| Welcome to Yanks Down Under! You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customising your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. Join our community! If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features: |
| Canberra is freezing | |
|---|---|
| Topic Started: Jun 5 2007, 10:19:34 PM (512 Views) | |
| Deleted User | Jun 5 2007, 10:19:34 PM Post #1 |
|
Deleted User
|
just in case anyone is moving to canberra.. i am an aussie. i lived in hawaii for 5 yrs studying, moved back to melbourne june 06, moved to canberra feb 07. needless to say when i arrived it was shorts n t shirt weather, which it sure as hell ain't now. my apartment in kingston canberra is absolutely freezing. the windows seem to suck the hot air out. my friends place is way better. so for anyone possibly moving here, take note of the window situation, heating situation and the time of year you are moving in etc. my place would be awesome in summer for example but right now sucks big time. i am gonna have to do something temporarily to keep heat in cos i am only renting. its ridiculously cold 0C and night and 10-14C during the day and its only the start of winter. some may say i am whinging but its mostly cos this is the coldest weather i have had in 5 yrs. its really taken me as a bit of a shock and i gotta do something about it. |
 
|
|
| Bindie | Jun 6 2007, 11:55:37 AM Post #2 |
True Blue Mate
|
Hi Nick, This is my third winter here and I've even had time to aclimitise - but I'm cold, TOO. Go ghetto! Put plastic over the windows and rolled up towels under doors... anything to keep the cold out and the heat in. You have my sympathies. I can imagine how cold you are... we have duct heating and I"M STILL COLD, especially when I get home from work. *hugs* |
 The future is no place/to place your better days, DMB Canberra, ACT since 2004 | |
 |
|
| JenbeTas | Jun 6 2007, 12:48:47 PM Post #3 |
Hippie Wannabe sailing the deep blue sea
|
MY mother-in-law told me it gets significantly colder in Canberra than it does anywhere down here in Tassie. If that's true....EEK! :eek: |
 "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough and goshdarnit, people like me!" | |
|
|
|
| incognito | Jun 6 2007, 07:35:52 PM Post #4 |
|
Chatterbox
|
Just piping in - I am freezing my ass off here in Canberra. It SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS. It wouldn't be so bad if houses were better insulated. Bindie we have ducted heat too and I still walk around like a popsicle. My husband had to take a shower just now to warm up, and now he also has his 89 layers of clothes on for the evening. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Don't know what to say Nick. Maybe the ghetto approach is the way to go. Perhaps we'll try it too! We have so many windows though... :headscratch: |
|
|
|
| Deleted User | Jun 6 2007, 10:36:31 PM Post #5 |
|
Deleted User
|
yeah my apartment would be awesome in summer to open all the doors n windows and have air go through. but right now its freaking ridiculous. i have heaters on almost permanently and winter only just started. inside i am already wearing thermals hoodies and a beanie. i think i will have to move everything in to a small room and just heat that room up cos this is nuts. i guess given my lease is up in 3-4 months, i know what i will be looking for next. |
|
|
|
| Deleted User | Jun 6 2007, 10:38:48 PM Post #6 |
|
Deleted User
|
by the way bindie and jules, where can i go to buy thermals, like camping stores. i found a kathmandu shop in civic but it was pretty crap. |
|
|
|
| incognito | Jun 7 2007, 09:19:57 AM Post #7 |
|
Chatterbox
|
hi there - i think there are a few outdoorsy types of stores in braddon on mort street - i cannot recall the names. oh wait, i think paddy pallin or something like that is one of them. there are like 3 there. gumtree might be one. in fyshwick there is a big outdoors type store kind of near bunnings. and maybe sears workwear has some? that is in fyshwick also. i am not sure if sears is open on saturdays or not. otherwise i'd say try lovely canberra centre - myers or david jones. good luck - shopping can be a bit of a challenge here. we went shopping in sydney last weekend and i felt like i was on a different planet! and good luck if you are out there trying to find a new place in a few months. it's such a a pain, those 10 minute showings at random times during the week. we may look for a new place when our lease is up in 2 months but neither one of us can just piss off work all the time to go look. what to do? what to do? :headscratch: btw - your outfit sounds like mine except for the beanie. last night i had on thermals, flannel pj bottoms, sweats, socks, uggs, and 4 layers on top. thank GOD for electric blankets!!!!!!!!!!! i'd like to add that i am no stranger to cold weather either having grown up in new england. even during a blizzard or when we had sub zero temps, i have never been so cold indoors as i am here. |
