There weren't many downsides to this holiday, but there were a couple with some significance. The first being that Victoria was on fire. You saw it from the sky as the plane flew over and you saw it in the sky through city and suburb as the smoke choked the State each time the wind stopped. It was hard to breathe, it was hard to see and it was hard to get any enjoyment out of any activity. The air was so suffocating it was difficult to believe the fires were around 250 km away. People were advised to stay indoors, but Victorians rather donned masks than risk boredom by staying inside. The second major downside to this holiday was the weather. Unpredictable is an understatement. Frostbite in the shade. Cancer in the sun. In the morning you needed a coat to keep out the cold and by midday you needed airconditioning not to collapse of heat exhaustion.

Welcome to the Future Whoever needs proof that the weather is going berserk, come to Melbourne. The season is Summer, but how can you tell? Drought, unprecedented tornado in Carrum Downs, record low temperatures ever recorded for summer, snow in the outer suburbs of Melbourne on Christmas Day. 42C and 5C all in one day and a fierce sun that burns in 5 minutes whether it's 15C or 40C. You can feel the sting on your skin. Let there be no mistake, being outdoors can seriously harm your health.