© irene waters 2013
In the mind’s eye when one mentions winter thoughts of snow arrive unbidden. I think I’d love to live in a snowy wonderland such as Switzerland and Canada and parts of the US, but I know that the novelty would soon wear off. Living in overheated houses then piling on the layers to go outside and pulling them off quickly when you come back inside would not suit my personality.
© irene waters 2013
The Pelorous Sounds in New Zealand is one of the most idyllic places I’ve been. It is an isolated place with the only way in by boat. Winter here is cold, bone-biting cold. The winds blow almost constantly and luckily there is an unlimited supply of wood to keep the stove burning. Braving the elements to catch some New Zealand Blue Eyed Cod and Huss is more than worth the effort but I couldn’t take a full winter here either.
© irene waters 2013
There are many cold places in Australia. The Snowy Mountains would be the place to live if you wanted snow. Here in Glen Innes at the beginning of winter the air conditioning was not sufficient to heat the room to a warm enough temperature to make it an even comfortable temperature inside. Luckily there were plenty of blankets around.
© irene waters 2013
Winter where I have chosen to live has perfect days – between 20 degrees and 25 degrees celsius. The nights are colder with an average around 10 degrees celsius. Perfect for a good nights sleep. Although it is too cold for me to consider swimming it does not stop my nephews from Switzerland and Germany who visit us in their long summer holidays ( our winter) and spend hours swimming and playing in the pool or ocean.
Perhaps we have the winter wonderland.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Your wonderland looks splended to me right now, Irene.
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Merry Christmas Mark and Karen. I’ll enjoy our heat for you and splash in the pool.
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Some friends and I–life-long northern hemisphere dwellers–were just discussing southern hemisphere summer Christmas this very evening. Your photos are fun. Thanks for the shout out!
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You’re welcome. As we sit sweltering in 40 degree Celsius temperatures eating a hot Christmas lunch we will probably be wishing we were northern hemisphere dwellers. Have a Happy Christmas.
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It was 70 degrees in Charlotte NC today… nice but I am dreaming of a white Christmas… too.
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That’s a nice temperature. Hope you get your white Christmas.
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Just one comment, living in NH when it the temperature is anywhere south of 20 F there is no way the house can be overheated.
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Glad to hear that the house is cool. I’ve only experienced European and Scandinavian houses and I find them way too hot for my liking. I don’t think it can be too healthy either to have them that way.
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IW I lived for years in sunny Southern California. I moved to the frozen North when my kids were little but long to return someday to where I can where I can grill my Christmas dinner wearing shorts and flip flops.
And yer right, one of the most tedious thing is getting bundled up, especially jes to take the trash out or fetch something you forgot in the car lol.
Anyway, nice post as always and to you and yer entire family have a wonderful Christmas holiday.
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Yes my Swedish friend used to make me laugh describing how she would bundle up her two toddlers to go outside into the freezing temperatures. She’d just get them ready with their many layers and then one or the other, or both would want to go to the toilet. She had no choice. I think I’d just leave the trash inside ’til I had to go out for something else. Thanks for Christmas Greetings and the same to you and your family.
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