Frigid in Frankston

photo from abc.net

When we were packing to come to Australia, several pieces of our luggage were overweight. I had to lose ten pounds out of my suitcase so I jettisoned things that I didn't think I would need – an extra fleece, slippers, sweaters – things like that. After all, we were headed to Australia, a land famous for its sunny beaches and desert Outback.

WRONG!

I am freezing down here! That heat wave you’re having right now? Send a few degrees down here please.

It’s not that the temps here are all that cold – the chilliest it has been is 9 degrees, which, back home, is shorts weather for me. No, the difference here is that the temperatures outside are the same as the temperatures inside. Australian houses aren't as well insulated as Canadian homes. This morning, as we headed out the door for early morning swim practice, it was actually warmer outside the house. Don’t get me wrong – we’re living in a beautiful house that has everything we need and more. It’s just that this is the way Australians live. Energy costs are almost triple what they are in BC and heating systems are only used when absolutely necessary and never, ever during the night. 

Everyone complains bitterly but putting up with the cold seems to be a matter of national pride. 

One upmanship has turned into one degree downmanship:

“Yeah, well, I don’t turn the heat on until I can see my breath in the house.” 

“Well, I don’t turn on the thermostat until my fingers are so cold and numb that I can’t feel the knob.”

I get boggle eyed stares when I tell them that we turn our heat on in October and turn it off in May.

A few lessons I've learned:

Hot water bottles (HWB) are the best things ever invented. My leopard print covered HWB goes with me everywhere in the house. I always have it on my lap while I’m at the computer and have mastered mousing with my left hand so I can alternate tucking my frigid digits into HWB’s warming folds.

I have banned the dishwasher, mostly because washing dishes keeps my hands warm. I encourage the kids to use as many dishes as they want so I can justify standing at the sink with deliciously hot water up to my elbows.

Toilet seats are to be avoided at all cost. It’s like sitting on an iceburg. Lord help you if you have to get up in the middle of the night. There’s no going back to sleep after that shocking experience.

So, stay cool everyone. Enjoy the beautiful sunshine and spare a thought for us poor frozen Canucks down here.

Isabelle's is zebra striped, mine is leopard print and Sophie's is a puppy