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Palate PLEASURES with LOU PERRI
FROM THE STUNNED MULLET
SEASO NS - P O RT M AC S T Y L E
T
o be sure it’s true that here in these sub-tropical coastal climes we don’t see an overly spectacular or dramatic show as summer rolls onto autumn and so on. More like an extremely subtle shift. It’s noticeable if you are inclined to pay attention, or often get up very early to be able to note the slightest sense of coolness in the air or shifting of humidity. But for many the penny only drops when long sleeves start to be required and you finally, grudgingly accept that it is time to crank on the heater. Reliably, at this latitude and longitude, we can expect that only June, July and August are consistently what we Port-Macquarians describe as ‘cold’. For someone that comes from a place on the same latitude as Moscow, it is not so much cold but ‘colder than’ the rest of the year. However, it is surprising how quickly one forgets and coldness becomes a relative factor. In fact sometimes there’s no colder place than Port Macquarie in June or July… Whilst the more temperate parts of the world where the thermometer is inclined to dip more towards or below freezing
have a full arsenal ready to defend against the onslaught of winter (eg insulation, triple glazing, central heating etc) we seem to bank on the fact that the majority of the year here is temperate enough to not require any of those things, however seeming to forget every year that we’ve set ourselves up to brace ourselves against inescapable drafts, rooms that just won’t warm up and not being able to remove layers of outdoor clothing whilst indoors. Well, luckily there’s only September to wait for the warmth to start to re-emerge. And of course there’s that beautiful thing that still remains powerful and effective throughout the entire year here – the sun (when it shines). Who doesn’t love those spectacularly bright July days? They start off with a chill and gradually become warmer and warmer until – amazingly by around midday you’re down to t-shirt and working up a sweat. Until 3pm there’s this beautiful respite from the whole thing and the sun warms your bones long enough to protect against the next onslaught… It’s not too bad at all. There might be no snow, frost and the leaves are mostly still green but hey, fortunately it’s still red wine weather.
Getting cosy by the fire with friends and family, eating slow cooked food and sipping something warming and red is on the cards. Rugging up and heading out is too... making the most of the sun’s warmth, getting active and enjoying a walk or a ride without getting hot and bothered like you would in summer. Heading out to your favourite restaurant, café or pub with friends and finding a cosy corner to catch up in. Making the most of that big winter appetite and ordering up big! Food tastes better when it is cold, and there’s always more room for dessert – after all we must keep our strength up. The list goes on, fewer crowds, fewer creepy crawlies, shorter days and cosier nights. Winter isn’t so bad when you come to think if it. Who knows what this winter will bring? What with outbreaks and lockdowns looming yet again, we just need to take some joy from the natural world around us – embrace the coolness of the air and sip that red aplenty till it warms our soul. Stay warm and safe this winter, hope we see you soon. GREATER PORT MACQUARIE
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