The sweat drops to the paper as I turn the page. Not a physically strenuous task.
The humidity saps the energy from every pore even the effort of turning the page of the local newspaper is enough to deplete my strength with each droplet. My eyes sting as the perspiration oozes from my forehead, across my well-groomed eyebrows, over my eyelids and blends with my own tears. Vision becomes blurred, making it impossible to read anything.
It all combines to form a river down my neck and throat, through my cleavage, across my stomach, to be stopped in its tracks by the elastic on my cotton knickers.
The sweat running from the top of my head, forms a warm trickle down my back, only getting as far as the absorbent knicker waistband.
The brim of my straw hat drips in front of me as the sweat of my brow finds it way to the table beneath.
Now imagine setting out for a days labour, decked out in cotton shorts and tee shirt, wide brimmed straw hat, absorbent socks inside leather work boots, carrying an adequate supply of life saving water.
The temperature in the shade is thirty eight degrees Celsius, and the humidity is eighty five percent.
Ahhh, the westerly breeze moves over the plain, a whisper at first, slowly and gently building up to heat-relieving gusts which cool the air and turn my sweat soaked clothes into cooling apparel.
To the North East the heads bob up thunder heads hang over black storm clouds which promise spectacular displays of lightning, and a heavy shower of refreshing rain.
Within hours the vegetation responds to nature and begins to waken, coming alive to spread green hues across that plain, washing the dry season dust from the leaves.
The country shines and glistens in the afternoon sun, after the storm has passed.
The wet season has begun.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
You've invoked memories of living in the territory for 18 months...18 months too long for me!
But there was something wildly beautiful about those storms rolling in around 3 o'clock. Whooshka! Down it would come, and in a blink it was gone, to start building up again for the next day.
Come to sunny Queensland........Its like that here.36c and 80 plus % humidity!Its 8.18pm and its still over 30c, and there are thunderstorms all around. I am off to southern climes on thursday, but its raining down there, also........
That is so descriptive Chris, you can feel the dicomfort of it all. My days in the "build-up" in Darwin were probably the least comfortable in my life, and you certainly made me remember.....
Not much point coming south for the summer if you want to avoid the heat. We are having a week of 36-37 degrees at the moment. Quite unbearable.
No, after the heat my kids experienced down there at Xmas, I won't be going in the summer. I'm taking your advise Marj, and coming down Oct/Nov this year. I think sister and bil are accompanying me. We'll probably start off in early Oct and take 8 weeks or so. Have a good sticky beak.
