While Sydney has been enjoying a balmy, beautiful summer, parts of south eastern Australia have been experiencing extended, intense heat and bush fires that have fought containment. Meanwhile, the USA is having a bitterly cold winter with near record snowfalls. Packing for the opposite season is always tricky because it's easy to underestimate what's required and sometimes I get it wrong.
Fortunately, this time I packed conservatively - two pairs of boots, a puffer jacket, a (fake) fur, lots of scarves, gloves, and plenty of layers to take me from extreme cold outside to central heating inside. And I've needed every bit of it!
I arrived in New York last Sunday on a freezing cold afternoon of -11C. It snowed and rained intermittently throughout the week so the view from the hotel window was dull and grey…
... and the walk to work each morning was biting cold and slushy underfoot.
Today, though, the sun broke through, the grey landscape changed to brilliant blue and crisp white, the temperature soared to 8C, and Central Park beckoned.
The view down 59th Street, framed by the window panes of the Lincoln Centre at Columbus Circle, was my favourite of the day.
