie lunch of lamb chops and pavlova, in an air conditioned dining room, we retired to the shady end of our pool for a couple of hours. The temperature reached a high of 37C.

Meanwhile the family on PEI were experiencing -17C with the windchill making it feel like -34C.

My walking groups have continued to make the decision to walk early. We are usually in the car driving to our destination by 5am. 

Last week the Gaiter Girls walked 10km from the top of Paddington, back to the city via Roma Street Gardens. Coffee was enjoyed in the cafe at Goma [modern art gallery] before we viewed one of its exhibitions. Home by 11 am.

The gardens, as always, a joy to visit.

Very unusual to spot a possum at this time of day.

We were very surprised to witness a water dragon lizard eating a petunia.

In front of the Goma Cafe, the newly installed 'The Big Hose' installation, is very impressive. The 119 metre long hose is a permanent art display and interactive play sculpture. I'm sure that nearly every Aussie garden has a hose like this one, just not so long.

The Hungry Hikers also had a suburban walk, but this one was a leafy one, in the Mt Gravatt suburb.

Leanne then served us a delicious breakfast in her air conditioned unit.

Hearts were made to send to Jenny who wasn't well.

In October, Jenny had initiated the Hungry Hiker tablecloth.. Each week, one of the hikers has to draw a memory of the day.

Initially we each drew ourselves and when we joined the group. Six done.

Our first hike of 2026 was at Coombabah Wetlands with the kangaroos and koalas.

Two weeks ago the Hungry Hikers walked the Wynnum foreshore. Of course, lots of posing took place. Jayne excelled herself with her drawn memory of the day. We wanted to make her our resident artist, but she has declined.

A very special event for me in the past 2 weeks, was attending a performance of Cornwall's Fisherman's Friends, sea shanty singing group. I had only stumbled on them a week or so prior to their Aussie tour. Look them up.

For Kim on PEI, it was walking their dog as the Northern Lights began to perform. Sadly it was too cold to linger long.

Whether you are hot or cold, I hope you can find lots to make you smile.

Post script - Just read where it is snowing again at Tasmania's Ben Lomond Ski Resort.

I would love to read your comment.