We’re already one quarter of the way through the year. The Spring Equinox brought a brief period of glorious sunny weather but by the time I was tempted to discard my winter woollies and don a summer dress the weather reverted. English Mothering Sunday has come and gone in a flurry of flowers and phone calls home.

CHANGING The other weekend, we moved our clocks forward one hour. Why? I am not convinced that the extra hour of daylight gained is worth the hassle of altering all the timepieces and adjusting our ‘body clocks’ to wake up an hour later.

CLOTHES Did you stay in pj’s during lockdown? I cannot think of anything worse! Staying all day in my night clothes reminds me of being ill and I like to get dressed. There is one advantage with nightwear: it is easy to put on. I am convinced that the fastenings on clothes are inserted to suit the manufacturer with no thought for the consumer. When I sewed myself a couple of summer dresses recently I positioned the zip at the side, where it used to be when I was a teenager. Whoever decreed that zips should go down the centre back? Unfortunately, I find that my arthritic shoulder means I once more need to re-think dress fastenings and it is time to consider buttons down a front opening. In fact, I’d probably be better off with a matching top and skirt as opposed to a dress.

COMMUNICATING Did you read the story “Flat Stanley” by Jeff Brown when you were a child? Stanley gets squashed flat by a falling bulletin board. Stanley’s parents rolled him up, put him in an envelope and mailed him to his friend in California. Back in 1995 Dale Herbert started the “Flat Stanley Project”. Pupils cut out their own Flat Stanley and posted him off to a friend or relation who were asked to “take Flat Stanley on an adventure”. Flat Stanley then “wrote” letters back about his travels which were then used as a resource for class lessons.

CONTEMPLATING The tulips in my garden are at their best. Tomorrow I shall pick a bunch to bring indoors. Even when they are ‘past their best’ tulips look good with their interesting sculptural shapes.

COOKING Tonight I tried out a new recipe: a sausage & sweet potato tray from “Feel Good Food” by Jo Wicks. Easy and tasty.

CRAFTING While out walking I spotted a cluster of decorated wooden spoon characters in a front garden. According to Wikipedia, “Spoonvilles are bringing utensils out of locked down drawers and onto the streets in a bid to whip up cheerful dollops of community spirit.” What fun! Of course, I had to join in. I painted three wooden spoons in blue and yellow out of respect for Ukraine then added crocheted hats, knitted scarves and hair made from unravelled yarn.

CROCHETING My blanket is finished! It took me about nine months – a bit longer than I expected but it was such a great feeling to see it completed and in place on my bed. If I were to crochet another patchwork blanket I wound definitely count the rows to ensure that each rectangle was exactly the same length. Measuring a piece of crochet or knitting with a tape measure is unreliable because it stretches.

Spring Equinox always inspires me. The days are growing longer and I start to slough off the lethargy of winter and my energy returns. Onwards and upwards!

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