My pins can safely head into blissful hibernation under opaque black tights, pants, and long skirts.

Of course, with teenage daughters in my home who simply must wear mini-skirts and bare legs around in the rain, I expect no break any time soon from the detritus of their determination for forced hair removal and fake tan application.

Such is the frightening reality in a bathroom occupied by young ladies in the year 2021.

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I'm still holding out hope that my eldest teen at university in icy cold Melbourne will soon warm to the notion of the overcoat's essential role in her survival, as she endeavors to endure arctic conditions with the protection of only an oversize cardigan.

Having lived in Queensland for a couple of years, when we were posted to the F-111s, RAAF Base Amberley, my appreciation for the glorious variety of seasons we enjoy in rural Victoria has never waned.

Yes, we are drowning in throw rugs and ash from the open fire, but we also get to enjoy the thrill of rediscovering the wonder of our winter wardrobes once a year and the pleasure of wrapping our new lumps and bumps in layers of wooly warmth.

Frankly, you cannot wear black in Queensland, no matter how slimming it is, as the temperature simply will not allow.

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In Victoria, we can zip ourselves into our knee-high boots, button ourselves into our ankle length overcoats and shrug on a scarf, hat, and gloves if our hearts' desire - there is just so much scope for expressive dressing when you live with distinctive seasonal weather conditions.

I struggled with the whole shorts and T-shirt couture in Queensland, even though I was probably young enough back then to pull it off!

It doesn't matter that we all look five kilos heavier in our puffer coats down here because we probably are.

That's caused by the enjoyment of eating creamy curries, soup with crusty bread and lashings of salty butter and syrupy casseroles with pudding and cream for dessert.

Throw another log on the fire folks, it's time to settle in for the winter.