It was a dry but damp day yesterday (I think might have to be British to understand this nonsensical statement). So I went out for a walk through the local park. Apart from being accosted by a wonderfully friendly puppy called Walter there was nothing to report. The winter ducks were quaking and whistling as they ever do and the gulls were being their normal quarrelsome self but other than that I had the place to myself.

The first signs that winter might be coming to an end could be found all over the Willows as their catkins are starting to flower – certainly it was warm enough for early Spring. I suspected that spring had sprung early last year only for several cm of snow to fall a few days later so who knows what this crazy weather we are now experiencing will serve up next?