June 22^nd is the shortest day and longest night of the year in the southern hemisphere and marks the winter solstice. It’s also the coldest time of the year in Sydney, forcing us to delve into the back of cupboards for those long-forgotten (and sadly, occasionally moth-eaten) sweaters, scarves and overcoats… except that it’s not that cold really, other than the odd chilly extra-blanket night and brisk early morning. It’s actually the best time of the year here. Sunny blue-sky days, no rain or clouds, no humidity and afternoon temperatures of 18-21. Pretty perfect if you ask me. 

It’s great to be back home after three months travelling in Mexico. You really do appreciate the clean, crisp air and dazzling bright light of Sydney when you’ve been away for a while. We take it so much for granted, but it’s true, there’s no place like home. So I guess it comes as no surprise to read that Sydney was recently ranked #4 in the 2023 Economist Intelligence Unit’s ‘Global Liveability Index’. The only downside being that Melbourne was ranked #3 (Vienna #1 and Copenhagen #2).  

Now that the rain-sodden La Niña weather pattern has well and truly disappeared, we’re looking down the barrel of a massive El Niño (the Big Dry). The last El Niño back in 2019 brought the devastating bush fires of SE Australia and searing 40+ summer heat, so it’s with much trepidation that we welcome these dry sunny days – a portent perhaps of things to come once summer arrives.