When your live is the southern most state of Australia Tasmania, (island State) and your home is in the southern most council region of that state and the latitude is -43’01, and that island is in the Roaring Forties.
“During the Age of Sail (circa 15th to 19th centuries), these strong prevailing winds propelled ships across the Pacific, often at breakneck speed. Nevertheless, sailing west into heavy seas and strong headwinds could take weeks, especially around Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America, making it one of the most treacherous sailing passages in the world.”
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/roaring-forties.html
The Roaring Forties in the Northern Hemisphere don’t pack the same punch that they do in the Southern Hemisphere. This is because the large land masses of North America, Europe, and Asia obstruct the airstream, whereas, in the southern hemisphere, there is less land to break the wind in South America, Australia, and New Zealand. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/roaring-forties.html
Living here for over two decades I used to see that the winds would pick up generally for a week or so before and after the equinoxes, and solstices. Equinox occur in Spring and Autumn, it is where the day is equally 12 hours of sun and 12 hours of dark. The solstice dates this year for the Southern Hemisphere Autumn was 21st March 8.24am. Spring will be 23rd Sept 16:49. For those in the Northern Hemisphere the dates are the same but opposite seasons.
The solstice for me Winter June 22, 2023, 12:57 AM, and Summer will be December 22, 2023, 2:27 PM. Again for Northern hemisphere same dates opposite seasons. https://greenwichmeantime.com/longest-day/equinox-solstice-2021-2030/
So on the evening of the last day of Winter my dogs and I listened to the wind howling through the trees, and I had to draw the curtains as Busby was very anxious. I on the other hand was marveling at how far my Blackwood and Eucalyptus trees could bend and sway without breaking. For which I am very thankful. We also had heavy rains and in two days my water tanks have gone from being 3/4 empty to overflowing and the one I accidentally almost emptied is nearly full. With predictions by our Bureau of Metorology but called the BOM of a dry summer it is always good to have full or almost full rain water tanks throughout winter and more so at the beginning of summer.
I swear a moat was forming about part of my home. I could not see across the river let alone to the mountains to see if snow was covering their tops. Kunyani (Mt Wellington) in Hobart did have alight dusting of snow.
From https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-31/what-weather-is-typical-for-tasmania-winter-bom-explainer/102413884
My day was spent basically as normal, though neither Miss Treacle or Busby were too keen to go for a run in the gale winds, with cold rain temp was -1dC/30dF and only went half way. Returning home to eat and spend the rest of the day by on the sofa, enjoying the warmth of the wood heater. I did feel for my chooks who were looking rather bedraggled, who spent the majority of their day under the house.
I however found myself sorting and folding the clothes and linen that had been laying on the stairs and on the top of my drawers and floor to be honest of my bedroom, away. I then put a mountain of books or maybe several mountains that had been about my bed into a bookshelf. I picked up the electrical fan I had failed to put together before summer and obviously had not achieved over summer and placed all the pieces in the corner, along with the summer window covers I use to keep the room cool in the summer heat I vacuumed all the cobwebs and dead insects of the ceiling, along with doing the carpet.
WHAT? Who am I?
I am in awe of how my brain is changing on the medication I am on for ADHD. There was no thought, I had taken a few clothes that had been on the drying rack and were now dry up stairs, and well just began. Is this how people who do not have ADHD manage? I mean it took me about 3 hours to do it all such a seemingly small amount of time. For stuff that I have not done in months yes months.
My dogs had stayed down stairs the whole time, and I guess I had missed meal time which is 14:00hrs, I have not a clue what time it was when I went upstairs. I was rather shocked when it turned out it was almost 16:30 and my poor starving abandoned dogs were so relieved that they had not been forgotten.
I too was a bit hungry so made some food. I then went and bought wood inside to dry for tomorrow and stack some more in the covered wood area. I guess there is now 4.85tonnes left to move.
As the sun set the temperature dropped drastically a chilly blast seemed to fill the house. I put more wood on the fire and opened it as it had burnt down low whilst I was up stairs.
I and my wonderful dogs then settled on the couch for the evening. All with full tummies, and a sense of contentment and peace. My home has not suffered any damage in the storm and gale force winds that have come early it seems this year. My garden and chook shed also have been undamaged. Very thankful for that.
I know how much my heating will cost me, and I have paid for it in full. My thoughts turn to so many Australians who will be concerned over their heating costs, to those who have no home, or will not be able to afford to run their heaters all winter. I have seen how hard it was for many people in UK, Europe and USA many in much colder climates than where I am through there winter.
blessings to
Echidna Home 
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