Our arrival in the southern hemisphere was slap bang in the middle of the austral summer, so we were catapulted from the darkest time of year to very strong sunlight and long days.
I had been told that the climate would be windy and similar to northern parts of the UK but with more hours of sunshine overall.
Our first impressions were of cool, swirling drizzle as we headed to our new abode in the early hours of the morning.
Upon setting out later in the day to explore, the wind had gathered speed and while we undertook the short, ten-minute or so walk to the amenities, we were buffeted constantly and we were very glad to reach the corridor that is provided between the facilities, presumably for this very purpose. Once out of the wind however, the winter clothes we were sporting from the UK made us hot and bothered and coupled with tiredness we quickly began to bicker.
Everyone we meet on that first day tells us how we missed glorious weather the week before; 'the sun was cracking the flags' 'we were all wearing summer clothes' etc etc etc. Seems we missed the summer. Typical!
After the first couple of days we seemed to understand the weather a bit better and be able to dress for it more consistently. Most folk opt for casual attire with jeans, t-shirt and hoodie, so layers can be added/removed as needed and the kids seem to run round in only a t-shirt, hardened to the wind. Those who have been here more than a fortnight are all sporting a Falklands tan, brown face and hands and even the babies have bleached blonde hair with brown skin from the strong UV rays. I pledge to be careful in the sun and not let us all turn our skin into luggage leather.
Within a week I had erected makeshift blackouts in our bedroom and the monkey's lair so each morning one emerges from the dark end of the house to a glaringly bright living room - triggering requests of 'make it dark, Mummy!'
Fast forward two weeks to a trip to the beach and the wind is giving me sore eyes and a general feeling of 'get back in the house/car/anything sheltered' quick to escape the gusts. Ironically the wind is strongest when it is sunny and in the middle of the day which does take the edge off the enjoyment of the sunshine a little but the sunsets we can see from our conservatory are to die for.
We step out the door each day and the monkey says 'bit windy today Mummy' or 'bit chilly today Mummy'!
Tips I have been given to adjust to this level of wind are to keep hold of the car door as you open it lest it is ripped out of your hand and bent backwards and to park into the wind. A fellow Mum told me not to delay if the weather is nice and to go out straightaway as it changes so often, so one afternoon when the wind had dropped we shot off to the beach and managed a lovely time building sandcastles, basking and even a spot of paddling (verdict: numbingly cold). Apparently the water temperature does not vary much throughout the seasons here, maybe due to icy Antarctic currents.
Well I must have been resting on my laurels thinking I had adjusted to the sunshine as I am typing this 6 weeks in with a rather hot upper back, scorched from only half an hour in the sun, albeit post-2pm. First reminder to respect the sun's strength.
