Summer In April
So our weather does once again what our weather is good at doing. It plays with our emotions, it drags us down and then builds us up, gives us hope only to laugh in our faces as it changes its mind and decides “as we were”.
Such has been our weather over recent months. A mild, dry winter. Then cold and blizzards and the “Beast From the East” in February. March gave us hope with the promise of warmth and the green shoots of spring. But reality brought severe weather warnings and more snow. Spring had gone missing just when we needed it up and about and shaking off its winter lethargy.
And then we had last week. No sign of spring but suddenly it was mid-summer with temperatures of 30 degrees and the hottest April weather in almost 70 years. No showers and occasional sunny spells last week. Shorts, barbecues and bare, red skin appeared in every pub garden and all roads led to the sea or the countryside.
Oh, the joys of summer.
In April.
I chose the countryside.
Long hot walks through fields and woods just coming to life. Some trees still leafless with branches stark against the bright blue sky alongside others bowing under the weight of heavy white blossom. Hawthorn and bluebells and buttercups with a hint of scent floating in the glorious hot sunshine. And every shade of vibrant green as nature moved rapidly from pre-spring to full summer in just a few days.
It stirred our collective emotions and put a smile on our faces. Windows were opened and the sounds and smells of summer filled our houses. The birds went crazy and nature's alarm clock woke us from our sticky, warm slumber with the sound of their beautiful singing coming through the newly opened windows.
Summer in April has a lot to answer for.
