This is the reality in Canada. Proof of Canadian-ness is the love-hate relationship that Canadians enjoy with the weather. Quite specifically the weather that bedevils, enlivens, challenges and entertains Canadians from coast to coast to coast. Invariably the first topic of conversation is the weather; how delightful it may happen to be at any given moment, and how utterly miserable it is at others.

We are accustomed, yet still not comfortable with nature's weather challenges to our way of life, our comfort, our opportunities and our yearning for moderation. Climate and atmospheric conditions conspire to give Canadians weather conditions that seem to turn on that proverbial shekel. From one day to the next conditions can be tolerable, or they can become frighteningly awful.

So, there's the conversation topic: the all-encompassing, view-detrimental ice fog, the constant drizzle, the frigid wind tearing through one's clothing, the effulgent day of sun and mild temperatures, the unbelievable snowpack that has accumulated, the freezing rain and allied icy conditions underfoot or undertire, and how it all complicates our lives. Or gives us a sunny disposition, depending on one's outlook on life and momentary attitudes.

When, several weeks back, our youngest son was staying with us for a week's visit, we were in one of those unexpectedly-icy weather systems when the temperature hesitated to rise above minus-20-degrees. He left frozen Ottawa for Yellowknife, NWT, to find it even more icy there, but an experience not to be missed. When he returned finally to Vancouver, the weather was its usual balmy self for that part of Canada, so he hauled himself up to the mountains and revelled in newfallen snow under his skis.

As for us, we've bounced between normal temperatures for this time of year which are around minus-6 Celsius for January day-time highs, and what we're now experiencing; day-time highs resisting the norms to present us with minus-20 in the afternoon and minus-29 during the night. We won't even mention the wind-chill factor other than to refer to Environment Canada's wind-chill warnings.

And while Ottawa is shuddering and shivering under these extreme temperatures sticking stubbornly around where they aren't wanted, it's now milder in Yellowknife at a daytime high of -13, and night temperature of -16 than it is here, by far. As for Vancouver don't even mention its daytime high of 7+ and nighttime temperature of 2+, because it's all very nice for them, but produces envy in us.