Getting hot hot hot

HERE comes the sun. And with it, comes all the good things like alfresco socialising, beach trips and balmy evenings out.

On the flip side, the heat has brought to this air-con lacking house drowsiness, sons that bicker and parents that reach for chilled tinnies at any given opportunity.
We're not used to average daily temps hitting 35. A quick conversion for those who, like me, can't drag themselves out of the Fahrenheit era, that's a whopping thermometer-busting 95.

When we first moved into our house a few weeks ago, I was disappointed that one side of the house was always dark... in the shade and out of the spotlight. But now, this part of the house is the most used as we take shelter from the relentless rays beating down on us. It's only now that I'm really believing that there IS a massive hole in the ozone right over Australia because I can feel it.

But the good thing about Melbourne is that whatever weather is thrown at you, it always breaks after a few days. If it rains, you know it's not going to be for long. If it's windy, that'll soon change and if it's baking hot, you only have to put up with it temporarily until break day comes.

We're not even into the height of summer yet so I'm trying to acclimatise myself before the onslaught of December, January and February.

The boys wake up on school mornings all drowsy and naggy but I'm hoping that will get better as time goes on. One thing that wakes them up nicely though is the discovery of local wildlife that finds its way indoors to shelter from the sun.

Only the other day we came face to face with what I would describe a MASSIVE spider. All furry and black and very, very still. Which is always a good factor for spiders. The stiller, the better as far as I'm concerned.
He stayed there on his ceiling spot just the right amount of time for me to grab the vacuum and get him sucked right up the pole to the feverish chanting of "Go on Mum.. Go on Mum..."

So spurred on with encouragement by my boys, I disposed of the critter accordingly and watched him spin around the filter a couple of times before disconnecting the electricity supply. There was no way I was going to risk releasing the revengeful beast back into southern hemisphere society so had to be sure he was a gonna before I pulled the plug.

But I've been told it's not the big ones that are the menaces ... it's the little, tiny, itsy bitsy ones that hide in shoes that seem to be the ones to keep an eye out for. And that's probably why the Aussies all put their feet into thongs or even nothing at all...