Happy Easter everyone, it’s been a good week here at Alledal. Steph has been on leave, which has been a good thing since I have now officially left the dark side of windows and moved over to a Mac. This will be my first i-mac blog entry. It hasn’t been a painless experience, but it has been a lot easier than a thought and now after almost a week I feel I’m getting to grips with the new PC. Most of the little dramas have been to do with a new install, losing templates etc. I’m a little particular about the way my PC should look and behave.

The weather has been glorious and Troy and I have been making the most of it. The last few days have been perfect for those wonderful long walks with the dog. We’ve tramped over hill and over dale and followed just about every dusty trail… seriously though it has been a thoroughly enjoyable few days. As always while out with the dog I had my little camera in my pocket an I though I’d share some of the photographs I’ve taken with you.

The nursery rhyme tells us that ‘The north wind doth blow and we will have snow…’ well as I can attest that is most certainly true. I know nothing of robins though none being available to comment. Another rhyme assures us that ‘March brings breezes loud and shrill…’ again this is true, although we have no daffodils to be stirred as yet.

After a reasonably mild and suitably snowy winter, the signs of springtime and rebirth are being seen across my usually haunts. I have already seen the migratory birds, mainly whooping swans and even the first cranes flying north. The trees are all in bud and the crocuses are peeking through. I am most certainly noticing the few extra minutes of daylight were getting and so are the animals. Even my dress has begun to reflect a return to warmer climes. More often than not now I am hatless – something unthinkable just a few weeks ago – and now it’s just a fleece rather than a down jacket.

So it’s the last day of February. The snow has gone and though last night the temperature did dip below freezing it was nothing compared to what we have been getting. I know I tempted fate last time when I claimed that winter was in retreat but this time I really can see the signs of spring. There are snowdrops in the garden and celandine in the hedgerows. This time believe me it’s no longer just in my mind. Spring really is waiting in the wings. The grey and olive drab of winter is about to be cast off on replaced with a veil of vivid green.

...and back with a vengeance. It seems that Old Man Winter was really offended when I suggested last time that maybe he was in retreat. It has been below freezing for the last week. Yesterday reached a high of -2°C. Wonderful isn’t it.