Thunder down under

This is the time of year in tropical Queensland when the poinciana or flame trees begin to flower. They go from green to brilliant red overnight and they are supposed to signal the start of the wet season. No rain on the radar for a week or so yet, so maybe they're out of whack, just like everything else weather-related around here at the moment. I do have a few twinges in my gammy leg though, so maybe the monsoon's not too far away. They are predicting more severe flooding than usual this year and at least six cyclones (along with the usual 33 degree heat and 90% humidity), so we are bracing ourselves for another summer from hell.