Early Morning Alarm Stands Absolutely No Chance Against Gentle Rain On Corrugated Iron Roof

CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT

The rains are here, and the new year's fitness regimes are being washed away like grass clippings on the nature strip.

Heavy downfalls and severe thunderstorms are heavily impacting central Australia today, with the systems moving south the drench the cities.

This has completely neutralised morning alarm clocks around the country, as the sedative morning pitter patter on tin roofs drowns out the usually startling digitial sounds of an iPhone rattling through the nervous system.

In Birdsville, Betoota's closest major centre, the last 24 hours has seen falls of more than 100 mm. Just short of the average annual rainfall of 180 mm.

While this amount of wet usually results in the extreme stress that comes with road closures and floods, the sound of rain on the roof still brings a warm feeling - especially of a morning.

Further east, construction workers are rejoicing at the prospect of a long-weekend, with pokies rooms expected to swell just after lunch.

But the biggest shift in behaviour

even the most strict gym routines have been eviscerated by this cozy sensory experience resulting in deep relaxation.

Betoota Grove's number one personal trainer, Debbie, says every session has been cancelled at the last minute this week.

"No chance. This kind of rain creates conditions that are not conducive to getting your arse up and breaking a sweat" she says.

"I'll be lucky to even get a formal cancellation by text. That's how deep the sleep ins are"

"The pot plants are getting a drink, the dams are filling up. And the alarms are getting snoozed three times before eventually getting turned off"