Winter 2012

[EileenDavid]

Rain rain and more rain. Eileen

[Stanley]

Got a shock when I opened the back door at 04:30 this morning! All was white because we had a heavy fall of hard frozen rain, not sleet or hail but more like hard snow. It's gone now and we have rain. It rained continuously yesterday till about 15:00 and then light rain again after about 20:00. Good writing day! The glass fell back to below 28.9" but this morning has risen to 29". Only prediction I have is more rain and perhaps colder till the next low sweeps in from the west, it's on it's way as I write. Deep joy! Little doubt that the record for rainfall will be broken and in case you hadn't noticed, there has been some extreme weather in the US and it often gets across to us after a few days.....
18:17... Back from a cold walk in nasty weather. There's a strong westerly breeze and it's bringing in broken cloud that every now and then explodes into a spatter of hard sleet and rain mixed. Not a good day for anyone who has to be outside.

[Sunray10]

Lots of heavy rain this evening and, not much better tomorrow just a bit colder perhaps. Much milder during the week ahead - no signs of the snow coming from the US neither. We don't really want it do we.

[Stanley]

It almost stopped raining once or twice yesterday, I caught a brief glimpse of a patch of blue sky mid-morning! Back to rain again during the night and it's raining at the moment. The glass has been dodging about and fell during the night to 28.9" so it looks like a broken day today. One thing I did notice is that at 15:30 it was too light to draw the curtains, it has been dark at that time for many days recently.
Just popped me head out at 07:30. Still raining! Short walk in full wet weather gear is indicated.... Bugger Jack!
Later after 09:00. I didn't short change Jack, we did the full Valley Gardens walk. Cold, wind and rain. Butts is running a banker again but we are back home now in the warm. Jack's been rubbed down and is happy. I never got wet because I had the right gear on. So, all is well, time for a cup of tea and a relax!

[Stanley]

It was dry and cold when I first looked outside at 04:00 this morning but I've just checked again and would you believe it... light, very cold rain. It must be very close to sleet or snow. The glass is hovering around 29" so no big change about. We are told that by the day after tomorrow we could be moving into drier and colder weather. There are ice warnings this morning for some areas.I think I'm getting webbed feet.....

[Cathy]

Sending you all lots of sunshine 35C for us tomorrow (not looking forward to it)

[Stanley]

Dry and cold this morning but not a frost yet I think. Mind you by 7am when we go for our walk the grass could be white. Most encouraging sign for me is that it was daylight yesterday till 16:00. The glass has leapt up to 29.6" during the night, this looks good! Perhaps we will see the sun today!
Later, back from our walk at 07:30. It rained at about 06:00 but thankfully had stopped by the time Jack and I went out for our dark walk. It's raw, damp cold but not a frost here in Barlick. Could have been a lot worse though and it's nice to be back in the warm having done our duty! More shops opening this morning and the widow cleaners are busy doing the shop windows. It looks as though the world is staring to think about work again!

[Cathy]

Our next week looks like this - Th 39C Fri 42C Sat 36C Sun 44C (111F) Mon 41C Tues 37C (98.6F)

Goodbye cruel world...

[EileenDavid]

It isn't raining at the moment but looks like it will at any second. Eileen

[Marilyn]

Currently 42C.
Blast furnace conditions...just horrible.
Garden turning to a crisp.

Must find a cooler spot to retire to in the next few years.

[Stanley]

Cathy and Maz, you need to pop over here for respite! We are very mild for the time of the year, around 10C! Yesterday was brighter but always on the verge of a shower. The glass is still rising and is almost at 29.9", the highest it's been for a while. Theoretically this should mean clear skies and colder weather but at the moment the cloud is still thick and it's drizzling slightly as I write.

[Marilyn]

I'd like to come and lay naked in a big pile of snow.
44 degrees tomorrow. It will be too hot to sleep tonight.
I've still got that flu-type virus ( day 11), and it just doesn't feel right to be crook in this heat.

