The Heat Wave of January 2014

Currently, I am enjoying the cool breezes of 24 degrees and we're all very happy that we survived the heat wave of January 2014.  The last 4 days had temperatures of 43 degrees with night time "lows" of 32 and we do not have air-conditioning- it was not enjoyable.  There are many things I have learned in the heat though:

#1: Children are far more adaptable than adults.  The kids did not complain once about the heat.  There were MANY times Keith and I were grouchy about it but the kids just went about their regular life just with rosier cheeks.  Keith said he would find them jumping on the beds upstairs (where I am sure the temperatures were high-40s.  I am really proud to have kids with such positive attitudes.  There are lots of times we are annoyed with their never-ending Tasmanian devil style energy but their positive attitudes are pretty freaking amazing.

#2: Australia is hotter than Africa (or at least the Africa where I've lived).  I was surprised by this because I can handle heat but the zookeepers had to give "blood popsicles" to the lions to keep them cool (ew!) and the heat was as shocking to the system at times as -40 is in the dead of winter.  I was surprised by this but Aussies - I salute you, it's freaking hot here.

#3: I have learned multiple new "updos" to keep my hair up and off my neck with the sweltering heat so that's an upside.  Emily will also let me do them for her when the temperature is over 40.

#4: The Melbourne train schedule alters drastically when the temperature is over 38 because the train tracks BUCKLE.  This is a problem when you use public transit daily.  Hats off to the PTV staff for standing on platforms directing traffic.

#5: My usual "exczema" from my wedding ring, in the heat, becomes a "crushing case of hand dermatitis" according to the dermatologist.  I am on antibiotics and a steroid cream and I'm not allowed to wear my wedding ring until i get it plated or fixed.

#6: Aussie's are serious about their tennis.  They Australian Open continued despite 40+ temperatures and no shade in the stands.  Spectators were fainting - that's hard core.

#7: There was a brief thunderstorm Thursday evening and I have never been so aware of plant life catching fire from the lightening I had worked out an exit strategy from my current location (there were fires all over Victoria this week).

#8: Absolutely if we had A/C in the house we would have used it but this week was a reminder that we don't need to have our houses always set at 21 degrees come winter or summer.  Fans are pretty amazing things and they can do a lot to beat the heat and it was just a reminder to not rely so much on air-conditioning when I get home.  People in Aus are pretty amazing that despite the crazy temperatures they get here a lot of people don't have A/C or have it only in one room.  Just a reminder to be a little more environmentally conscious with curing our discomforts.

I am really proud of our little family of 4 for surviving these last 4 days of crazy heat.  Sleeping on floors with big fans and staying indoors with the blinds drawn every afternoon.  Kudos to Keith for taking our kids to the nearby pool for 3 hours every morning.  We did it - what doesn't kill us makes us stronger...and there's lots of things trying to kill us here!