I LOVE the Country Living pages of The Weekly Times.

Miranda is always an on-the-ball read.

Many years ago I was in Mildura for New Years Eve, when I'm sure you could have fried an egg on the pavement at midnight.

Whereas growing up in the hills and bush of the Yarra Valley, we sometimes partied around an open fire to see the new year in.

Drought and climate change notwithstanding, we do all have to manage our daily lives with more foresight and change our habits of gardening, cooking, recycling and more thrifty water consumption overall.

The unprecedented high temperatures of late gives wonder to the forthcoming summer and autumn.

Instead of past salutations - "Be happy, be safe and healthy" - we should now say "be cool".

Margaret Hilli, Balliang