How do you feel about cold weather?

In Oz, we’re in the thick of winter. By around five pm, it’s already dark outside. In June, temps could drop to five degrees. In July, it’s even chillier. We get about ten hours of daylight, much less than the summer norm. While there are some daring peeps who wear tees and shorts, they are the exception. Most people dress aptly, from parkas to woollens, beanies and scarves. The Snowy’s are the hottest ticket in town. Recently though, ALDI’s snow sale wasn’t the main ‘tourist attraction’. Maybe peeps these days are thinking more about surviving another day. They’re prioritising bread and butter rather than ski jackets and googles.

Lessons from Dad

My Dad loves winter. For him, it’s better to feel a little cold rather than being a ‘hot potato’. When it’s searing, people get aggro. Milder weather means cooler heads prevail.

As a kid, I recall Dad planting chokoes in our backyard. He has a green thumb. During winter, he would use the veggie to prepare chicken soup. Growing up, he always shared the cooking duties with Mum. He’s especially fond of fruits, veggies, and fish. He taught us how to appreciate fresh salads, healthy eating, and sandwiches. His macaroni was sumptuous , and so were the grilled blue marlin, osso bucco, bitter melon, and his fresh lemonade. More importantly, we learned how to try new things. Transcend your comfort zone. Recalibrate your limits.

Keeping snug during winter

Personally, I don’t mind cold weather. I’ve bought woollens and cashmere to insulate me. Recently, I’ve tried out the pure cashmere sweater that I purchased. Though it requires special care, it’s worth it. The cash is lightweight but very warm. My last find was this maroon wool sweat from Tommy. It’s a bit chunkier than the former, but about the same price. For good measure, it has Tommy branding on the chest, back collar, and left sleeve.

Since last year, I’ve also owned a down jacket. It’s quite warm without the added bulk. It has a full zipper, a fixed hood, and is packable. The jacket comes in an olive striped design, with two side pockets. I got it from Macpac. I also own a duck down quilt. Though I wear two layers of clothing, at night, the down keeps me toasty. Furthermore, I have a few other branded fleece hoodies. None of them are as insulating as the down item.

Some use hot water bottles to keep them snug. I’ve tried it before but if you have a down quilt, this becomes expendable.

The Sales that Stop The Nation

Aside from my regular polyester pants, I have a pure bamboo pair. They are perfect layered over my pure merino thermals. The trousers are deceptively hot. They look thin but they pack a punch. Donning them, they are as toasty as the former. They’re also lot more sustainable than polyester. I have two other bamboo sleep pants, one for summer and one for spring. When I’m outside, I usually don two layers: a wool sweater and a top layer. Ditto with my bottoms.

Wondering why I mentioned these duds? Well, June is the time to splurge on winter threads. The mid-year sales are on, which coincides with the end of financial year (EOFY). Retailers are rolling the red carpet for cashed up piggy banks to snap up their inventory. It’s not just fashion either. The clearance continues: laptops and office supplies, computer software and shiny new mobile phones. Moreover, these shops are clearing out their winter stock. By late July, they’ll be selling spring attire.

I grabbed a few items from Myer, a couple from The Iconic and Target. Bamboo sleep pants from David Jones (DJ). A few finds from H&M. Today, I collected two pure polyester jumpers from Big W. I needed them as it’s been positively Baltic out here. Gap Australia was closing down. They had a further forty percent off sale. I scored blue slim jeans for twenty bucks. DJ had a further fifty percent off, but I couldn’t think of anything to nab. At that rate, expect the branded clothes to be terminated by bloodshot eyes.

The Cold Weather Menu

Pho, laksas, sizzling hotpots, ramen, and congee are the season’s top picks. Coffee sells like hotcakes. Ditto other morning staples like tea and hot chocolate. DIY barbecue is likewise popular.

My parents drink coffee in the morning. Growing up, I inherited their caffeine fix. The hot beverage is made for winter, making you more alert during the day.

Winter means rugby league’s State of Origin, pitting the Queenslanders (boo) against the New South Wales Blues. The three game series are traditionally held between June and August. In Game 2, the latter trashed the Maroons in Melbourne.

In Paris, the Olympics will tip off. A few weeks from now, we would see the greatest collections of athletes as they battle it out for ‘immortal glory’. How many golds will we win? Will the Philippines claim another first place finish? Who will reign at the top of the table?

Hot and Cold

Winter may be cold and dark. That doesn’t mean that you should sulk and scowl. Buy a few things. Eat hot soup. Enjoy your sports and the wind chill while it lasts. Rest assured that there are more cold months than hot ones. Summer is ephemeral. The dropping mercury is the status quo. There’s never a wrong time to live in the moment.