Dear Sydney Weather,

How are you? I hope this letter finds you in the best of spirits and in good health.

I must admit that I am a long time fan but first time writer, so it is with nervous excitement that I contact you.

You may not remember me, but I have met you briefly on a couple of occasions. All were last year and you were, dare I boldly say, radiant. I instantly took a liking to you and hoped we would get to know each other more.

You may not realise, but I actually know your cousins. I have lived in Melbourne for the past four years and prior to that I grew up in Adelaide. Just the other day I called back home and the person I was chatting to remarked that your cousin was feeling quite inclement.

When I was living in Melbourne, my friends and I were quite envious of you. Sure, you are not quite the same as your bright cousin in Queensland, but nonetheless you do shine a lot and that is a very attractive quality.

Look, I am not one to gossip and I hate to put others down, but your Melbourne cousin is often too bleak. I don’t know what it is; it seems to happen at the same time every year. Sure, one minute your cousin is all bright and happy and then suddenly Melbourne becomes cool and sombre and during these times your cousin is not the best to be around.

That is why we normally turn to you. You provide the much needed rays of sun when Melbourne is bleak.

That said, I have been a little concerned of late. You see, you don’t seem to be yourself. I mean, I have not known you long, but from what I have heard, you are not normally this glum.

Living in Melbourne, I understood the meaning of icy cold. The wind chill was spine numbing. On cold winter nights I would long for the warm breath of sun; the golden beaches and temperate weather north of the border.

Walking past travel agencies, I would see brochures touting your wares. Speaking to colleagues and friends who live with you, they all reaffirmed that you are far warmer than Melbourne.

So, what happened? Why the flood of tears of late? Why the cool reception? Was it something I have done? Or, dare I ask, is it me?

Are you upset I left your cousin in Melbourne to head across the border to be with you? Did you not want me to be here? Have I offended you?

You see, where ever I go, who ever I bump into, they tell me the same thing. It is never this cold in Sydney. I mean, I am not overly bothered. I lived in Melbourne for more than four years where it is really cold.

However, I cannot help but question why the terrible cold weather of late.

Where are the moderate winters I hear of? Where are the glorious weekends by the beach at winter?

I don’t want to sound petty, but when I left Melbourne, I left some things behind. Travel light, I was told. Get rid of your winter clothes, they said. It is always warm in Sydney. Well, you see, silly me listened to them. But what good did that do me?

You come along and decide this year to be cantankerous. If it isn’t enough that you decided to end the drought with flooding rains, you decide to lower the temperature below the minimum in Melbourne. Guess what, Sydney? It’s not a competition you know. It is not a battle of which city is the coldest, wins!

I mean, just because Melbourne gets cold doesn’t mean you have to. Just because the out skirts of Melbourne gets snow doesn’t mean you have to.

I mean, come on – don’t you think it is time to grow up and be serious. I have tried to be kind to you. When people ask me what I think of Sydney, I instantly say I love the weather and the beaches. But it’s getting hard, Sydney, very hard to keep paying you that compliment when you keep putting on weather like this. Sure it is winter, sure we need the rain. But do we need the icy cold winds? Do we need the sub-artic temperatures?

The other day I was walking in the sun, which then turned grey, followed by moist air that rapidly turned to rain and then came the howling winds. Howling winds – are you serious? What are you trying to do, make me homesick for Melbourne?

Perhaps I wanted a change. Perhaps I wanted some warmer weather. Perhaps I wanted my translucent skin to soak up some much needed vitamin D.

I’m disappointed Sydney, very disappointed in you. I implore you to pick up your game. It is high time that you pull your socks up, stop sulking and just get on being who you really are.

I want sun, Sydney. I want warmth. I want to walk out in the mornings without frost and without my scarf. I want to walk around on the weekend in a t-shirt and enjoy a warm breeze. I want to go out at night without three layers of clothing. Heck – at nights, I want to be able to go out in a t-shirt.

Sydney Weather, it is time to prove yourself to me. It is time for you to show me who you really are, to show your true colours: the amber glow of warmth.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Lots of love,
Peter Habib