Waiting for Spring

Spring is... I want to say round the corner but I guess that it is just about here. It smells like spring, it looks like spring, but it doesn't feel like spring. It is still really cold. It keeps snowing on and off, which has never been impossible for March and April but is generally not heard of. Now the temperature is slowly going up, but very slowly. And this delightful north-eastern wind is keeping things feeling wintry.

At least the sun is shining. That gives me hope.

I'm really sorry I've not been blogging recently. I still have plenty to write about but I have been exhausted and just not had the energy to write in the evenings, or even at the weekend. In fact I'm feeling pretty tired now. However, time has gone on long enough and I am determined to get back into this writing thing. I even worked on my novel yesterday, and I have an article to write up for the church magazine. It is time to wake up because I can't wait for spring forever.

So, I thought I would give a little catch-up of what I've been up to recently, other than just dreaming of sunshine and warmer temperatures!

A Race: My husband ran the Brighton Half Marathon in mid-February, on what turned out to be a gorgeous day to be beside the seaside. The sky was a brilliant blue and the sun beamed down on all the runners. He did really well, beating his personal best, and is now more enthusiastic than ever to carry on with this running malarkey.

Palace Pier, Brighton - I was practising with a fish-eye lens.

A Hen Do: At the beginning of March I went to the hen party of my brother-in-law's fiancee, which was afternoon tea at a posh country hotel on the Ashdown Forest. There were plenty of sandwiches, scones, and cakes, as well as lots of tea. I was incredibly full and I only managed to eat just over half of my share of the goodies. It was a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

A Wedding: A couple of weeks later it was the wedding day itself. The weather had taken a turn for the worse - gale force winds and freezing rain. Nevertheless, the bride managed to stay unruffled and looking absolutely beautiful for the whole day and everyone had a really great time.

They got married in the church where her parents had married over two decades before, which was a really nice touch. The reception was at a country hotel - a sixteenth century manor situated in lovely grounds. Although some photos of the bride and groom were taken outside, the rest of us chose to stay in the warmth and just admire the view from the windows!

My husband was the best man, and he fulfilled his duties very well, keeping his brother calm in the morning, looking after the rings, and giving the expected amusing speech at the reception.

It was quite a small wedding consisting of family and only a few very close friends, but it was a great day and we all really enjoyed ourselves. I am thrilled to have a 'sister' now, and my husband and I look forward to supporting them both in their marriage.

Some of us stayed at the hotel that night. We had to duck under low beams to find our room at the end of a passageway. It was huge with an en-suite bathroom, and an extra room which had single beds for children in it! The bed was very grand with a tall, wooden headboard adorned with intricate carvings. It was fit for a king's friend, no doubt!

Other than that life has consisted mostly of work, volunteering, and trying to stay warm! We've also celebrated my brother's girlfriend's 21st birthday, gone in search of a mine (yes, it is as random as it sounds), managed a few chilly walks on the Downs, and tried to enjoy playing in the snow on the days when it has settled thickly. Life continues to be busy and full of interesting things, but I will not be sorry to see a heat wave soon.

I hope that this has now marked my return to the blogging world, and for those of you who follow me, thanks for sticking around, I appreciate it! :)