Brisbane, QLD


Monday, July 13, 2015

ITS FREEZING DOWN UNDER

It is hard to believe but it is very cold here at the moment. The south east of Australia is getting a blast from an Antarctic Vortex. There are snow storms and bad wind in the highlands and the southern cities are very cold. It has even come as far north as southern Queensland. Ouch we are not used to this. The temps are still nothing like down south but we feel cold. 15°C/59°F to 6°C/42°F. The wind chill makes it worse.
To help me warm up I am going to remember my trip to Palm Springs in California when the temperature was in the forties Celsius. I bet it is even hotter there now. 
We drove from LA and it wasn't long before we were in desert country. The mountains were stark and beautiful. There was even a little snow still caught in the ridges on top of the mountains.

It only took 2 hours to get to the town. It was quite amazing driving out of the desert into a flourishing town with greenery, trees and palms. There were lovely houses and buildings too.

It was very hot when we arrived and it didn't take the family long to get into the pool to cool off.

 I enjoyed a wine in the shade. (Boy I wish I felt that warm right now.)

My daughter and family were offered a friend's holiday house to stay in for a few days. It was a lovely big house with lots of bedrooms and relaxing areas. This was the children's playroom overlooking the pool, spa and tennis court.

Despite the heat in the evening, I couldn't resist a game of tennis with the son in law, Bernie.

I had a very comfortable, air conditioned bedroom and en suite.
It was a lovely few days away living it up. It was nice to see Sonya be able to relax and enjoy the children instead of being at work.

23 comments:

  1. Diane , holiday house is well -organised. i really like playroom for children and the house is so huge.Definitely
    I prefer cold to heat.

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  2. Hello Diane, the trip to Palm Springs has warmed me up! I like the pool images! We are having a cooler summer here. I hope you are warm and cozy there. Have a happy day and new week ahead!

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  3. we are suffering the exact opposite from you right now, try highs up to 33 C and are breaking heat records for this time of year and have been for 2 months. and 3 more months to go.. let's exchange a few degrees of heat of cool..
    love the shot of you by the pool and the kids in the pool.

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  4. Nice pics to "warm us up". Here in Perth we haven't got snow, but we have felt the drop in temperatures, and just last week there was a day of 1C!

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  5. We have had rains on my end of the US for weeks now. Flash floods last night near us with a road washed away and people having to be rescued. I could use some California sunshine as well!

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  6. Your temperatures are exactly what we have now in Summer ! 15° C ! and for the weekend they announce 28 ° it's a real roller coaster since 1 1/2 months now !
    The house looks great I too wished I could warm up somewhere, but for that I have to go far South !!

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  7. Sounds like a relaxing trip with gorgeous views and that amazing house! I'd trade my heat for your cold any time! The hot air just zaps me.

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  8. Too bloody right, Diane.
    It is like sitting on top of the South Pole - well not I suppose that bad.
    I'd love to know how way back in the 1960's we enjoyed our skiing trips
    to Falls Creek???
    I absolutely froze up near the Brisbane river yesterday when in the CBD,
    the winds off that river went right through you - even though I was smothered
    in wind jackets, scarf, Yak wool beanie etc.
    Yes Palm Springs, Ca. does look VERY appealing.
    Cheers and Brrrrrrrrrrrr!
    Eskimo Col

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  9. Sorry you are freezing Down Under. We are sweltering here in an exceptionally hot South Carolina summer and would gladly send you some tropical air! What a lovely getaway in the desert to remember when it's winter.

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  10. I'm sorry to hear about the cold weather you're "enjoying" now at home, but these beautiful photos (and memories) should help you feel a little warmer.

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  11. Its difficult to imagine cold in Australia! Its monsoon time here, so its either warm and humid or just rainy...

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  12. I have been reading about the cold temperatures you've been experiencing. Hope it warms up there soon for you. Great photos of your time with the family. The holiday home certainly looked lovely and the photo of you relaxing with your glass of wine made me smile.

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  13. Look at you there relaxing :) well deserved.
    Nice in Darwin....

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  14. Yes it is bloody cold were I am too, so cold that I have the heater on and two pairs of socks, a long sleeve singlet under my long sleeve top and I am still cold....................just saying

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  15. And there I was thinking we should head to Qld to get warm. Mind you with 4c max today it would be warmer than hear. It was snowing when we drove back from Clandulla on Sunday. I like it when I amshut up in a nice warm car.

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  16. What a lovely vacation you had there! Great place to spend some relaxing time with family! We tend to forget (those of us here in the Northern hemisphere) that when we have sweltering heat you are having cold winter!

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  17. Thanks for that little trip to somewhere nice and warm Diane
    down here in Adelaide it's so cold we even had snow!! Burr....

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  18. What a fabulous house to be staying in. You were really living the life out there!

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  19. It looked like a lovely house and you looked very comfortable by the pool and in the shade with a cool drink, Diane. Too bad you could not bring some of that CA warmth back home!

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  20. Beautiful home and a great getaway for all!

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  21. still feeling the cold? I walk to school, and feel really cold.

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  22. I like your warm images!!! We haven't made it north this winter - our trips have all been cut short for various reasons and I'm REALLY feeling the cold! Yes, I know it's nowhere near as cold as a Northern Hemisphere winter, but it all depends what you're used to, doesn't it?! Hope this doesn't mean we're in for a hotter than average summer, though!

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  23. This looks like a beautiful home. Dane! It's so nice that your daughter and son in law have such good friends in LA!

    I heard about the snow Sydney got recently! That was a surprise! I hope the winter returns to its normal weather soon. It becomes a hardship for many when temps go so low .

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