One of the things that people who haven't grown up in Brisbane find it difficult to come to terms with is the changes in season. Because we are so close to the tropics, our "Spring" and "Autumn" are so named in order to not scare off the tourists. In reality, we are closer to the wet season/dry season of the more northern parts of the country.
A friend of mine who grew up in New Zealand and PNG says that the changes of the seasons in Brisbane is like someone flicking a switch. Suddenly you wake up one day, winter is over, it's 30 degrees, and you're inappropriately dressed in thick jeans and a jumper. Or vice versa. I remember a few years ago, my sister sent her husband to work in shorts and a t-shirt despite his complaints of the cold weather. It was cold alright. He had to travel to Stanthorpe in the granite belt that day, and it snowed in Stanthorpe for the first time in 50 years. The switch had been flicked.
The summer switch has been flicked this week. Our glorious 22 degree days have morphed overnight into 30 degree days with a tablespoon of humidity. Spring is here - a month early - and summer is definitely not far away.
On this beautiful too-early spring day, the witchlet has started at a new school. After no response from upper management in her old school I decided that the best thing for her education and our peace of mind was to get her out of that horrible situation, and I was concerned that if I simply changed classes, I would be fighting this fight for the rest of her primary school life. So I took her to the new school I had in mind yesterday, was reassured by the Deupty Principal that they didn't have those sorts of problem at this school, and she would be able to start pretty much straight away. Walking into her new class was like walking on to a different planet - the children were sitting quietly at their desks working, not making a sound. The witchlet was so excited about starting at her new school, she had her new uniform on before 7 this morning. Doesn't she look a treat?
You can see behind her that my jasmine is also convinced that it's spring, and it's in the process of bursting into flower. It already smells glorious. What you can't see behind her in the jasmine is the dove nest with two babies in it. I'm looking forward to seeing them out and about when they make it to adulthood.
So the witchlet made it to her new school fine this morning, and was mobbed by the kids when she walked in the door, with them wanting to know her name and play with her. She was so happily occupied she wouldn't have noticed me leave if I hadn't gone to say goodbye to her. I have a feeling that this is the best decision I could have made and I'm looking forward to hearing all about how much she enjoyed her new school this afternoon.
