Hi Roger,
It's ironic. One only gets to experience a very finite number of seasons in a lifetime
and over here in Sydney, some of us have felt "ripped off" that we didn't seem
to get a "real summer". Only the other day here, for a while it was even a little
cold. Obviously based on your experience in the West, one has to be careful of what
one wishes for.
I know there are many that would have gladly traded some of their rain for some of
your clear skies. Parts of the South West of WA could certainly do with it.