THE POSITIVE WAY to begin this post is to speak of how lovely it’ll be to welcome Spring this year. Much, much better than having a rant about being fed up to the back teeth with today’s incessant rain and cold, and with feeling guilty about said fed-up-ness on the grounds that others, of course, are suffering much worse. Better for me to dwell on thoughts of brighter days ahead. Spring flowers, blue skies, and being able to walk out in a T-shirt again. Roll on Spring.

Which reminds me: our Sexton told me about a neighbour having rolls of turf laid in his front garden. “When I get rich”, he told his friend, “I’m gonna have my lawn taken up to be mown, too.” God bless the Sexton!