[Wendyf]

I don't know how you cope with such heat Maz & Cathy. I get uncomfortable when it gets over 20C. We never emerged from the clouds yesterday, and today we are just under the cloud level, it is mild, drizzly and windy too.

[Stanley]

But not a bad day. Jack and I have just come back from a very acceptable walk round the town.
As for the image of Maz naked in the snow.... It's going to take a while to get that one out of my head!

[Marilyn]

I cope by half filling the bath with water straight from the cold tap, plus some lovely Lavender Bubble Bath. Then I jump in and out of it during the day. Will have another sit in it before bed. ( Febby says he will come in with me...oh dear...two 'tubs' in the tub! Not sure that we will both fit comfortably). Then a huge glass of water to take to bed, which looks more like a vase than a glass. Fan above the bed.
Should survive.

[Stanley]

When Jack and I went for our noon walk yesterday I dispensed with the Crombie and scarf! As we walked round I was talking to a lady friend and reflected that we'd had worse and colder days in summer! In the afternoon it started raining gently and is still doing it this morning despite the fact that the glass has risen to just over 30.1", the highest it's been for a long time. Normally this would signal bright frosty weather at this time of year but it is quite mild. Funny old weather but no complaints, it could be much worse!

[Wendyf]

Increasingly wet through yesterday and it looks the same today. Does anyone else find that high pressure brings on aching joints or is it just me?

[Cathy]

Poor little old Adelaide has had it bad today. After trying to sleep thru 24C last night we then had to endure a top of 45C today, it's the fourth hottest day on record for us, absolutely sweltering. We also have Severe Fire Danger warning, and Shark Alerts!! Tonight we can sleep thru 18C and it should only (?) reach 32C tomorrow, but will work it's way back up to 41C by Monday.

Perth only had 25C today but will have 38C tomorrow, and poor Hobart had 41.4C today, their hotttest on record.

Time for yet another shower...

[Stanley]

Wendy, not that I've noticed, could be carrying all that fuel in to keep the fire going for Colin.....
Cathy, no shark alerts in the Cut and it's quite mild at the moment. The rain stopped just before Jack and I went out but heavy overcast and very dark. It's not really daylight even now. Roll on some sun!

[Stanley]

Dry flags this morning! The glass almost reached 30.2" yesterday but is back down to 30.1" this morning. Hardly any wind but overcast. I'm not complaining, things could be much worse and we're getting through the winter very well, after all we're well into January now.....
08:00 and Jack and I are back from a pleasant walk round the town. Very mild, almost uncomfortably warm in the Crombie and scarf!
I have a bone to pick with Wendy..... Ever since she mentioned a possible link between high atmospheric pressure and pains I have had aching knees! I am too suggestible.
I see the hot weather in Oz has triggered bush fires.... Keep safe you two!

[Wendyf]

It's dry!

[Cathy]

Feel so sorry for Victoria and Tasmania, they are inn the grip of many bushfires at the moment. Tasi has lost over a 100 properties, buildings etc. In one town the residents had to jump into the sea and the flames were still overhead, how frightening!! Quite a few fires still burning and causing problems.
I imagine Marilyn and I will be fine. 36C for us tomorrow.

[EileenDavid]

It's dry here at the moment and bright. Eileen

[Stanley]

Cathy, I saw the TV images of the fires on Tasmania. I know that bush-fires are a natural phenomenon and essential for the maintenance of the Eucalyptus forests but they are still frightening and destructive. Remember the bit I quoted not long ago about the fire chief consulting with the old Abo about a bush fire hazard and how horrified he was when the old Fallow set fire to it! Best thing to do of course and the old bloke knew what he was doing. I knew a bloke in NSW who made a good living going round cutting long grass and brush round urban houses with a brush-buster, like a heavy duty mower.
We had a good but gloomy day yesterday. Misty this morning and as far as I can see, heavy overcast. Glass is steady around 30". Not a lot of change. This and better will do!

[EileenDavid]

Quite pleasant out yesterday with some sunshine and blue in the sky. Back to grey today and foggy this morning. Eileen