Spring on Saturday

For a few days in a row now, we have had wall-to-wall sunshine and, after frosty nights and mornings, very mild days with temperatures reaching 15-16 Celsius (around 59 F). Such warm days are not completely unusual for February; we've had them before, but mostly such years have then seen another cold spell, even with snow, in late March or even April. Well, we shall see what happens this year. In the meantime, we made the most of it and spent as much time outdoors as we could.

On Saturday, that meant going up to OK's parents' allotment and getting it ready for an afternoon with the family. We swept the patio, opened the shed, pulled out the home-made wooden benches and table and brushed off the cobwebs. Then, while OK and his dad started the fire, I got my first cautious sunbathing of the year! It was really nice and warm directly in the sun, but I was glad for my padded coat as a blanket.

Once the rest of the family arrived, we started with coffee and cake in the sun and even had a bottle of mulled wine (a last reminiscence of the Christmas season). Later on, we put strips of bacon on the grill and had them in crispy rolls - wonderful! So, everything in a day from sunbathing to mulled wine.

We packed up as the sun was setting, providing us with a beautiful backdrop. I could have taken pictures every few seconds, as the sky was just so heartstring-tuggingly beautiful. As soon as the sun disappeared, it was very noticeably February again, and we were glad to get home and spend the rest of the evening in the warm house. Should I let you know that OK and I each had a large bowl of Ben & Jerry's ice cream, topped with Bailey's, and watched silly stuff on TV? Well, I just have done.

The above two pictures were taken within half an hour of each other: First, the last of the golden sunshine lighting up the trees, and just before six pm, it all had a rosy glow from the setting sun. My photos can not do the real thing justice, but maybe they can convey an idea of how beautiful it was.

This stag's head is made of metal and was put on a pole in a vineyard next to the allotment. I quite liked the sight of its silhouette against the evening sky.

Sunday saw us out in the sun again, this time for a run. Actually, on my part, it was less of a run and more of a series of short jogs with walking in between. This was only my second "run" since late November, and my condition is nowhere near I'd like it to be. But we were out in this great weather, and that was good.
In the afternoon, we met up with a group of friends at a café in a very picturesque village/small town nearby. It being such a lovely day and a Sunday, of course the place was packed, but one of our friends had booked a table and so we enjoyed our coffees, cakes and catching up.

The train ride home worked out alright, but I had to start half an hour earlier than intended, as the first one of the two trains I normally take on a Sunday night was held up with no reliable information when it would arrive. So as not to lose my connection, I took an earlier train, and arrived home around a quarter to 11 at night, as usual.

Since I last wrote about my Dad, he has improved even more, and been out several times on his own; to the shops, to the hairdresser's and even to my sister's, which was the longest walk he has done in many months. I honestly would not have thought it possible, but he showed us all that he can still do quite a lot if he wants! He even brought my Mum flowers - something he used to do regularly when he was still driving, but of course could not do since September. Unfortunately, both my parents are now down with colds, but that is only temporary. 

Less than five weeks now before my sister and I will travel to Yorkshire! Life is very good for me at the moment, but I am not forgetting those of my friends who are less lucky.