Short Break

Last week, I took off to the Mornington Peninsula for a couple of days break with a friend. For those who haven't visited the Peninsula (as its known) it's a long curving piece of land in Melbourne's south east. The Port Philip bay side has almost endless, calm, sparkling clean beaches while the Bass Strait areas abound in sparkling surf beaches.
My friend has a new house, situated just one street back from a popular beach. As such their new house has double-glazing, solar hot-water and now a 3kW solar PV system. An ideal location, retired and active lifestyle (sailing, cycling, beach walks ) new and efficient house and wonderful views nearby. Just heaven.

Of course there must be a fly in the ointment. One can't have it all and indeed on a sunny Melbourne summer day, hordes descend upon said beaches in their tens of thousands. But the Peninsula's many beaches and other activity centers can absorb all those people. Strawberry Farms, Markets, dozens of Wineries, Olive Farms and loads of Restaurants, upmarket and takeaway, service this hungry population.

Lets hope today's reported increase in carbon pollution and possible sea-level rise doesn't make these beaches wild enough to swamp all those wonderful beach-side houses and facilities. Do you think the Durban talk fest will deliver any international agreement or will individuals, some state governments and other organisations do the hard yards while the politicians argue?

The ABC weather reports the temperatures and rainfall at the end of each month care of the Bureau of Meterology. This November had 110mm (approx) of rain, higher than average daytime temperatures and several degrees higher than average night-time temperatures. A temperature trend that continues month by month. If you want real figures try the RealClimate.org website.