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Here in New Zealand we have an obsession with the weather possibly because of our love for the great outdoors all year round. There is also a definite air of competitiveness between those inhabitating the two main islands that make up our small and somewhat isolated country. In fact this rivalry also exists between the locals from the east, west, north and south of both islands. Even though New Zealand is geographically challenged size wise the weather on any given day can be quite different from one part of the country to another. It can be raining where we live in out in the country yet dry and sunny just 13 kilometers away in the city or vice versa.

We all like to think our little piece of paradise boasts the better climate. Consequently I have an ongoing debate with my brother-in-law who lives up north in our largest city Auckland, over which part of the North island has the more consistently favourable weather. He insists they experience warmer temperatures whilst I argue our neck of the woods, the Manawatu in the lower central North island is the hotter place to be. Anyway, we both avidly watch the nightly television weather forecast taking special note of the day's temperatures in both locations for future reference next time we haggle over a degree Celsius or two.

You can then imagine, how delighted I was to receive such a marvellous gadget for Christmas from my son and daughter-in-law, my very own personal weather station. The station itself sits proudly on our sideboard displaying both indoor and outdoor temperatures transmitted from the outdoor receiver positioned on an exterior wall. It also has great little icons representing clouds, rain and sun predicting the days likely weather conditions. At the top it has a digital clock which although having nothing to do with the forecast does double it's usefulness. I can now with all accuracy relay the exact temperature at any one moment in time.

This technologically modern day superior barometer is also ascetically pleasing with it's sleek silver casing, perspex window and clear black numerals. It fact it looks rather stylish perched between my collection of porcelain Labrador figurines.

I find myself compulsively checking it throughout the day, announcing the updated temperature to my husband or anyone within earshot with a certain amount of smugness the higher the reading happens to be. For those who may be interested it's currently 4.52pm on the 4th day of January 2009 with a temperature of 26.6 c degrees outside and 24.2c degrees inside. Unfortunately having such information at one's finger tips any time of the day or night does have it's drawbacks particularly when the weather presenter on TV dares to announce a lower maximum temperature than my very own weather station. I have to admit, I do feel personally slighted and just a little miffed at the obvious discrepancy made by some chirpy blonde stick insect masquerading as a weather expert.

No doubt the novelty of this latest gadget will eventually wear off along with the long hot summer days. Come winter I may no longer be so eager to know the temperature let alone skite about it but for now I am besotted with my new toy. I suppose that makes me a fair weather friend.

Learn more about this author, Gabrielle Keen.
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