Meanwhile, here in north-western Victoria, it's been around mid-30s degrees Celsius most days for the last few weeks, we had a cool couple of days last week I think after a hot spell, but no rain to speak of for a long while and its getting more and more obvious how much the rain is needed.  Apparently we're getting some tomorrow and next weekend.

Glad you're enjoying nice weather, @courtenay! Meanwhile, hopefully you don't have any major trouble with those storms @coracle.  

@pete Yeah, I spoke too soon about the unusually mild weather... it's been well into the 30s in Melbourne today, still stiflingly warm outside at nearly 9.30 pm, and I'm just so glad I have air conditioning where I'm staying!! It's supposed to be hot tomorrow too, but it should rain later and that will bring the temperatures down again for (hopefully) a few more days. I can cope with this — I did every year for the first three decades of my life — but I really don't miss it and I would genuinely rather have the cold weather in Britain, nice though it is to be back in Australia.