Just Add Water...

"The sun did not shine. It was too wet to play. So we sat in the house. All that cold, cold, wet day." -Dr Seuss

When it comes to the seasons in Sydney, I always tell people the same thing. You can either view Sydney as having something like eight seasons, or you can consider it to have two: Summer and Not Summer. Summer lasts approximately eight months and Not Summer for four. Not Summer cannot be called "Winter" as anyone from Boston, London, or even to some degree Melbourne, knows that what Sydney experiences is not a proper winter.

Back in Boston, when it rained in winter, or even spring for that matter, you might consider how much colder it would have to get for it to become snow. In Sydney, this is as silly as wondering what meteorological circumstance would be necessary for the rain to become $1,000 bills. It's a fanciful option. Don't get me wrong. Sydney's climate can get interesting. For instance, the recent week's dust storms got worldwide coverage as the city awoke to a Martian-red haze. However, what suits Sydney best is sunny Saturdays with a cool harbour breeze. It's what tourists come to Sydney hoping to experience, and it suits the city. Rain on the other hand, causes the city to recoil it's charm. Sydneysiders scurry between buildings wrapped in the jacket they rarely use, cafes feel a little less inviting without their alfresco options, and let's face it, the sails of the Opera House simply look dismal. Sydney is Australia's blonde bombshell. Everyone knows her and she looks best when running scantily-clad along Bondi or Bronte or whichever of her ninety-odd beaches you choose. So a challenge is presented to every Sydneysider when the rains come and don't show signs of leaving: What does one with a cold, cold, wet day?

You could watch a season's worth of your favourite tv show on dvd or chat with faraway friends online. Or maybe, just maybe, you'll start that blog you've been thinking about doing for ages.