I suddenly got this tune from my childhood into my head - it's Tulips from Amsterdam sung, if I recall correctly, by Max Bygraves ( just checked it was Max Bygraves). And it led me to reflect on what spring means to me. I think it's the flowers first and foremost, to begin with the aconites and snowdrops, followed by the daffodils and all the flowering trees that have burst on to the scene in the last week.
Even the wild flowers have got going
The second big thing that heralds spring for us is the opening of our tiny place on the Isle of Wight. The first trip of the season is always exciting, checking if there have been any cliff falls and if our favourite shops (especially the fishmonger) are still there. The cliff falls were fairly minor (given the weather we've had) although they were rebuilding some of the beach huts that had been damaged by the storms.
After doing all the chores we went for a drive round - first stop Freshwater Bay where there was a stiff breeze with spray catching the sun over the sea wall
and there was a family having fun laughing at grandpa who was jumping in and out of the waves in his dhoti
Next it was off to Totland where we noticed that this sky above the land was much bluer than the sky above the sea, which was still a bit misty
and there was a fabulous view of the evening sun on the old lifeboat house with the gulls wheeling around it
It was good to be back and breathe in the spring sea air! And just in case you are way too young to have heard this