This is summer? Really?

Today is the 6th (official) day of summer and this is what is the go in my lounge room.

A fire.  Complete with surrounding fire hazards but that's not the point (the fireplace becomes a handy storage area outside of winter).

The point is that last night saw two doonas added to the bed and then today I had to dig out the tights and jacket from the depths of the cupboard to wear to work.

What's going on?  This is summer for crying out loud!

Add to that the 5.4 earthquake over in Western Australia and the 'newly found' fault line up in north Queensland and I'm seriously considering stocking up on canned goods, building a bunker and retreating to higher ground.  

I think the doomsdayers may be right.  The world is coming to an end.

Either that or Australia is heading for the ice age and endless winters.

Where is my warm weather and sunny days?  

I have veggies to grow and fruit to pick.  Not to mention my new sandals and summer frocks just waiting to be worn.

Don't make me move closer to the equator.....

Farewell summer

So yesterday was the last day of summer (officially) and just to ram it home that yes, it definitely is still summer, we had temps in high thirties.  Nice.

What does a person do on the last day of summer?  On a hot day? 

Well, if you're me, you decide to crank up the stove and make some tomato relish! 

What can I say - I had homegrown tomatoes, cucumbers and capsicums begging to have something done with them - I couldn't resist (nor could I bear to let them go bad and give them to the chooks)!

So the deed was done and now I have a couple of (big) bottles of Green Tomato Relish to devour in the coming months.  Yumbo!

Is that an Ark I see before me?

It's raining
It's poring
The old man is snoring
He went to bed
And bumped his head
And couldn't get up in the morning.


It's currently raining.  Big, fat drops coming down with the gusto of a hungry puppy attacking a bone.  Three minutes ago, it wasn't raining.  In three minutes it will have stopped.  It's been like that all day.  And all yesterday.  And the day before that.

We have had so much rain there is major flooding all over the state.  With more to come.

Luckily, our house is on top of a hill.  In a town on top of a hill. 

Unless there really is a man out there building a big boat and shepherding the animals on in pairs, I think we'll be right.

Sending warm, sunny, non-wet thoughts to all the folks out there filling sandbags and building weirs around their houses or raising their life possessions off floor level. 

Be strong.

won-won-zoll

Dear 2011,

Let me introduce myself.  I'm Shelley and I'm going to be your bestest bestie for a WHOLE 12 months!!!  But....for me to be your bestest bestie there's a few little things you need to do for me, you know, quid pro quo....

For starters, right now I'd like summer to happen.  I have a range of new dresses I'd like to wear but the rain is making it too cool to go out without some form of sleeve on....so some regular, consistent sun would be greatly appreciated.  Also, winter this year - yeah not so much on the cold this year if you could.  I think my feet have only just now thawed and 2010's winter 'ended' about 5 months ago....  I don't mind having to rug up and getting to wear scarves and jackets and boots but not in December....

It would also be great if you could keep up my travel to foreign climes as per 2010.  I'm a bit accustomed to it now and would hate to break the tradition (yes, two years in a row does make a tradition!).  I really love meeting new people and seeing new parts of the world, and the food, oh the food - this year I'm totally fanging for some more of that delish penang curry from skala in Bangkok, and some fatoush at Norma's house in Lebanon, and I really want to try some legit Vietnamese spring rolls....mmmmmm.  It doesn't have to cost much to happen either - I'll be happy with 3 star - though I must draw the line and insist on hot and cold water, air con and a swimming pool! lol

I'd LOVE to win lotto this year too.  A number of years (every year) have gone by now without me winning a cent.  I know, I know, you have to be in it to win it.  Well, I will make more of an effort if you will.

Also, I would like world peace and an end to famine and drought (cos you know, not everything should be about me....).

In return, as your bestest bestie in the WHOLE wide world, I will always talk you up to all and sundry (you know, how wonderful you are, the start of a NEW decade, the promise of the future right here in your hands...do you have hands?), I'll always compare you favourably to past years (that 2010, that one was whack), I won't complain (much) when you go by so quickly, and I won't take you for granted and wish you away.  I will also do my absolute utmost (UTMOST) to remember to write your date right and not call you 09 or 10 (or 00!!!), and I will get the most awesome picture record of you in the form of a funky calendar so that I can look at your awesome-ness every day!

So how's that?  Have we got ourselves a deal?  Let me know ASAP because, you know, 2012 is waiting in the wings and, I'm not 100% sure, but from here it's looking dang hot!

Love always,

your (potential) bestest bestie EVER

me xxx