Mel, if it's any consolation to you - it is still bucketing down over here. So over the rain.

We're going to lose our 'Sunshine State' tag soon.

Wonderful wet season here in Yungaburra. Could do with some rain for the 3 000 trees we planted on Saturday. At least the soil was moist.

stormbird, you've got to stop singing up all those storms. The south east of the state is getting a flogging!

For foreigners, 'singing' is a form of traditional magic.

Where's the monsoon gone Alan? One of the dryest Febs can remember here.

Don't worry stormbird, Queensland won't lose its Sunshine State tag if FNQ has anything to do with it, in fact there's too much, am looking for some heavy downpours to cool us down.

I cannot see a monsoon trough forming before early next week. We might get some storms before then but I have not accessed the data on the upper atmosphere. Why does the BOM change its website?!

Just had a look at some more prediction models and I think a ridge of high pressure is our best chance of rain this week.

I'll work on sending Brisbane's share up to you Alan & Pat!

What's rain?

Yes stormbird that's what we need a high pressure ridge from Brisbane up to Cooktown sucking warm moist air.

Actually, the air is warm and moist enough here it is just too stable for many storms and certainly not in the right mode for widespread rain.

Anyone who wants it is surely welcome to my share of the rain!

Summer? Bah!

I feel sorry for anyone who thought they were coming to Sydney for some sun!

Stormbird you are a marvel; not only rain but with cool southern air too! Thank you so much. I'll need a blanket on the bed tonight. We have just been pulling up a thick dona cover in the early morning.

Temperature-wise it's been quite pleasant here in Perth this week, but the blanket of smoke hovering over the city hasn't been. The skyline has been completely obscured by the haze and it looks and smells as if the city is on fire, when in fact, it's all coming from a bushfire burning in the Southwest.

Just the other day it dawned on me that we hadn't woken to the smell of smoke all summer, and then...

I do my best Alan! Nice to know that I still rock it!

Mel, will there soon be another thread series of Melnq8's adventures roundabout another country?

That's a distinct possibility Toucan.