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Aussies have just celebrated Australia Day. Commemorating the day that Captain Cook landed on Australian soil.

We celebrate all things Australian in a myriad of ways. People fly or wear the Australian flag - we have BBQ's (with lamb?), we sing Aussie songs, and shout a lot of Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Ois, watch cricket on television or play backyard cricket.

I wrote the following posts over a year ago. Australia was suffering badly from drought, and New Zealand was being blasted by storms, wet weather and flooding.
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In recent days it has been Australiaa that has been subjected to storms and flooding. El Nino, global warming,climate change, cyclical weather changes, or what?

We've just been away for the weekend - a rarity in our family. With a farm business, getting away is not easy. We also have a dog, Kramer, the dachshund, so his needs are paramount, but this time we found a Bed and Breakfast establishment that welcomes dogs, so it seemed the answer. And it was.

I can't believe this is me saying this! The skies are low and grey, like sheets that need a good soak in bleach but to my sun and heat dazzled eyes it's a beautiful day. The hills that are usually visible from my verandah are hidden and all sound is hushed. Usually, the morning is filled with the plaintive cry of sheep and the lowing of cows, and birds fighting in the trees, all short of temper. The plants in my gardens, lately more often looking limp and dejected, their leaves like parched tongues, are beginning to stand taller. Like me, they sense rain.

If it is not bad enough that our farmers are struggling to survive on the land without water we are all finding other things that are resulting from the prolonged drought.

I've noticed on the posts here that it is not Australia that is suffering a drought - the UK, parts of USA, Africa, India, and maybe other places, but the emphasis by scientists and governments is on "Global Warming" - and I think the average person doesn't understand ALL the ramefications of this phenomenon.

We went for our drive today up to Mount Glorious - just out of Brisbane. The weather on the mountain is always cooler - in fact in summer they even need heating in summer - the rain forest setting keeps the temperature down very low.

Often we complain that when we have put a load of washing on the line, or washed the car rain clouds appear from nowhere and rain on one's hard work.

Today the rain clouds are building up, but as usual we expect them to pass over without dumping much needed rain on our city. A long drought has resulted in amazing water restrictions that look to continue for a long time. Rain seems to have missed out here or years!