And just like that, summer in Sydney exited in the same way it arrived – with torrents of rain bucketing down on the city, across the state and along the eastern seaboard of Australia.

Sydney didn’t really have much of a summer with the many rainy days we have had. The last two weeks of summer were rainy as is the first day of autumn today. It’s a drag.

But this is just a first-world problem compared to the people in other parts of Australia battling floods and the loss of their homes and businesses. My whinge is also nothing compared to the people in Ukraine who are being displaced at the moment.

It’s just crazy; very depressing to see the women and children being separated by the men in their family at train stations and borders, not knowing if they will ever see their loved one again.

It’s when I see such images that I’m reminded once again I need to be grateful for living in a peaceful country.

Because of the rain I haven’t been doing much outdoor activities. I’m not that hard core. A month ago, A fractured his right thumb after a rock fell on it while we were out bushwalking. I’m sorry to add that it was me who had accidentally stepped on the rock that hit his thumb. It was a freak incident brought about by freak timing. Thankfully it didn’t hit his head else it could have been fatal. He required hand surgery to deep clean the wound and put a titanium plate to help the fracture heal.

He’s much better now after going for hand therapy sessions. The loss of use of the thumb really makes one realise how reliant humans are on it for our everyday movements like opening a door, turning a tap, eating with a spoon etc.

Suffice to say, we will be a lot more careful now when out bushwalking!