>>Tomorrow - depending on whether or not you regard the sun's position in
>regard to the equator as important? - is the first day of Spring.

Apologies for being picky, but isn't the Spring equinox (Fall for us
northerners) actually on Sept 22 (give or take a day).  Sounds like the
Ozzie tourist industry may have brainwashed all you folks to get  a head
start.  We 'Mericans take the opposite approach.  We end summer early on
the first weekend of September (Labor Day).  Heaven forbid we take a little
extra time to enjoy life.<

This has nothing to do with the tourist industry. It was the
'meteorological' start of Spring, which comes before the equinox.
And around these parts, Summer said goodbye this weekend, it is noticeably
colder this week, unfortunately. 

Mika