Some comments on yesterday's PAD mentioned that it was rather gloomy weather for summer. Indeed, it has been one of the wettest and coolest summers for some time. Although the rain has become tiresome at times (rather worse than merely tiresome for some in Queensland and Victoria, it must be said), cooler, overcast weather appeals to those of us who dislike heat, humidity, excessive sweating, sunburn, melanoma... all the usual accoutrements of a typical Sydney summer.

Of course, all of this is relative. The forecast for the current week is for sunny weather until Wednesday with temperatures climbing from 30 tomorrow to 32 on Monday to 36 on Tuesday. (32, 35 and 37 for those of us further inland from the coast.) Wednesday is a possible shower with the top still at 34, with the remainder of the week 35 or 36 degrees. This is about 10 degrees outside my comfort zone.

Still, a little down the coast we find this hibiscus flower, blooming in bright, strong sunlight as the sharply defined shadow cast by its stamen can attest.