Spring has sprung!

[nineveh_uk]

My parents departed yesterday morning after a long weekend, and the house feels both pleasantly large and sadly quiet. They left behind them a mown lawn, tidied garden, large quantity of ironing done, and clean windows. I was absolutely shattered when they arrived, as this period of the earth's orbit plays merry hell with my sleep*, but perked up enough to have a really nice weekend.

We - or at least I - didn't do a lot, but we did go to the local RSPB reserve on Sunday. Blue skies, bright sun, and birds, including bramblings, a marsh tit, kestrel, pintails, and various more common things. Most exciting was pair of marsh harriers (which nest there) endeavouring to see off a red kite, only to find themselves suddenly surrounded by four or five of them. The weather this week continues to be lovely, though alas work means it is more looking at flowers out of the window and on short walks than birdwatching or just sitting in the garden.

Despite the frustration of scarcely managing to stay awake to the end of Gardeners' World (or indeed to be only awake in the first place for Gardeners' World rather than something more exciting), I'm still a lot better than I was last time I saw Mum and Dad at Christmas, and even more so than I was last time they were here in the autumn. But my goodness, two years on long Covid and the slow, slow climb out of it measured in "a I a bit better than three months ago?" remains incredibly boring.

*Last night I went to bed early, feeling tired and hoping I could get some extra sleep at the start rather than the end of the night. Naturally, I just awoke a corresponding hour earlier this morning.

Comments

[philomytha]

It's so mild here all of a sudden! It's the first time cycling Cub to school that I didn't want gloves and a woolly hat under my helmet.

Apparently someone saw a red kite at a coastal nature reserve here, I hadn't thought they'd spread this far south and west yet, but they're doing very well. I was so thrilled the first time I saw one and now they're everywhere, it's great.

[nineveh_uk]

Walks without gloves suddenly! It's great.

I've been tracking progress of the kites from rarely over the park to routinely, then over my house, and now commonly when I drive to antisoppist's. They're spreading out! (Except in north east England where they are being killed.)

[mrs_redboots]

We got used to being an hour ahead during our trip to France, so have tried to keep on roughly that sort of schedule for going to bed and getting up - which means it doesn't actually matter waking up an hour early, since this time next week it won't be an hour early, if you see what I mean!

[nineveh_uk]

Very handy!

[nnozomi]

I hope spring there remains lovely and brings more energy with it <3

[nineveh_uk]

Thank you! Just being able to get out of the house more without getting old is a huge boost.

[azdak]

Spring is sprung! Da grass is riz! I'm glad you're having lovely weather over there too.

[nineveh_uk]

The grass is positively exploding skywards! The weather is gorgeous, though not making me at all inclined to work. That tiny part of the human brain we share with sheep wants me out and frolicking like a lamb. I hope you're enjoying your sunshine.

[azdak]

I'm enjoying it no end! The combination of weekend and sunshine meant I could go for a two day hike, which was fabulous.

[nineveh_uk]

How lovely! Whereabouts did you go?

Alas, though I managed some pleasant sunshine last week, the last couple of days have ended that after I managed to injure my foot by standing on tiptoe while cleaning my teeth. Darwin Award worthy! (Not serious, but I am staying off it for a few days to let the swelling go down.)

[azdak]

I'm gradually walking the Alpine Lowlands route from Vienna to Bregenz and this bit plugged a gap from the end of the Vienna Woods out into hilly meadowland. I covered 50 km with quite a lot of upping and downing and actually broke sweat for the first time this year. The weather was glorious and the whole walk was accompanied by bird song.

[nineveh_uk]

Sounds great, physically and mentally refreshing. The enthusiastic birdsong of this time of year is a delight even on a suburban stroll, it must be even better out somewhere more rural.

Oxford is not forecast snow showers on Thursday, which feels a bit surreal.