city bingo 4: sales staff wearing their coats indoors (1)

Can't decide if this city bingo item is a bit too easy for Sydney-siders, albeit only at this time of year, since it expresses a phenomenon so ubiquitous that locals probably don't even notice it as odd.

Although we have had some sunny days, there is definitely a noticeable chill in the air and the nights demand hot water bottles and thick blankets. I may have gone on before about the lack of heating in this city during winter (I write this huddled up to a small convector heater in my office which is doing a losing job against the cold coming through the windows). The most noticeable side effect is the range of usually elegant outer garments that people who work in shops and cafes start wearing.

Here, at the Infinity Bakery in Victoria Street (one of my favourite breakfast takeaway spots), I am now served by people in coats. 

the view, the view

Finding it tough not to continually take photos from K's living room as the view across Elizabeth Bay is not only what is best about Sydney but also changes all the time in the most magical way. Easy to spend considerable time just staring out the window.

more weather

Despite Perth's accurate reputation for dry heat,  the humidity followed me there, together with the usual extraordinary electric storms. Sat on Rotto and watched storm after storm engulf Perth in the distance (and then us).

art and culture

Perth is definitely aiming to re-invent itself as a city of culture. It's Cultural Centre (Art Gallery of Western Australia, State Library, Western Australian Museum) is literally located 'on the wrong side of the tracks' in Northbridge but is being revamped - evidenced when I was there by the FringeWorld festival.

As with many things so far in Australia, this event was experienced in torrential rain.

straya day

Can you believe it. Australia Day, a public holiday and this is the beach at Coogee. Not a barbie in sight. Rained off just like English bank holidays (made me feel quite at home).

rough

Meanwhile, the ocean at Coogee  is not behaving as normal. The small island in the middle of the bay usually acts as a kind of breakwater, making the incoming waves friendly and unsurfable. But with a seemingly endless stream of tropical-style storms, the waves are up - crashing into the beach with a previously unseen fury. Surfers have arrived and the usually protected Giles baths is foamy and turbulent. Additional fun for all. 

sky, sky, sky

Also thinking that I have a surprising number of pictures of Sydney storms, accumulated through my various trips here. And of Sydney skies in general. 

more weather

Continuing to be more like tropical Singapore or Hong Kong - high humidity, hot winds, building up to major thunderstorms at the end of each day, torrential rain, that kind of thing. Had the joy of being at K's wonderful new flat overlooking Elizabeth Bay last weekend; spend an inordinate amount of time watching the storm clouds roll across central Sydney with my mouth slightly open.

snow time

I realise it is common to note the incongruity of having all the winter paraphernalia of Christmas (snowmen, santa, reindeer) when the temperature is 30 degrees, but it is still flooring me every time,  every shop window, every street corner.

Just too weird.  

weather update

I made an aside in a previous post about the climate here not being benign. Obvious to locals, but I guess that before coming here a few years back (and finding my umbrella immediately blown inside out in a raging thunderstorm) my only model for hotter weather was the Mediterranean. A little cold in the winter, but generally balmy, warm and comfortable.

Sydney is, of course, often all of those things. But it also has monsoon-standard rains, chilling winds from the south east, very hot desert winds from the northwest (off the outback), blistering sun, glaring blue skies. It has extremes - and often contradictory extremes. As they put it on wikipedia:

The El Niño Southern Oscillation plays an important role in determining Sydney's weather patterns: drought and bushfire on the one hand, and storms and flooding on the other, associated with the opposite phases of the oscillation.

Exactly.  

assumptions

Bit of an unintended posting delay; got sick with food-poisoning last weekend and only just getting my act back together. Actually hilarious, as it made me realize some of the assumptions I had about this trip. That nobody gets sick in Sydney because the weather is so nice and everyone is health and fitness obsessed. Even worse, believing that in moving here for the year I would seamlessly (and effortlessly) transform into a whole new kind of person – fit, slim, a healthy eater, relaxed, calm and able to research a new book ‘on the side’ of having a job. Ha! Yes, of course, just prevaricating as usual, and pretty much the same shape/healthiness as when I arrived. Also, seems like food poisoning is actually quite common (given the comments from my workmates), and that the sunshine - at this time of year at least - comes together with humidity/storms, which presumably helps bugs to thrive. Oh, and of course, Australians get sick just like anyone else. 

warm bones

The bloke on the bench also had plenty to say about other things. About Sydneysiders - that they may have a reputation for being friendly and laid back but are actually pretty aggressive, out for what they can get. And endlessly (accurately) about the dire, damp nature of the English climate. It gets into your bones he said. Of course I defended the pleasures of dampness, all the time thinking ah yes, warm bones. 

Note - the beach at Coogee has been invariably packed body-to-body. This is an unrealistic view (showing the Pavilion in the background which is also always packed) taken early in the morning before the crowds arrived. 

some weather

Got talking to a bloke on a bench - and as in England, it was mainly about the weather. ("Nice day" he said, "it is", said I.) Maybe weather talk is is as common here. Or more likely, as K suggests, everyone is just overexcited as winter turns to spring and summer; ultra-weather-sensitive and rushing to the beach at the slightest opportunity. Those opportunities were a little less immediate last week, with some cloudier, stormier weather. I finally succumbed to buying an umbrella after hoping I could hang on until autumn. And then - of course - it has been beautiful this weekend, so have now succumbed to buying a hat.