Melbourne still struggles under an oppressive heat, although it cooled of a little this evening. With all the air-conditioners and fans being abused throughout the state, the power grid has started a programme of rolling blackouts. Areas of the city get their electricity cut off for around an hour at a time to reduce overall demand.
I spent most of the day stuck in horrible traffic jams under an unrelenting sun. The car’s thermometer recorded 50°C, right about the time I ran out of water and had to find a towel to mop up the pool of sweat collecting on the steering wheel. Since the temperature hasn’t really dropped below 40°C in three days (and nights) the city feels like it’s going into meltdown. It is incredibly difficult to sleep in the heat, and tempers are fraying everywhere. Melbourne drivers, anxious at the best of times (although not as bad as Sydney drivers I’m told) are becoming positively belligerent while Melbourne’s seemingly random traffic restrictions (no right-turns in places I could right-turn into last week, with accompanying unsigned and round-about diversions), all at a snails pace in searing heat did little to improve my mood.
The search for a place to stay didn’t progress very far either. After reaching the other side of the city, I discovered the keys for a flat hadn’t been returned yet by previous hopefuls, and after an hour and a half of waiting I gave up and came home. We’ll head out tomorrow and try again.
With no electricity this evening Gin & I had a blissful few hours outside in the cool change (29°!) without worrying that we should be glued to computers researching places to stay and programming to do. We’ll get back to real life tomorrow, but for now it’s cold shower time.
Tags: Australia, Life, Melbourne, Place to live, Weather