We have had some trouble trying to explain to the Aussies in our office that the seasons in North America are based around the solstices and the equinae (equinoxes?). Here in Brisbane there is very little seasonal change and the day light hours fluctuate by only about 2 hours from winter to summer. As there is no daylight savings time here, the extra summer hours start at about 4:30 in the morning, but it is still dark by 7pm. We get the craziest looks when we say that it stays light in Calgary until 10pm!
Bright winter sky
There is some "winter of discontent" monkey business going on in parliament here. It is a year since Julia Gillard and her minions overthrew Kevin Rudd as Prime Minister. Julia Gillard then ran the party and the country for a couple of months until she was elected in August as Prime Minister. For some unknown reason, there was a party planned to celebrate the coup and Kevin Rudd was actually invited! People are actually a little surprised that he is being a bit of a sour-puss about the whole celebration and has decided not to attend the party. Talk about the spectre at the feast! We wonder if he was also expected to give a toast? The one big difference that we have found between Canada and Australia is the "no-holds barred" approach to political debate. There was recently a national outcry over a male member of parliament meowing at a female member of parliament during a televised debate. According to the polls, Julia Gillard is in big trouble and there could be another election soon. Given how hotly contested elections are here, we could be in for a very warm winter.
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