Apparently we are in a one-in-a-hundred-years drought. We’ve been on water restrictions for 18 months now. I’ve lost 3 trees, one of which was about 40 years old. There isn’t any grass. My front yard is dirt. My nature strip is dirt. When the wind blows we have to close the front door to stop the house filling up with dirt. My roses have died. Because we can’t water our lawns, the ground beneath has compacted severly and there is a crack in the back yard that could swallow a small child. The house is full of ants looking for water. My pavers are sinking and there are cracks in the walls where the house has shifted. Today is day 57 without rain, the local irrigators haven’t got their full water entitlement (we live on the river) and so there are acres and acres of dying fruit trees, and suffering vines.
However, if I walk across the bridge into NSW - their gardens are lush and their fruit trees are vibrant. You see, NSW owns the river, so if you live in Victoria on this stretch of river, no water for you. It’s 40 degrees today … in March. 40 is predicted for the next 4 days. It’s all so damn depressing. And hot. Did I mention the dirt? 
You just described my childhood growing up in a high desert (which is usually defined as above 600m, but I’ve always lived between 1400m and 2500m).
Speaking of dirt and deserts, the largest annual rugby tournament in the state is known as the “High Desert Classic”, but is affectionately referred to as simply “High Dirt”. That pretty much sums up its pitches most of the time, too. :mad:
It’s been a weird summer, hasn’t it DellieM? Southern Australia’s had it tough. It’s been stinking hot in Perth. Yet we’ve had one of our coolest and wettest summers for a number of years.
Can I just mention I’m sending thoughts of fire and burnination towards Sydney right now? 
~Siobhan - who’s in the middle of Adelaide’s stupid heatwave.
This Summer/Autumn is rooted. February (traditionally our hottest month) was very mild with many days only getting to about 25. And Sydney’s swamped, and Queensland’s drowning, and my husband who makes water tanks has had his hours slashed, cause orders are down and the whole rooted thing is just … rooted!! Incidentally the cat’s disappeared - I’m off to check the ever-widening crack in the backyard … Weird arse Summer indeedy! I’m almost tempted to drive to Adelaide just to swim at Glenelg, but the Murray will have to do. Poor old Sunraysia!