Now It’s Winter Again!

What a change! When the rain started yesterday I was so hot I enjoyed going out wearing thin summer clothing and getting wet. The rain kept falling, but today as the temperature dropped there were big, fluffy snowflakes falling too. (In the full screen version you can see them). In the 24 hours just over 50mm has fallen, which is a lot for this dry district. On the other side of the mountains they had a deluge. Franz Josef scored 180mm in 24 hours.

As well as the cold and wet there has been an eery silence. The approach to a bridge on the Great Alpine Highway was washed out, cutting off through traffic. Instead of hundreds of noisy trucks going past there was just light traffic, with the odd farm tractor. The trains have not been running either.

I have lit the fire for the first time in several weeks.

In the extra shot is a tiny praying mantis nymph bearing droplets. What do you think of his cool hat?