I MUST be the only person in Goulburn who shudders at the thought of the long winter. That’s what it is here after all, long.
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Like Post columnist Candy Jubb, who last month detailed her love for all things Winter, I ran to my car a few weeks back startled by the sudden cold change.
In my hurry, I nearly slipped on a shallow puddle that had frozen overnight.
Recovering from my near-slip incident, I hopped in only to find the front and back windscreen under a solid layer of ice. I couldn’t see a thing. So, back to the house I went to Google how to mend it.
You see, each year I am thoroughly unprepared for what Winter brings.
Maybe it’s something to do with the fact I’ve only lived here for a few icy seasons, and I’m yet to acclimatise from the desert-like conditions of my hometown Bourke (40 degrees you say? Bring it on).
Maybe it’s to do with my naivety when it comes to tackling wind-chill factor (note to City newbies, always dress according to the “feels like” temperature, minus a few degrees).
Maybe it just comes down to the simple fact I’m a sook. I’d put money on all three.
I remember last August I was walking home from work around 5pm. The sun was fading when a little flurry of snow began to fall. And then more snow. And more!
Oh boy was this girl from the Outback excited. I’d never seen it actually snow before and it was making everything look so beautiful.
Why weren’t more people out on the street looking at this?
I stopped to take a photo for Instagram purposes, of course. That’s when I realised how silly I had been. I’m all for snow-sports but this snow wasn’t fun.
I was turning blue in minutes. I had never been so cold in my life.
It took a long bath and a night wrapped in blankets to set me right. What a horror story.
As I type this my hands are cramping and I can’t feel my feet.
Yet, everyday I see people wandering around the streets happy as Larry in their jeans and light jumpers.
I miss the afternoon sun. I’m too scared to run the only heater in my apartment for fear of my quarterly bill. It’s too cold to go to Woolies after dark, so my partner and I eat a lot of pizza. I’ve begun unashamedly adding socks to every outfit I put on.
Did I miss something? Were you all taught some magical stay-warm strategies in primary school?
Goulburnians, help me out. I love the City, but hate the cold. Share your secrets. In return, I’ll help you when summer comes around.
brittany.murphy@fairfaxmedia.com.au
