Summertime on the Peninsula

For me summer is a long remembered dream. It’s winter in Adelaide, South Australia. Well, in actual fact it’s the start of spring. We were forecast 20mm to 40mm. It’s looking like 60mm. The depot is not the most popular place with the best of weather. Now nobody comes. Nobody rings. Nobody wants a container. Not today.

The rain is getting heavier. Although I am a winter person and I do love the rain. It relaxes me and reminds me of health, vitality and rebirth. I can’t help but to betray those feelings for a longing for sunshine. Even just the slightest amount. The beginning of summer is always the bet where I live. Warm air and slightly cool breezes. Everybody is out of the houses and soaking in the sun after the long haul of winter. Even more so in the summer to come, as our winter this year has been very wet and very cold. We have missed the rains during our long drought, but the grass is always greener.

I long to see people outside exercising, seeing friends and family, drinking on the beach, firing up the crappy electric BBQ’s supplied by the council. Always out and about, things to do, people to see. Friday nights are always a local affair. To a friend’s house, to the local night clubs and bars, even the occasional stranger’s party. They are never truly strangers though. You either went to school with them or know some who did. Everybody is welcome. Saturday’s relaxing at the beach or at a mate’s place, so long as he got a pool or an air con and a Playstation.

Saturday night, that’s when it happens. People from every suburb, every area, all converge on the city centre. Hindley St, Rundle St, Light Square… anywhere there’s a pub or a club. The city is alive. The streets are its veins and the people its blood. North, South, East and West. They all come. They all love it. They all complain about it on Monday morning. But they all go back. I love it. Summer nights in the city, drinking cold beers outside where ever you can, as late as you can, then heading inside to dance the early mornings away. When the night is slowly turning into day, Vodka, soda and fresh lime, is best for those times.

Walking out of a club on Sunday morning with the Sun coming up, feelings of regret, excitement and anger… anger because once again you didn’t bring your sunglasses with you. Like you tell yourself you will every week. Then the epic quest to find a taxi home, you can never find one. But you need it, you need your bed to sleep the rest of the morning off.

Sundays are the best days. Relaxing, seeing friends, watching DVD’s, reading a book. Whatever you want. Dreading work the next day but enjoying the last few hours of the weekend. Summer is a good time where I live. I love it, music, drinks, BBQ’s, friends and family… let alone the festivals that come with it. But that is a story for another time. That is summer for me.

But right now, its winter and it’s cold. My toes are almost numb here in the depot office. The phone still hasn’t rung and I still have the same amount of containers. This is winter at the depot. Summer is just around the corner and I can’t wait.