Let me introduce myself ...

[Maggi Young]

Coosheebooquack.... now that is a name to conjour with!
Hi, Helen, I'm so pleased to see you getting to know us.... may I suggest  you put " New Brunswick, Canada" and your climate zone in your signature box of your profile, so it shows in all your posts ?

[maggiepie]

Hi Maggi, you've very well with your pronuciation.
I think I have added the extra info.

[maggiepie]

Ackkkk I made a mess of that last reply!!
Teach me to proof before whacking send.

[Maggi Young]

Ackkkk I made a mess of that last reply!!
Teach me to proof before whacking send.

Yes, I know all about that problem... quivering trigger finger !.... not to worry, there is no time limit for you to click "modify" and edit your goofs!

[maggiepie]

.... not to worry, there is no time limit for you to click "modify" and edit your goofs!

Thanks Maggi, that will get used a bit i think.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

A very warm welcome from me too Helen !
Your surname makes me think of one of the best know Belgian export products... 

[maggiepie]

Thanks Luc, much appreciated, I am really enjoying reading the forum topics.
Belgian exports .....hmmmmmm there's Poirier chocolates???
Have never seen those, both my daughters are chocaholics.

Or do you  mean Hercule Poirot?

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Your second guess was the good one Helen 

[Paul T]

Hi Paul, were you affected by the fires in Canberra some years ago? Can't remember exactly what year it was.

Helen,

Not directly, most thankfully.  If there'd been a wind shift we would have been toast, but instead they headed into the city to the south of us.  About the time they hit the suburbs I was standing about 2 or 300m from our house on a rise, watching the massive columns of smoke to our south, driven by horrendous winds and 38'C+ temps.  Only afterwards did I find out that some of that smoke was likely to have been the first houses burning. 

[Anthony Darby]

My goodness, I haven't seen this on the news, but sounds awful. We rarely, if ever, get temperatures as high as 28^oC, let alone 38^oC, but that, coupled with raging fires is not nice.

[Paul T]

Anthony,

It happened 3 or 4 years ago, not this season.  We ALWAYS get to at least 38 each summer, usually at least a couple of times if not more.  We almost always hit 40'C at least once, again sometimes more than others.  We always get plenty of 35 and above, and by mid summer 28'C is most definitely a cooler day, although we do get quite a bit cooler than that at times with rain etc.  The average daily temperature for January is around 28'C (average nightly minimum temp is around 13.C), so the hotter days and the cooler days balance out to that average.  February is 27.1 max and 13.1 min averages.  If you're interested, I can give you any other average climate info you might be wanting. 

At the moment 28'C is rather warm and I find it amusing that in a month or so it will feel somewhat cooler.  All somewhat different to your temps, if 28'C is rare for you, then again we're somewhat cooler than some other areas.  It's all in perspective. 

[Anthony Darby]

Yep, and this is why I haven't had a holiday in the UK for nearly 30 years.

[maggiepie]

Paul,

 Am glad you escaped the worst of it.
Was such a tragedy and must have been terrifying for residents.
The pictures I saw were unbelievable.
 How much regeneration has taken place in the parks and bushlands since the fires?

[Paul T]

Helen,

The majority of the pine plantations around Canberra are gone now, although we're actually lucky that most of them burned the previous year without hitting the houses.  If the main plantations had still been there the year of the big fires then the fire would have ended up right through the centre of the city, maybe even hitting the Lodge and Parliament House etc.  That was one time when fires had been good, because the bad year the pines fueled the fire as it approached Canberra, increasing the intensity dramatically.  Then again, that particular day the fire was burning across what almost appeared to be bare ground, feeding on the barest wisps of grass to keep it going.  Very nasty combination of conditions.

Anthony,

You mean you want a break from the stereotype rain and gloominess on your holidays?    Where's your patriotism. 

Come to Australia in the middle of summer here if you want some warmth, although most definitely bring your sunscreen or you'll end up looking like a crisp! 

[Anthony Darby]

I live here. I don't have to like it. Anyway, one day I'll have a few days on the North Yorks Moors Railway. God's own country.