Hope springs (but Spring doesn't)

The first winter I was in Canberra I got very excited when the blossom came out, believing it marked the beginning of spring.

I then spent a very frustrated (and frozen) few weeks wondering why it still appeared to be definitely winter (except for in the shops which have a seasonal schedule all of there own).

Then I discovered that the trees around my place are a special taunting sort which flower right slap bang in the middle of winter.

So happy Slap Bang in the Middle of Winter all you Australian (and New Zealand) readers. The worst is yet to c-c-c-c-ome (that's me typing with chattering fingers at the thought)