|
|
|
| alixw | Jun 8 2007, 02:06:23 AM Post #8 |
|
True Blue Mate
|
I am freeeeeezing in Fremantle! It sucks. And it's only the beginning of winter. I'm counting the days till Spring arrives. The good thing is it's warm during the day. We have a small heater in the bedroom that keeps us warm, but it's impossible to heat the rest of the house since it's all open plan. I didn't bring any of my heavy sweaters (because, well it's Australia!), but my husband thought of bringing his thick wool socks and thermals that he used to wear when he went hiking in New Hampshire. As soon as I get home from work I change into his clothes to keep warm. My hands and nose are still so cold though. The weird thing is, Australians don't want to admit that it's cold. I'm wearing a coat and I'll see girls wearing flip flops and mini skirts. I've also noticed that some parents are all bundled up, but then their 2 year old is wearing a t-shirt and shorts and no shoes. What's wrong with them? Anyway, stay warm everyone. Oh. I just remembered someone told me that some Australians celebrate Christmas in July. Restaurants will have Christmas trees and play Christmas music. Has anyone heard of this? Alix |
|
|
|
| JenbeTas | Jun 8 2007, 03:40:54 AM Post #9 |
|
Hippie Wannabe sailing the deep blue sea
|
HA!!! That gave me such a good chuckle!! :mrgreen: Every one of my in-laws are that way! I finally gave up and decided that I'd rather have a high electric bill than freeze to death. I get a lot of crap from them (in pure jest) for running my heaters so much. My mother in law (bless her, I do love her), unless I'm totaly misunderstanding her, just can't understand the point of insulating a house. :headscratch: Glad to know that Tassie isn't the only place you will freeze your arse off in Australia. I thought I was just being overly whingy! |
|
"I'm good enough, I'm smart enough and goshdarnit, people like me!" | |
|
|
|
| Jaffas | Jun 8 2007, 02:59:31 PM Post #10 |
|
True Blue Mate
|
Here in Adelaide, we're freezing too. The rental unit is not insulated at all. Infact, it's one of those old ones with the "vents" that lead outside on the walls - which is crazy. The window in the bedroom has a big crack in it, and the gap under the back-door was nearly 2cm high! I spent $7 and got a weather-strip and that's solved that draft, but there are others we can't solve. Marty can't understand why we don't sell the plastic sheets that cover the windows in the winter here. I've never heard of them! Apparently you stick it to the window and then use a hair-dryer to make it taut? Winter in Michigan was lovely in comparison, even with snow!  Marty had central heating, and it was always cozy. Here, we have an electric oil heater which is going to suck-up the electricity in no time. *sighI think winters sucking or not sucking in Australia are directly related to the insulation & heating you have in your home/rental. That said, blankets, jumpers, scarf/hats and thermals are all great ways of keeping warm, and the electricity/gas bills lower. (Right now, it's 1:25pm, and Marty and I both are wearing hats, jumpers, shoes etc.) It'll be better in September.  Manda & Marty |
|
Manda from Victoria, Australia Marty from Michigan, United States Together we're in Stawell, Victoria  See what we're up to: Our Old Miners Cottage - A blog for our house | |
|
|
|
| canaussie | Jun 9 2007, 09:39:06 AM Post #11 |
True Blue Mate
|
So should I mention/brag that we're basking in 90 degree heat today? :mrgreen: It really is hard to associate the words "cold and freezing" with Australia. I think we all grew up (those in the Northern Hemisphere) believing that Australia was a warm place all year round (and it can be - in places like Darwin where it gets "cool" - not cold and definetely NOT freezing!) I'm sure my Aussie hubby would say that Australia is not cold - especially since he has lived in the Great White North for 4.5yrs now. He definetely knows cold....now! Weather in Melbourne/Tassie/Adelaide/Canberra would probably be a walk in the park for him now. He'd probably NEVER complain about being cold in Australia. Anyway, this is why Far North Queensland is the place to live :goodonya: |
