Ten Reasons to Love Winter.......

Why would anyone enjoy winter you ask?

There is a silence here in the winter that is not there in the summer. Callala is a tourist area and at most times of the year people come and go along the beach, they walk and talk, some play their music and others ride their bikes; no matter what...their presence is made known by sounds, which I do not mind. However, winter halts those sounds, the tourist seize to come and so I listen to the quiet, the voiceless peace, the contrast of the waves and birds; the silence of humans.

No. 1- I love to look out at the cold while rugged up under a blanket watching a favourate movie, this reduces the hustle, bustle and stress in life!

No. 2- I love winter foods ie. all the wonderful vegie dishes that J cooks for us. Summer is too hot to enjoy them but winter comes and we want to go back for seconds.

No 3- I love to rug up and head out doors to explore the national parks. One sees so much that isn't there in summer. This year we headed down to Mt. Kosiosko National Park to see the snow season begin and the landscape change. It was wonderful and we were warm.

No. 4- I love to snuggle up to J and keep warm in bed. The thought of the windy cold weather outside just makes me want to soak up his body heat and sink into a comfortable deep sleep. He loveingly gives me the warmth of his heart as we sleep in the cold air of the night.

No. 5- There is something wonderful about dressing up for the extreme winter and going outdoors to find that you are nice and warm. You have beat the challenge of cold temperatures and enjoyed the climate regardless of how chilly it was. No. 6- Winter is such a relief after the heat of summer. It is great to simply not perspire when you are working.

No.7- Someone once said to me that there is always a magic in the air that is simply not there in summer. How true this is.

No.8- Winter is a wonderful time to enjoy a hot chocolate thats thick and creamy and your tongue will catch the melting marshmellows as they shrink into the heat of the mug. No.9- I love winter each time that I stop to speak to someone whose scalf covers their face, a beany covers their hair and wooly gloves cover their fingers. A rosey nose and cheels are all that greets you. Welcome to winter!!

No.10- The air has a crispness to it that is fresh and clean. It fills your lungs with its cold blast and leaves your mouth like steam or smoke.

Winter is the season in which people try to keep the house as warm as it was in the summer, when they complained about the heat. ~Author Unknown

Winter is creeping in closer and closer. During one of our afternoon walks down along the beach John and I noticed just how dark it is getting, eah day the evening air rolls in slightly earlier and earlier. Yesterday afternoon by five pm it was not just overcast but quite dark as well. Although we do not use heating just yet I have pulled the doona out and enjoy snuggling down under it during the night. Today one of the boys commented that we are heading towards the end of May and that next month we will in fact, be half way through the year. Goodness, this year is passing us very fast and before we know it, it will be time to do Christmas shopping again.

At work a few of the Aboriginal boys have tried to convince me that the area in which we are building has been influenced b spirits and that there is less rainfall there than any where else in the areas. At first I thought that they were pulling my leg so to speak. however I have been amazed just how much rain falls everywhere elase in the Shoalhaven area yet no out at the work site.....very bazare/ Now the boys insist that their Grandfathers and elders have told them the story of the cursed area but upon speaking to a local environmentalist I was told that the position of the mountains and hills in the area also influence cloud movement and where the rain falls so perhaps this is the dreaded cursed spirits lol.

These photos were shot across at Greenwell Point. Even though winter is fast upon us the water ways remain tranquil there. My friend Mick reports that he caught a huge snapper there the other evening. Anyway, I hope that everyone has a wonderful weekend and that you all keep warm and dry.