Editorial: Why no summer season in sun

Last year, whenever I told people I was moving to Wairarapa, the most common reaction was: "Oh it's lovely and hot there in the summers."

The second-most-common reaction was: "Gosh, it's awfully cold there in the winter."

Cold winters I am willing to accept on the evidence of the August snowfalls that coated the region in blankets of white - and the fact that a September snowfall greeted me on my first day at the Times-Age.

But those lovely hot summers? I'm still waiting.

There was a brief summery interlude for a few days over Christmas, but otherwise, I'm still waiting for a sign of these allegedly spectacular Wairarapa summers.

And I'm still waiting for opportunity for a swim at Castlepoint - I had that in mind on Saturday, but with winds on the coast gusting up to 150km/h, I'm quite glad I opted for a movie instead.

It's the topic that always comes up in those brief, everyday conversations with strangers, over the counter in shops, standing in the queue at the petrol station - when will it be summer?

Yesterday a shop keeper told me that after having a swimming pool for 44 years, she was starting to question its use. They used to start swimming in November.

This year it had barely been used.

All across the country, it's been a wet and windy start to the New Year, and a disappointing holiday break. It's hard to argue that our climate's not changing, but it only seems to be getting more wet, windy and wild.

The Metservice has promised that we have a more summery few days ahead, with a rare high moving over the North Island.

I'll believe it when I see it.

Thanks for the many texts, online comments and Facebook messages we've been receiving over the past few weeks, particularly on the ballooning tragedy.

But don't forget you can still write us a good old-fashioned letter.

Tell us your thoughts on the news stories of the day, or anything else that is on your mind. Write to PO Box 445 Masterton, or email editor@age.co.nz

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