I know that Joseph may have had his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, but in Sweden he would be laughed out of the room. One coat? Is that all you have? For each season you have only the one coat? Don't make me laugh!

That was pretty much the reaction I got from Lars-Göran the day I arrived in Sweden, as I showed him my so-called winter clothes and shoes from Australia. He thought I was having him on when I showed him my collection of heeled court shoes, my winter boots and my only coat.

To be fair to me, it was 42C when I left Adelaide that fateful December day. It can be pretty hard to get in the winter spirit under those conditions. How was I to know that it would be a slightly cooler -6C in Sweden. Is there a temperature below +10C? I'd never experienced it!

One thing you hear a lot in Sweden is the saying "There's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing". I rolled my eyes, but it IS true. I now look at the assorted collection outer wear I have accumulated and I realise that living in this climate, you become a real connoisseur of coats and accessories.

So, what does Marie own?

First there is the summer jacket.

*Pause while those in Adelaide pick themselves up off the floor*

Finished laughing?

Yes, I have a summer jacket. When you realise that even in "summer", it never gets above the mid twenties, you'll understand that I need something like this. It's for those days when it's sunny, but there is still a chill in the air (most summer days). The jacket is lightweight and shower proof (just in case!). You've seen me wear it here.

Next we have the rain jacket.

That is for those days when it's really damp outside. I brought this one with me from Australia. I used to wear it to watch the winter soccer games. It is a lightweight, waterproof fabric and worn with a nice thick wooly jumper underneath, it is perfect to stay dry. I used to wear it in the snow when I first came to Sweden as you see here.

Number three is the in-between jacket.

This is a heavier weight, furry fabric. It's lined as well for extra warmth and ideal to keep out cold winds and make sure you are cosy and warm. It also has big, roomy pockets to hold everything I need to bring with me. I commonly wear this in late summer/early autumn and in late spring. I'm wearing it here.

Now we have the winter jacket.

This is my my heavy duty, industrial strength, now it's really winter coat. It is mid-thigh length, well-padded, with a fur-lined hood that comes forward enough to protect my glasses and face from the snow. Ideal for shopping at the
christmas markets.

I do also have a more formal winter coat. It is almost as warm and cosy as the winter jacket, but has no hood, is lined with fur and is a pale sand coloured suede. I don't wear it that much as it's not a practical colour for a dog owner. Those muddy, wet paws leave stains!

And I also have the wet weather, windproof sailing jacket.

Quite a collection!

Moving on to the accessories. I have lightweight woven gloves, which I find perfect for cold days. I wear them about the same time I wear the in-between jacket. I also have my lovely thermal lined leather gloves. Very warm and toasty for my poor frozen pinkies. On the boat, I wear warm ski-ing gloves to break the wind and protect my hands when steering. I did bring a pair of knitted gloves from Australia, but they were laughingly inadequate for the industrial strength cold Sweden can turn on.

Hat wise, I have my faithful orange cap. That's the most common one I wear. I have a ski-ing style fitted cap that I wear under my hooded winter jacket when it gets arctic. For those freezing days when I still have to go out, I have a fur hat. Yes, real fur. I know it's politically incorrect and all that, but it was a gift from my mother-in-law and I have to admit that it is much warmer than I could have ever believed.

Scarf wise, I have a lightweight, but toasty warm orange pashmina, an orange woolen scarf and a collection of lightweight silk scarves.

Yes, I am that woman for all seasons.