Sunday, November 17, 2013

I'M DREAMING OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS


Well, one can dream can't one?  I've been dreaming the same dream for as long as I can remember but it's never likely to happen, at least not in Perth if I wait for a million years.  Sigh!!

Our summer normally begins with a bang just before Christmas and often over the festive season we will have temps of 40ºC (104ºF) and somehow we put up with it.  Not conducive to eating hot meals and certainly not being out of doors but we manage, many others better than I do.  I've never enjoyed the hot weather since I was a child and yet I was born in Western Australia (only about 5 miles from where I now live).

This year in Perth our summer began at the end of October and has really not let up much since.  I doubt we've had a day under 25ºC (77ºF).  We've already had 3 'almost centuries' with the temp on 3 days reaching 37.1C (a century is 37.78ºC) which takes the edge of bragging about that.

We've also had much hotter nights than are normal at this time of year so the overhead fan in the bedroom has been working overtime already.  We don't run the air-conditioning after midnight.  It's not all that noisy but I do try and do the right thing by the neighbours and wouldn't want it annoying them and if we cool the bedroom for a few minutes before getting into bed then the fan is OK.

With our water restrictions (can only use the sprinklers twice a week) I fear the gardens are going to suffer if we have a long, hot summer extending into April (which is quite likely).  It's so difficult to keep the water up to the plants by hand watering.  It's just not the same and it's often too hot to stand out in the sun watering anyway.

Oh well, back to dreaming.  Sigh!!!

17 comments:

  1. In this kind of weather it's best to go out in the cool of the morning and do the watering, between 7 and 8am perhaps, that gives the plants time to get a good drink before the sun comes out and dries up the ground. Or a good soaking in the late evening, just before the sun goes down so there is still enough light to see.
    We've had a couple of too warm nights but the last few days has been lovely for sleeping still. I'm not looking forward to the heat.

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  2. I am never up at 7 or 8 a.m. so late afternoon the best time for me, and for the garden I think. Phil usually does water the vegies mid-morning so they don't suffer too much during the heat of the day.
    You have a couple of warmish days coming up but then down to 19ºC. I don't believe it. We rarely have our temps drop below 25ºC once the heat begins and that goes on for months.
    Phil lived in Adelaide with his first wife then they emigrated (1960-61) and he said the north wind there was a killer, something like our easterlies here in Perth. Straight off the desert. He spoke of hot days but also cool nights as well. Your weather is certainly different to ours but then I think we are closer to the Tropic of Capricorn that you are. Don't ask me about latitude or longitude 'cos I get lost then.
    Do you have much in the way of water restrictions? I imagine you do.

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    1. I haven't heard anything about water restrictions, maybe we are still restricted from last year? I'm sure the newspapers will tell us of new ones. I water my pots with a small one litre watering can and there are only a few on my front porch, so I think I'm well withing the stated amount anyway.

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  3. In the height of summer we really value our overhead fans. Our winter is pretty mild right now and after a chilly start is about 14 deg C.

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  4. Perhaps I may just pop over for a visit (of say about 5 months). How about that for an idea? Sounds just like my kind of weather where you are now. We relied on just overhead fans for years but since I've grown older I seem to feel the heat more so air conditioning it had to be. We use it sparingly but we do use it. : )

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  5. It sounds like nexdt week (according to the talking weatheer heads) we will be plunged into 'winter proper'. How would youl like to trade accomodations for a few months? Our summer was most disappointing.

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    1. I think you'd be disappointed with our little cottage Delores but I'd swap with anyone for cooler days. Doubt though that Phil would as he lived in England for 30 years and isn't a fan of snow, sleet and icy blasts. Thanks for the offer. lol

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  6. Oh Mimsie if I could I would bag up a nice white fluffy bit of snow and ship to you but I am sure we both know what that would do:) Hug B

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    1. Just wouldn't make the distance Buttons.
      I remember when in New Zealand back in the 80s we went on a bus trip but a huge mountain and it was snowing when we got there and I actually built a snowman. Phil thought I was bonkers as to him snow is pretty on Christmas cards and that's where it should stay. xx

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  7. I hear you. Loud and clear. We are not as hot as you - but summer (and Christmas) is toooooo hot.
    And the early signs here are that it is going to be a long and hot one. We have had days in the thirties already, followed by a day (the next one) where we struggled to get to 15. Sigh.
    Here is to cool breezes for us both. And rain.

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    1. Yes, yes, yes....Lots of cool breezes. Can't complain today as it suddenly has dipped to 21ºC..amazing. Hotting up at the end of week though.
      Rain? I've already forgotten what that is. We had a wet September and some good rain in October but November? Doubt we've had any at all in Perth this month or at least not in our area.

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  8. One day Mimsie I will have a white Christmas (somewhere). Oh, and my aircons are doing overtime over here at the moment. The heat and humidity have hit with a force and its not even high summer yet!

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    1. Respite here today...fantastic. Not even a fan on and yet the other night we had a minimum of about 18ºC. I'll take the cooler days when I can get them. Experienced snow once for a day....liked it and would like more. lol

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  9. We don't have much chance of having a white Christmas here in the sunny south of the U.S., either, but it's technically winter, so it's a lot cooler than what you're experiencing these days. Here's to a nice cool breeze coming your way.

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    1. Thanks Susan. As said above cool breezes today which surprised us somewhat. We will enjoy them while we can 'cos more heat on the way at week's end.

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  10. Perth forgot to have Spring, and I was so looking forward to it. xxx Rae

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    1. I hear what you're saying Rae and I couldn't agree more. No autumn to speak of and definitely no spring whatsoever. They are my favourite seasons and they forget them this year. xxx

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