In case it has somehow escaped your attention

Today is December 1st, first official day of Summer here in the Antipodes, and therefore

it is also the equally official start of Silly Season here Chez Catsmum

Despite the fact that it WASN’T yet Summer earlier in the week, we had to endure a couple of days when the temps up here hovered around 41C [ 105F to my US friends ] and many areas further north went even higher. We’ve already had the first round of bushfires, and poor old Dave suffered through it with a really lousy cold. There is something not right about colds and flu when the thermometer is higher than human blood temperature. Equally, there’s not a lot of fun to be found when one is over nine months pregnant in that sort of weather, so I need you all to send positive vibes to miss Cookie to encourage her to get a move on for Nadie and Chris, and all the rest of us that are waiting to make her acquaintance.

Last night, you might have been forgiven for thinking that it was a herd of fully grown reindeer putting in an early appearance on my roof, but no … ‘t’was just the heavens opening in a mighty display of thunder. lightning and precipitation.
Today it rained.

First flipping day of Summer and it rained.

I played Christmas music, hung out with some of my knitting posse and got a bit further along with Christmas decorating.

 Three four trees up and decorated, four rooms and the verandah done  [ mostly ]

If you’ve been with me for a while, you’ll know what’s coming. For the rest of you, my advice is to get a good night’s sleep and to stock up on plenty of eggnog, shortbreads and Christmas cake [ oh damn! THAT’s what I forgot to put out for afternoon tea today. I just knew there was something missing. Buggerit ] because you’ll need all the sustenance you can get if you’re going to make it through to the end of my Christmas House Tour 2012.

Engage panic mode. Panic mode engaged.