>The weather forecast this morning started off with the comment “This is like Groundhog Day – you’d think we were back in July”

Continued with the formal stuff, sprinkled with gems like “You had a nice week, Gisborne – it’s all going to change now” and – after forecasting snow down to 600 meters in Christchurch, where New Zealand’s playing the first cricket test of the season – “The Sri Lankan’s are going to like this”.

All this interspersed with suppressed snorts and chuckles. And the longest day – which as far as I’m concerned means something like summer – is only 2 weeks away.