Spring has sprung!.....

......well we hope so.

As we awoke this morning to the sun streaming through the bedroom curtains, a situation that was the complete opposite to the forecast offered by the Met Office yesterday evening, it was apparent that there was every chance that we might get out for a pootle in the Morgan and also provided a timely reminder that a 'blackout' blind might not be a bad idea.

In the absence of one of the aforementioned blinds, we both wear masks that we have acquired on long-haul flights in the past and I always find it quite alarming on some occasions, turning over in bed to find that I appear to be sleeping with 'Zorro the Avenger!



In the Bleasdale Fells

 Anyway, I digress. The sky was cloudless as I consumed my kipper, not the filleted type for softies but the 'real McCoy', a Manx beauty, complete with skeleton that required some dexterity to remove from the surrounding flesh. It's quite an exercise, requiring a separate plate for the bones and bits and finally, after consumption and following strict instructions from Madame, the careful disposal of the remains in newspaper and a plastic bag to avoid the smell of kipper, not only permeating every corner of the house but the village as well!

Looking west.

What this has to do with the pleasant drive we were about to have in the Morgan, goodness only knows, except for the fact that a hearty smoked herring is ideal fodder for a top-down drive in temperatures that, although considerably better than those we have recently endured, were only likely to peak at 11 degrees, hardly tropical!

Straight into the fells we went, on the first real drive we had had together this year. It was the 22nd March last year when we had our first picnic so this was 3 weeks or so later and, although delightful, still not warm enough to don the knotted handkerchief,  roll up the trousers and slonk in a deckchair!

With cloud, rain and strong winds forecast for early afternoon, we timed our drive perfectly and were back at home after about 2 hours with the clouds just beginning to gather.

With both of us and the car refreshed, it provided a real taster of things to come.