Fall!

Here in Australia, we call it Autumn, not Fall. And where I live, there are no extreme differences between any of the seasons. Autumn is recognisable by the array of leaves on the ground, and being able to sleep comfortably at night for the first time in months. And yes, Autumn does signal colder days to come, but nothing like the cold days of the Northern Hemisphere.

An Autumn day in Brisbane

In some parts of Australia, like Central Queensland (CQ), there are seemingly only two seasons: Hot and Cold. But in Melbourne, you can have all four seasons in one day (or, so the saying goes…).

Kids Don’t Feel The Cold!

Out in Central Queensland, it would be hot one day, and then cold the next. That’s how you would know it was winter. Autumn had been by-passed – there was no in-between. Just hot, and cold. I’m not talking – Northern Hemisphere big-heavy-coat-cold, just an extra-layer-of-jumper cold.

When I was teaching in Queensland, the only sign of winter, as demonstrated by most of the students, was the addition of a jumper (sweater) early in the morning. They still wore shorts! Some of them would pass an occasional remark about how cold it was, but didn’t connect wearing shorts, to feeling cold. Long pants seemingly got in the way of running fast at recess. And by lunchtime, the jumper would either be safely stowed in their bag or lost in the playground; usually the latter.

A beautiful Autumn day in Murwillumbah NSW

Cold One Day – Hot The Next

And the reverse occurred at the other end of the season. Cold one day, and hot the next. The only sign of Spring was the emergence of new buds on trees. But temperature-wise? – hot!

Spring has sprung, here in Murwillumbah

I can’t account for other parts of Australia because my experience is limited (mostly) to Queensland and the northern end of New South Wales. However – there are places in Southern parts of our beautiful Australian landscape that apparently have distinct seasons. Trees put on seasonal colours that are seemingly spectacular, and the early morning chill creeps in and warns of colder days to come. Nice places to visit – but I wouldn’t want to live there.

The Beautiful Fall Colours of Boston

Speaking of nice places to visit, one of the most memorable journeys I have taken, was Boston US, in November. I was mesmerised by the beauty of the Fall colours. A travel-buddy that I had met while on the cruise from Southampton UK, shared my enthusiasm. On a bus from the cruise ship, to and from Salem, we must have driven the Fall-hardened passengers crazy. We (two Aussies) darted from one side of the bus to the other, cameras poised, trying to capture every golden leaf along the way. It was spectacular!

This photo doesn’t do justice to the beauty of the Fall trees in Boston 
Or this one….

Do we have spectacular Autumns (Falls) here in Australia? Yes! But not where I live. Beautiful – yes – but not Boston-type spectacular. Would I swap where I live for a place that has distinct seasons? Probably not. I love the way our seasons just ease gently into each other here in Northern New South Wales.

Oh, and yes, I did turn my heater on last winter – about three times, I think. And only for about an hour each time.

And that’s the way I like it!

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14 responses to “Fall!”

  1. Trish Avatar
    Trish

    Your photos are lovely and I enjoy learning how it is in other parts of our world. Here in Pittsburgh, PA, we have all four seasons. Autumn is my favorite and I do like the hot days of summer. Winter is next and though its pretty from inside a warm house, its not so much when you are out in it!

    1. Maureen Avatar
      Maureen

      There is something nice about being warm and toasty on the inside, while watching the cold on the outside of a snuggly warm house. If I lived in a cold climate, I’d have a fireplace with a log-fire – then I’d hibernate for the whole winter. Lots of books and hot-chocolate, and you wouldn’t see me until Spring! I hope that’s what you are able to do in Pittsburgh during winter, Trish. 🙂

  2. Lori Ferguson Avatar

    I grew up in Canada and experienced the full four seasons, including snow. When our children were young we moved to the south-eastern USA and now have much less exposure to the extremes. I do NOT miss snow. 🙂 Thank you for sharing the meaning of “jumper”! I’ve read it, but from the context I couldn’t really figure out if it meant a jacket or sweater or something else.

    1. Maureen Avatar
      Maureen

      Our Australian language can be very confusing, Lori, so I’m glad I was able to help sort it out for you. We tend to wear jumpers and cardigans here – the cardigan is the one with the buttons down the front. I love seeing snow and was lucky enough to be in Seattle last Christmas Eve and Christmas Day when it snowed. Apparently it was only the third time it had snowed at Christmas for one-hundred years. I loved it! But I might feel very differently if I actually lived there. 🙂

  3. Doug Avatar

    Canadians have switched on their furnaces to run for the next six or seven months. We have two seasons in the city, winter and construction. In the summer we may need the air conditioning for a few days in the summer to remove the humidity for a few hours. And seriously, I head to Australia in February to warm up for a couple of months.

    1. Maureen Avatar
      Maureen

      Wow! Six or seven months of cold? Brrrrrr … makes me glad I only have a few cold months (or is it weeks?) to contend with here. Winter and construction :). February in Australia? Hot! Unless you are heading to one of our really southern states – like Tasmania, maybe. We have a reasonable summer where I live – but it still gets hot. When I lived in Central Queensland, it was 40 Celsius at 4pm, the day I left to come back to the city. The high humidity is the biggest problem. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog, and comment. 🙂

  4. Theresa Avatar

    Autumn is my favorite season, no matter where in the world its happening! Have a wonderful season!

    1. Maureen Avatar
      Maureen

      Thank you, Theresa. Spring and Autumn are definitely my favourite seasons.

  5. Kendall Scott Avatar

    Thank you for a peek into your world, Maureen !

    1. Maureen Avatar
      Maureen

      You are welcome, Kendall. Thank you for reading my blog.

  6. Stella Scott Avatar
    Stella Scott

    Hi Maureen! 🙂

    I live in Sweden and we do have gorgeous colors in the fall/autumn, but to be honest, just like you, I prefer warm weather. I could do with three seasons. Skip winter! Or at least the cold, the dark and the snow.

    1. Maureen Avatar
      Maureen

      I have been to Sweden in winter and yes, it was soooo cold! But spectacularly beautiful. My Grandfather was born in Gothenburg so I have a fondness for your beautiful country. I must plan a trip to be there in seasons other than winter. The winter here, where I live, is probably closer to your Autumn – I can’t really complain because I have heavy winter coats that have never left the closet – I save them for trips to the Northern Hemisphere in winter. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

  7. Lily Leung Avatar
    Lily Leung

    Sitting here in Canada in the season of cooler temperatures and shorter daylight, I could say that I could learn to love the seasons of Australia. We’ve had snow already though it doesn’t stay and the last few days have been warmer and sunnier. Remembering the heat this summer, I think Australia is nice to visit. But there’s nothing like home. Though I do grumble alot, I do like the snow. I have been in your country many years ago in your autumn. There were the beautiful golds and oranges of autumn.

    1. Maureen Avatar
      Maureen

      I spent all four seasons in Vancouver many years ago, and loved the weather there. It snowed before we arrived, and just after we left – so we didn’t get to see it in the city. But luckily, it did snow on Grouse Mountain while we were there, and I loved it! I’m sitting on my verandah now and it is hot already, and it’s only 9.37am. If it’s this warm in Spring, I guess we are in for a hot summer. I’m like you, love travelling, but there’s no place like home. Thanks for sharing your Fall weather with me – although it sounds more like winter – brrr!.