Today, I am grateful I have a nice home with a functioning heater and a warm quilt on my bed. Outside the house the sky is grey, the air is chilly, the wind is gusty and we’ve already had rain all night and now a dash of hail this morning. (For those who are concerned, Mrs Golden Orb spider survived the hail.)

All my joints are screaming and my arthritic-riddled and disc-slipped back is being a right old bastard. (Sorry for the language but that’s just how it is.)

A small crowd of winter enthusiasts are up on Mount Lofty, urging the heavens to send some snow. Whenever a flake drifts down, the crowd cheer, high-five and snap photos on their phones. (I use the term “mount” very loosely. Most of my non-Aussie readers would say, “hill”. “Lofty” is just laughable. I have no idea whether the person, who named the hill at the back of our city, Mount Lofty, was being intentionally ironic but it wouldn’t surprise me. It was an Englishman and they’re a race that’s known for their comedians.)

Meanwhile, I’m snug inside with a big mug of tea to keep me warm and painkillers to keep me sane.

My kids are old enough now that I no longer have to sit out in the freezing cold to cheer them on as they play netball and/or football. I don’t have to join the parental huddle, under an almost useless umbrella, wishing I’d had the foresight to buy some decent boots.

I don’t have to go out with the council workers to remove fallen trees off the roads, or people’s roofs, or cars.
I don’t have to go out with the paramedics, or police, to car crashes, caused by people not handling the wet conditions. (Rain is a rarity, here.)
I don’t have to get wet, or cold, or both, unless I choose to do it. (And, why the heck would I do that?!!)

Elsewhere there are homeless people wondering where they can find shelter for the night. There are families living in cars. There are men, sleeping under bridges. There are teenagers, hoping they can find a doorway or covered corner that will keep them dry. My heart goes out to them. I thank God for all the volunteer organisations that are providing shelter or, at the least, warm bedding for these people. May every homeless person find a home, soon.

Yes, today, I realise how blessed I am and I’m grateful.

Update: it’s raining again.