|
Paula (dual Canadian/Australian) married to an Aussie since 1999 and mummy to an Aussie since 2000 | |
|
|
|
| incognito | Jun 9 2007, 09:58:57 AM Post #12 |
|
Chatterbox
|
I dunno... I lived in Maine for a few years where it got to 20 below Fahrenheit BEFORE windchill, and I was still warm indoors. I am colder more often here than I was in the winter in Maine. At least in Maine I could get warm without 80 million layers of clothing! Sometimes our house here is colder than it is outside. How fun is that?? I think my husband is in a state of shock over how poorly insulated homes are after living in the States for 4 years... It's a shame that homes are so poorly insulated b/c it puts drain on your wallet and on utilities, and it's not fun to be cold. Fortunately I think new construction is much more thermally efficient here now. Once dual pane windows become the norm I think that will help a lot too. |
|
|
|
| JenbeTas | Jun 9 2007, 10:10:21 AM Post #13 |
|
Hippie Wannabe sailing the deep blue sea
|
HA! I knew it wasn't just me! :mrgreen: I keep telling everyone that very same thing about our house. Power bill is going to SUUUUCK next time but you can only put on so many clothes before mobility becomes an issue....... :p .........And I detest being cold :waah: |
|
"I'm good enough, I'm smart enough and goshdarnit, people like me!" | |
|
|
|
| canaussie | Jun 9 2007, 11:18:44 AM Post #14 |
|
True Blue Mate
|
Totally agree...my mother-in-laws house (in FNQ) was colder inside than it was outside. I used to go to bed at 9pm just to get under the blankets to get warm. I HATE being cold. |
|
Paula (dual Canadian/Australian) married to an Aussie since 1999 and mummy to an Aussie since 2000 | |
|
|
|
| TerritorianTori | Jun 9 2007, 11:29:10 AM Post #15 |
Dance to disco
|
It's all relative, though. When you're used to living in humidity hell for most of the year, anything below 23 degrees FEELS friggin' cold! Last night it went down to 17 and I actually had to turn off the ceiling fans and close the windows. I also remember the last time we visited Sydney, it was December and the temps were *only* 20 at night, but we were looking for a doona! hahahahaAnd I hate cold too!!!! :waah: Really feel for you guys in Canberra, it sounds like it sucks just as much as Darwin in December (but for the opposite reason). |
 South Texas to the Northern Territory - since 2004 I'm a huge fan of... Angry Video Game Nerd | The Big Bang Theory | Doctor Who | Pet Shop Boys | Yanks Down Under ~ Americans living in Australia Avatar by Sketch Shop Boys | |
|
|
|
| tazydevil5 | Jun 9 2007, 04:33:50 PM Post #16 |
|
True Blue Mate
|
I remember my mum telling me stories of going to visit my sis in Canberra. At that time most military families were living BELOW the poverty level and it didnt help that my sis had three kids under 4. My mum said water used to run down their walls it was so cold. My dad who slept next to the wall would wake up with the bedding wet from it. My sis also turned my niece's cot mattress and the mold on it was horrendous. A lot of the military housing and some of the older houses were housing department places, so I guess, no, they didnt build them with a lot of insulation as they were pretty much put up on a budget....doesnt help on the heating front. Even my house is colder downstairs than it is outside sometimes, due to no sun coming in, but on a sunny day, its best to stay upstairs where the sun heats up the rooms. Its really then at about 4pm that I need to turn on the heater. I also dont stay downstairs in winter once my boy goes to bed (at about 7pm). I go upstairs and work on the puter or jump into bed and watch tv. I dont have heat upstairs, so it all depends on whether it was a sunny day to whether I can stand being on the puter, cause I am not freezing my bum off LOL.... Love Robyn |
|
|
|
| Deleted User | Jun 11 2007, 09:59:44 PM Post #17 |
|
Deleted User
|
my little weather widget now says the apparent temp is 3C at 9pm and its only the start of winter.. |
|
|
|
| incognito | Jun 12 2007, 08:31:44 AM Post #18 |
|
Chatterbox
|
duuude - that sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i think our heating temp thingie is off, which is probably a blessing. i know it's probably lower than 10 C when we wake up, but if i really knew what it was i'd lapse into deep depression! |
|
|
|
|
|
| « Previous Topic · General Chit-Chat · Next Topic » |
2:25 AM Feb 5