Spring Unsprung

I ran down to a scene of utter devastation this morning. The contents of the  kitchen bin were scattered everywhere, paper and tin foil licked and chewed, bread crumbs all over the mats from the heel I threw away, fish wrappings, icky things you wouldn't want to be reunited with after disposing of them. I quietly told the boy he was very bad and sent him outside, and then proceeded to have my breakfast. He stood politely at the glass door, then sat down to consider his situation. No sound did he make, no howling or barking. After ten minutes or so I let him back in, and he sat by the back door for a bit. Then he crept over to me, each paw delicately raised before being placed in front of the other, slowly, slowly, and he looked up at me tremulously from a bowed head. He was so abject, so sorry. "I know, I know, I wish I could turn the clock back! But the scents coming from the bin could not be resisted. I had to get at them. I couldn't sleep for thinking about what was in there!" I stroked gently down his neck, his face, his sides, speaking softly to him. "You couldn't help yourself could you?" I asked him. "It's not that you're a bad boy, you're just ruled by your tummy." Oh the joy for both of in the reunion, the pleasure of forgiving. I hugged him and he snuggled in to me, head buried in my dressing gown. Blissful.

It was such a beautiful day that I had to get outside. The sun is so low at the moment that the garden was almost completely in shadow, but the spot where the summerhouse sits was aglow with light. For the first time in several months I took my coffee down there, and it was warm inside, very welcoming. I took the crossword with me, but I had to move a few times as the sun was blinding me. When I'd had enough I pottered around the garden admiring the delicious new growth that can be seen in all the beds. Buds arer showing on trees and shrubs, and the wicked squirrel has left a few crocus bulbs to poke up their heads. Of course it's not Spring, nothing like. But it could have been, and it is thrilling to know that not too many weeks away will be the real thing.

Sunny oasis