Heavenly Beverley : Hooray! It Was The Shortest Day!

Yesterday, on the shortest day of the southern hemisphere year, the weather was bloody cold. By our standards, anyway. Earlier in the afternoon, the temperature struggled up to 10 degrees C (50 degrees F). With the wind chill factor, Weatherzone cheerfully alerted us that the great outdoors actually felt like 1 degree. Pitch black and just under 10 degrees at five minutes to six, apparently the sensation was akin to 4 degrees. Having shaken the sheets outside prior to the wash, I could verify that the air was definitely a tad nippy.

Here in Heavenly Beverley our extremes are between -2.0 and 46. As a result, we try to have a northerly aspect in our homes, to greet the winter sun under the eaves and keep the summer blast furnace out. Those lucky enough to have heating and cooling can stay comfortable all year round. However, some of our housing only possess wood heating and maybe a fan or two for summer. If only anecdotally, I can confirm that Climate Change is alive and well here in Beverley. Our summers are not necessarily that much hotter, but the heat starts with a WHAM in October and generally doesn't let up until late March. And rainfall continues to be very temperamental. Until this winter, we only have had one other average or above average rainfall during the cooler months over the last ten years. Throughout the Wheatbelt, we are all praying to the rain gods. After a fantastic and early start to the growing season, all the joy could be undone if we do not continue to have the following cloudbursts. Frost and wind remain a clear and present danger. Farmers would have to be some of the bravest and most resilient people I know.

There was precious little winter sun to be had on the shortest day. The rain eased off mid-afternoon, but the grey skies and wicked southerly propelled me into five layers of clothing to take the Canine fools for a walk. I met Pat and Polly the fluffball on their walk and Pat was similarly attired. We saw nobody else crazy enough to venture out.

Between us, Michael and I tackled the indoors - vacuuming and then I washed the floors. We warmed up enough to actually turn the heating off. The house remained deliciously warm for sometime afterwards. After I cooked dinner - "comfort food" Shepherd's Pie - we cranked up the additional heating whilst we watched the Idiot Box. But the positive conclusion for yesterday was that although the early darkness won't be retreating soon, at least the days are not going to become any shorter from here on in until the summer solstice on 21 December.

I would be really pleased if somebody from the northern hemisphere could explain why the Americans consider 21 June - their longest day - to be the beginning of summer, rather than 1 June. Does the weather really not become summerly until mid June? Here, we tend to refer to the "Hot Weather" rather than summer as the date bears no semblance to the arrival of blistering days. And of course, in the Northwest, Top End and FNQ (Far North Queensland), they only have two seasons - the Wet and the Dry. This week, some of northern Western Australia may be scratching their heads as cool and rainy weather is currently sweeping across parts of the Pilbara. Very unseasonal - Climate Change again?

We are hoping that all this precipitation moves away over the next week. We are leaving on our next Northwest expedition in two weeks. We have organised a wonderful house sitter for the cats, our home and the garden. I am currently ploughing my way through creating an up-to-date hardcopy catalogue for the Gallery to leave with our volunteer artists. I plan to begin packing the caravan today. The dogs need to start their three month tick treatment tonight to counteract any nasty diseases they encounter in the tropics. Today's cold has galvanised us to long for the relative warmth and dry of Newman, Tom Price, Onslow, Point Samson and Marble Bar. Currently, at ten o'clock in the morning, I can report that the temperature is 8.8 degrees and going down, in spite of the brilliant sunshine. Brrr...

My endeavours in Digger, the caravan will continue, regardless of the weather. With the help of his heater, Digger can be very comfortable indeed. And when we return, in mid August, the weather may still be inclement, but the daylight hours will already be increasing. The worst of the dark will be behind us...

Sitting together at our computer desk with our morning cuppas, all is well in our world.