Sunday 8 April 2001

Well, yay. It looks like Autumn has finally arrived in Perth, Western Australia. On Wednesday, it was 37^oC. By Saturday, it was 21^oC and was expected to get down to 6^oC overnight. That's Perth seasonal changes for you. Kinda abrupt, yeah? That's how it works here, we simply don't have in-between seasons. Sure, there might be a week either side where you can wear your strappy sundress with a jacket, but that's it. Certainly makes a mockery of the concept of "fall fashions" in the stores. I'll be swapping my winter and summer wardrobes around tomorrow, by the looks. 

[That sounds really pretentious. I should clarify: I keep my winter clothes - wool suits etc - in one wardrobe, and my summer gear - light dresses etc - in another. I don't have that many clothes, and could easily keep them in the one storage space, it's just that the mixed er scent of lavender and naptholene flakes to deter moths from chomping up my good wool suits in off-season time is kinda overpowering. And doesn't exactly go with 'Coco'.]

I'm intensely relieved that this summer is over. Time was that I looooooved summer - back when I was a kid and could frolic under sprinklers, play at the beach, and Christmas holidays lasted forever. But in the last couple of years it's become increasingly agonising. From October to March/April I fall into this massive slump physically; everything hurts, I'm terminally exhausted, I get repulsive elephant-woman fluid retention, pain levels go psychotic ... Apparently it has a lot to do with the barometric pressure going haywire, and the high humidity of course, which makes sense, but doesn't make me feel better.

I just don't think I can get through another Perth summer though. Boston here I come? 

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I had a frustratingly boring day on Saturday [yeesh I just hatehatehate enforced rest], but was in dire need of such a thing as I felt like I'd been flattened by a steamroller after Friday's erm excitements. I had a few naps, with an occasional boiling hot shower and a few stretching/yoga routines, but that was about it for the day! I couldn't even read or watch TV because it hurt too much to sit up, no matter how many pillows I stacked up ... and I can't bear audio books, they drive me insane. I really should learn to knit or something. Knowing me I'd get RSI from it though. Suggestions?

By Sunday I was seriously stir-crazy so even though I wasn't in top form I bused into town for a little wander around. I paid off the laybys on my RL jeans and the Very Exciting Item Indeed, then headed to Mountain Designs.

*drool*

I adore camping stores, and could quite easily go insane. I'd really love my very own igloo tent, and proper cooking equipment, and a roll up mat or swag and and and. It is usually the gadgets that get me, although I had to drag myself away from the

I did get a couple of much-needed items (yes, gadgets *blush*); an incredibly sweet mini-Tangia (0.8 litre spirit stove with pots and pans), a new Nalgene water bottle and a candle lantern with spare candles. These thingies are really cool, they look like a mini hurricane lantern, but collapse into a compact cylinder for traveling. They are powered by a specially designed very efficient candle, and can be hung up from a handy branch, tent pole, or whatever. Most romantic. Oh and practical too. Yeah. Of course!

Well ... its just that when Sam comes over we will have a few camping and hiking expeditions, plus a trip or two down south, so its best to be prepared. Also I love camping and hope to head out with Henry and Louise et al more often this year, so its not like its a one-off impulse thing.

Honest. Oh hush.

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