Be Warmed: It's Chilly Down Under
It's mid-July here in Adelaide and the winter season has arrived!
Much is Written about the long hot summers, beautiful beaches and blue skies in Australia , but despite my extensive research about Oz, nothing prepared me for just how cold houses here can be!
I've found they often only contain one gas fire in the lounge, and unfortunately this is the case in my Adelaide house. Even though my lounge gets warm, the heat doesn't flow into the bedrooms. I find myself constantly shivering, especially during the momings and evenings, brrrrrrr! It has come as quite a shock to my friends and relatives when I tell them that I feel much colder here in Australia than I did in the UK !
Australia is geared up for the heat, not the cold and I have heard many people, mostly migrants, commenting on how cold their houses are. My one and only whinge about this country, is why aren't the houses fitted with central heating, considering the winter lasts for three long months? I definitely miss my gas central heating!
I use oscillating fan heaters in the bedrooms, which takes the chill off the air and are quite reasonable -until the thermostat turns it off prematurely, then it's back to shivering once more! Other forms of heating vary from oil filled portable radiators to reverse cycle heating, which blows warm air from ceiling vents. These also act as cool air conditioners in the summer.
My electricity bills are approximately $130 (£50) per quarter, due to the heaters in winter and the air conditioner keeping it cool in summer. After one bitterly cold morning, I moaned to some friends about the lack of central heating and was told in no uncertain terms, to "rug up with more clothes and stop your whinging"!
To be fair, the temperature may drop to about 3°C minimum at night and then rise to 16-20°C degrees once the sun shines. I often go out into my back garden to get warm. It's surprising how many people wear socks in bed and take hot water bottles with them! The main reason why I emigrated here was to escape from the cold winters and enjoy summer all year round (so I thought) but it just goes to show that not everything is perfect.
I would advise new migrants to bring, their thermals just in case you feel the cold. But don't whinge as much as me- the long hot summers more than make up for it.
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"Cold comfort: Milton attempts to keep warm next to his solitary gas fire in the lounge." |
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