Autumn

Just as it's getting warmer at home, the temperatures in Australia are starting to dip, which can only mean the beginning of Autumn.  Not fall, Autumn.  And I suppose since the temperature change isn't drastic enough to make any leaves fall from the trees, using the proper name of the season is appropriate for Australians.

It's still hot out during the day, but for the first time this season we were able to sleep without the air con last night, and actually needed to bundle up for the game last night.  It felt very refreshing to uncover my long sleeves and be able to bundle up in a scarf.  Even after a Boston summer we welcome sweater weather, so you can imagine how nice it is after a tropical summer.  Although the summer is by no means over - yesterday I made the mistake of sitting on the beach without sunblock, and am nursing a severe sunburn now.

One frustrating thing about the change of seasons is that the days are beginning to get much shorter.  Even on the longest day of the year, the sun sets at 6:40, since Brisbane is fairly close to the equator and doesn't have day light saving's time.  Now, it is getting dark at about six o'clock.  There's hardly any twilight here - again because we're close to the equator - so it only takes about ten minutes difference between the sun starting to set, and darkness. 

One group that doesn't mind the earlier evenings are the flying foxes.  Every night when the sun begins to set, these bats emerge from the trees and set out for their night flights.  Along the river there are literally hundreds of them, swooping and screeching to welcome in the night.

All Bundled Up

Flying Foxes