Small talk usually involves some mention of the weather. Even more so when you're the weather girl.

Sometimes I receive thanks for endless days of sunshine, as was the case last month when it hardly rained at all.

But for the last few weeks, it has been quite the opposite.

The top three quips in no particular order:
1. 'What's with all this rain?'
2. 'Can't you do something about this weather?'
3. 'I'm over it.'

It's warranted. This month, Sydney has averaged two and half hours of sunshine per day. Last month, we had three times that.

And then there's the rain - little more than two weeks into winter and the city is just nine millimetres short of achieving its monthly average of 130 millimetres.

Then again, if you're going to have cloud, it might as well come with rain attached. Melbourne knows that. They've averaged slightly more sunshine than Sydney this month (around four hours). The rest of the time it's been cloudy.Yet that cloud has produced a measly 8 millimetres of rain over the city gauges and only about three times that across its dams.

Even Brisbane is down on its daily dose of sunshine, receiving almost twice its average monthly rainfall in the first week of June. At least it's been falling where they need it with recent rain adding an extra two month's supply to the region's dams.

So yes, it has been a rather gloomy start to winter. But is all the cloud and rain really that bad?

Most of us would argue the weather has some sort of impact on how we feel.

While it may seem obvious that a beautiful sunny day evokes feelings of happiness, I'd argue that a rainy day is just as capable. It just depends on what you're looking for. Those who love the outdoors may have a preference for sunshine. But cloud would be the preferred weather icon if you'd rather snuggle up with a book.

And while city and coastal folk seem to despise incessant rain, our country neighbour's reliance on it means it will always bring a smile.

An intrepid Aussie traveller fulfilling their rite of passage through gloomy London longs for just a glimpse of blue sky. Thick grey clouds and the sound of rain however, serve only to make my pommy Mum homesick.

There are other factors at play, such as health. Way back in 400BC Hippocrates first saw the link between the way weather can influence our mood and thus affect our physical well being. It makes sense. For example, most of us associate seasonal affective disorder (SAD) with winter, but summer-onset SAD can also happen (albeit less frequently). You'll be very familiar with the two culprits - heat and humidity! They're thought to trigger insomnia, anxiety, reduced appetite and weight loss.

So as we move into the depths of winter when cloud and rain will fill our days I'd ask you to look at the sunny side of a rainy wintry day. Or, in other words, how to make bad weather your best friend.

When it's cold and wet, remember a rainy day is excellent for the following: sleeping in, ignoring your washing basket, sitting on the couch watching movies back to back, eating comfort food and drinking hot chocolate. It's the time when you can really make time for yourself. Guilt free!

A sunny day would only make us feel guilty about doing any or all of the above. There are, after all, worse things than a rainy day at home.