In Scotland we never grasped the intense heat of Australia. My father thought of the heating bills we would save if we emigrated there. I remember seeing Latin Americans wearing overcoats in Glasgow during a heatwave: it wasn't hot by their standards. The American poet Randall Jarrell, who grew up in Texas, said London never had a real summer, just a long spring. He wrote a very good book, *Poetry and the Age*.
My mistake: Randall Jarrell grew up in Tennessee, and studied at the University of Texas, dying in a road accident in North Carolina, while attending a conference. It is unclear whether his death was suicide. He wrote a famous introduction to Christina Stead's novel, The Man Who Loved Children. Stead was born in Sydney in 1902.
By Australian standards, Sydney is quite temperate and mild all round. I have heard people say they get colder in Sydney than in colder places because there seems to be a determination to ignore the cold, people wear flip flops year round, don't own coats and sometimes are reluctant to pay for heating. I'm told that a hot day in London is just as uncomforable as a hot day here, even if it's a different kind of discomfort
I did not know Sydney was temperate and mild: it is a city I have dreamed of visiting for decades: a long flight is something I have never done.
Soon I intend to reread an Australian comedy: *Careful, He Might Hear You* by Sumner Locke Elliott. Published by Text Classics, a visionary imprint created by Diana Gribble. They publish Kate Grenville and Gerald Murnane, who is tipped for the Nobel: I enjoyed the YouTube videos on Mr. Murnane and those big skies of Victoria.
Hot days in London are trying for people who must travel by Tube: linen clothing is essential. Randell Jarrell lived in New York with his wife and stepdaughters: I can only think he judged London's summers by the Big Apple's.
You are on a roll and make this look easy. I know it is not.
ReplyDeleteI think it will become hard to keep going so I won't become burdened by it but I'll see how I go!
DeleteThank you! I hope it isn't too repetitive
How well I remember those storms - and the shortlived relief in their wake.
ReplyDeleteYes, the cool gusted through around 7 but we were back to sticky and yuck by 11
DeleteI can just feel the humdity!
ReplyDeleteugh! welcome to eclectica!
DeleteIn Scotland we never grasped the intense heat of Australia. My father thought of the heating bills we would save if we emigrated there.
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing Latin Americans wearing overcoats in Glasgow during a heatwave: it wasn't hot by their standards.
The American poet Randall Jarrell, who grew up in Texas, said London never had a real summer, just a long spring. He wrote a very good book, *Poetry and the Age*.
My mistake: Randall Jarrell grew up in Tennessee, and studied at the University of Texas, dying in a road accident in North Carolina, while attending a conference.
DeleteIt is unclear whether his death was suicide. He wrote a famous introduction to Christina Stead's novel, The Man Who Loved Children. Stead was born in Sydney in 1902.
By Australian standards, Sydney is quite temperate and mild all round. I have heard people say they get colder in Sydney than in colder places because there seems to be a determination to ignore the cold, people wear flip flops year round, don't own coats and sometimes are reluctant to pay for heating.
DeleteI'm told that a hot day in London is just as uncomforable as a hot day here, even if it's a different kind of discomfort
I did not know Sydney was temperate and mild: it is a city I have dreamed of visiting for decades: a long flight is something I have never done.
DeleteSoon I intend to reread an Australian comedy:
*Careful, He Might Hear You* by Sumner Locke Elliott.
Published by Text Classics, a visionary imprint created by Diana Gribble.
They publish Kate Grenville and Gerald Murnane, who is tipped for the Nobel:
I enjoyed the YouTube videos on Mr. Murnane and those big skies of Victoria.
Hot days in London are trying for people who must travel by Tube: linen clothing is essential.
Randell Jarrell lived in New York with his wife and stepdaughters: I can only think he judged London's summers by the Big Apple's.
Mental Places: A Conversation with Gerald Murnane.
DeleteYouTube.
You remind me it's summer there, summarized very well. :)
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
It's been feeling very tropical but today is milder
DeleteI'm getting into these now.
ReplyDeleteIt's an acquired taste, maybe?
Delete