Winter is coming

On Sunday it was a glorious 21 degrees, warm enough to wear ballet flats instead of boots and sit outside for coffee. But I know that much much colder weather is to come. Last year it snowed.

My friend Olivia has been living in Canberra for seven years and we met up for lunch a month or so after I moved here. I asked her lots of questions about life here and she mentioned that it would get pretty cold, usually as of Anzac Day. And so when autumn properly set in, I emailed her and asked how I could best prepare.

Here's her advice:

My essential winter item is a navy wool coat bought in Hong Kong a few years ago. It has a very classic silhouette and the extra length to the knee helps keep out the wind chill. I didn't learn to distinguish between wool and cotton until I got to Canberra :)

Uniqlo's Heat tech range is really warm without being heavy so it's great for layering.

Gloves and scarves are a must and I like to keep them extra bright. Not a big beanie/hat person but I got a pair of Ugg ear muffs last winter and now I don't know what I'd do without them (especially for bike riding in winter). Invest in a good pair of boots too.

Over autumn and spring you can find some great one of a kind jackets/coats in local markets and op-shops. A recent favourite find is a moss green cape thingy with a hood from Westside Markets that reminds me of something out of The Lord Of The Rings.

Have fun shopping and layering!

Two extra tips:

Moisturise!! Canberra winters are much dryer than Sydney.

And make an extra effort with exercise starting now. It's hard I know, but keeping it up is important for fending off colds etc. Winter here is super cold but the days are usually pristinely bright and beautiful so get outdoors when you can. There's heaps of bush walks, country drives and wineries to explore locally.

So far I've added a wind and waterproof jacket like this one to my wardrobe to help me keep riding and two merino cardigans (with spots and stripes to be exact). Hopefully a pair of ear warmers and a good pair of gloves will have me covered for the colder months. And on my wish list - a woollen TV blanket.

P.S Now that it's colder, I'll be making these individual chocolate fondants for the freezer. Once they're made you can have a hot dessert in 15 minutes flat.