It's 9 degrees C in Sydney tonight and it feels like 7. The cold comes under the doors and through the windows, it settles on the house like a blanket and in turn we wrap ourselves in blankets, jackets, scarbes, beanies and fluffy slippers.
The gas heater in the corner blows hot air out and we take turns sitting in front of it, like cats seek the sun. Wheat bags are pulled out of drawers and microwaved for bedtime warmth.
Snow is falling in the Blue Mountains, not far away and tomorrow the temperature wont be higher than 13 degrees.
On a world scale, Sydney doesn't get cold. Onle in the coldest parts would overnight temps ever dip below freezing and the sun shines nearly every day so there is a belief that it doesn't get cold here.
The truth is, the cold is relatively mild and short lived so the majority of Sydney siders act like it doesn't exist at all, buildings are designed for a temperate climate and most of us don't have huge amounts of protective clothing. What this all adds up to, is that people say they get colder in Sydney than they do in places like Canada, London or New York.
I can't say if that's true or not but as the wind howls outside and whistles through the doors, I avoid opening the door to the cold hallway and I won't argue that tonight and nights like it, Sydney is flippin' freezing.
It is cool here too. We have struggled to reach double digit temperatures here, and the same will be true of today.
ReplyDeleteSydney (and Brisbane) homes are not designed for cool weather are they?
Stay warm.
I'm not really sure what kind of weather Sydney houses are designed for!
DeleteYou did it! There’s no way I could have described the fact that it does get cold in Sydney better than you just did. Thanks for ‘playing along’
ReplyDeleteIt’s pouring here this morning - I’m going to need hot drinks rather than cold water (from a bottle)
Hot chocolate is my recommendation :)
DeleteFunny how clothing and buildings are not up to the quality to keep someone warm the few times a year that it is needed.
ReplyDeleteYes. It's because it is so few days. which doesn't help if we happen to be in one of those days :)
DeleteWe have the reverse problem here - houses are built for the cold, so heavily insulated with triple glazed windows, all facing the sun to maximise the heat. It's a cold climate, so one can understand that (we are struggling to make double figures and it's the cusp of summer!). However, in those few days of hot summer weather, the place is almost uninhabitable as there is no way to cool it down effectively. We generally live on our yacht in summer, just to catch a cooling breeze.
ReplyDeleteI think the coldest I've felt was in England. It felt colder there at 5C than it does here when it's -15C. Perhaps because here is a dry cold, but in the UK it's damp and gets in your bones. That said, we have excellent cold weather clothing and those insulated, draught-free, centrally heated homes, so that might explain it as well.
Windows facing the sun sound lovely and central heating would take the edge off the cold very nicely
DeleteIt's cold in Belfast too. Even at the start of June, the temperature is struggling to go higher than 14C and most days there's a cold wind blowing so it feels colder. How nice it must be to have so much cash you can simply move from one comfortable country to another as the temperature changes.
ReplyDeleteI can't really imagine moving with the weather. My life is closely tied to my location
DeleteHonestly, the coldest I have ever felt was in Ireland. The damp did it. When I moved to Canada (in winter) I went around coatless in the snow. it was so wonderfully dry. Now, of course, my system has adjusted but I am equipped to deal with it. Interesting how it has gotten colder in Oz while here in Newfoundland it's getting warmer.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
We've always had the occasional cold day or week in winter. This time we've had a cold front come off Antarctica
DeleteMonsoon seems to be setting early here and the temperature has come down quite a bit. No need now for air conditioning.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting, I thought you would use air conditioning to reduce monsoon humidity
DeleteThe temperature also comes down with the rains and it cools off the atmosphere.
DeleteEven here in Canada, those of us who are trying to avoid turning on the heat in order to save on furnace oil or electricity are finding it cold at the temperatures you describe. That's because IT IS COLD! The difference being, of course, that when we get really desperate we can flip the switch. You have every reason to feel like you are suffering. Our spring has been unusually cold. Our nights are still going to just above freezing. I'm trying to console myself that at least the weeks of heat and humidity will be fewer. You have the right idea - blankets, hats, slippers, and hot drinks. Another idea is, if possible, to hang blankets at the doorways of the room where your heat source is. It's surprising how much heat it will keep in that room.
ReplyDeleteI put up blockout curtains a couple of years ago and we thought they migh tkeep some heat in.....maybe they do but it's hard to tell.
ReplyDeleteI love the cold nights, heavy blankets and wheat bags make me happy :)
Still flippin' freezing here - a few teases of warmth then back to the cold and rain. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteSx