Update from us written by us with link help from dh.

So.. is everyone ready for Pesach or Easter? It seems weird but the weather is turning cooler here instead of warmer. And unlike, in the US, trees here - the Eucalyptus trees lose their bark in the fall. Strange but true. Although, we're told the trees are different in Tasmania and we may very well see Fall colors when we are there next weekend.

We've even had rain.. We're pretending its Spring rain instead of the start of the Winter rainy season. (Well it doesn't snow here, except in the Dandenongs, the Australian Alps (even skiing there - although it won't be deep enough for a while until later in the fall and through spring in October ) and Tasmania). Yes, folks, in the last week, now honest to goodness rain that lasts for more than 15 minutes. The front fountain is slowly filling up and maybe by the end of winter we'll be able to run it. The long term weather forecast is now calling for the drought to end. And you may have heard about the numerous cyclones that have been hitting western Australia - the latest being Cyclone Kara. http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/2006/s1883582.htm (Yes, folks, its called a cyclone - not typhoon or hurricane and no, it doesn't mean a tornado. Sadly, dh was right and the rest of the family stands corrected.)

The weather has reports of heavy rain coming our way. There are now reports of it disrupting sporting events ( Rain forces Australia-Windies tie into second day ) events west of here. As new cyclones work their way across Australia, we are expecting the week of Pesach to be very wet. Thank goodness it isn't Sukkot. There goes having our seder outside and having a bbq.

Today's weather is living up to that forecast. Here's the Accuweather view (converted to Fahrenheit for all of you)

AccuWeather.com Quick Look

Currently At 8:49AM

55°F

RealFeel®

52°F

Winds: S
at 5mph

Heavy Rain

Humidity: 100%
Dew Point: 55° F

Pressure: 30.30 in

Visibility: 0 Miles

People here are celebrating. The farmers are ecstatic, a sharp turnaround from the recent report that Victoria's (the state we live in) entire agricultural landmass is drought declared for the first time in the state's history. Not all the news is good though. As you can imagine, the ground is rock hard from 8 years of drought, the ground absorbs little, the runoff is great, and the water is running everywhere. Now, new studies, suggest that we're going to continue the transition from drought to flood ( Solar pulses suggest heavy Australia rain: scientist ) Eastern Australia this year and next is seen following a similar path to the particularly wet years of 1924 and 1925. "The sunspots are starting to increase again and as it increases over the year historically that's been a time of above average rainfall," he said. With those reports, they've begun to reopen flood warning centres (they do spell funny don't they? "centre" not center), re instituted evacuation plans, and even had to start evacuations

Rising flood waters forced the ... 335 x 350 - 10k - jpg www.abc.net.au [ More from www.abc.net.au ]

... in Swifts Creek in Australia 650 x 217 - 50k - jpg www.katrinapetsneedhelp.com

... forced the evacuation of homes, ... 430 x 242 - 7k - jpg www.theage.com.au

AUSTRALIA HIT BY CATEGORY 5 CYCLONE 400 x 336 - 15k - gif www.greatdreams.com

Ah, well, the price we pay for living in one of the most exotic places on earth. We'll be leaving this chaos for a few days next week, over Easter holiday (Yes, Good Friday and Easter Monday are national holidays here - and Labor Day is in March) while we travel to Freycinet Tasmania, by Ferry to Devonport with our car, and then will drive the rest of the way.

Happy Spring, Fall.. whatever.