I thought it was getting warmer but the March wind has piped up and brought with it cold air! A delicate sprinkling of snow has appeared on low-lying hills making a fine backdrop for the cherry and almond blossom trees and the glorious yellow Mimosa. A few crocuses and daffodils have appeared in my garden. I’m hoping for more and have put my trust in Google which tells me that moles do not eat flowering bulbs!

In the latest P-O Life magazine there is a lovely piece about our President, Penny Parkinson. A couple of paragraphs and we think we’ve got the gist of who she is and what she does but, as we know, there is more - much more in fact because she is now President of CSF (National). She was nominated and delighted to accept the role at their AGM last month. Congratulations Penny - this is great news!

In the latest P-O Life magazine there is a lovely piece about our President, Penny Parkinson. A couple of paragraphs and we think we’ve got the gist of who she is and what she does but, as we know, there is more - much more in fact because she is now President of CSF (National). She was nominated and delighted to accept the role at their AGM last month. Congratulations Penny - this is great news!

Many people are encouraged by promises of good weather and historically I suppose this area has been blessed with sun from May to September! The holiday season is almost upon us. This is when we start mentally preparing ourselves for heavy traffic, crowded supermarkets, gridlock in our local market and the delightful sound of a mobylette revving up at 11.30 at night.

As I begin to write this newsletter on the first day of July, it occurs to me that instead of moaning about the long queues on roads and in supermarkets, we should be looking forward to two months of breathing-space and rejoicing in the fact that it's Summer. I may be in a minority here but I rather like the holiday atmosphere everywhere. Busy markets, bars and restaurants. The camp-sites are alive again. There's music and animation - swooping swifts, chirping crickets, butterflies, dragonflies, grasshoppers ..... praying mantises!

As I begin to write this newsletter on the first day of July, it occurs to me that instead of moaning about the long queues on roads and in supermarkets, we should be looking forward to two months of breathing-space and rejoicing in the fact that it's Summer. I may be in a minority here but I rather like the holiday atmosphere everywhere. Busy markets, bars and restaurants. The camp-sites are alive again. There's music and animation - swooping swifts, chirping crickets, butterflies, dragonflies, grasshoppers ..... praying mantises!

As I begin to write this newsletter on the first day of July, it occurs to me that instead of moaning about the long queues on roads and in supermarkets, we should be looking forward to two months of breathing-space and rejoicing in the fact that it's Summer. I may be in a minority here but I rather like the holiday atmosphere everywhere. Busy markets, bars and restaurants. The camp-sites are alive again. There's music and animation - swooping swifts, chirping crickets, butterflies, dragonflies, grasshoppers ..... praying mantises!