'SPRING HAS SPRUNG'

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

At last Spring has decided to show signs of having arrived after one of the worst winters we have seen here in the UK for over 30 years. It's a funny thing but it never lets us down even if it does sometimes take awhile to appear! The first signs are the flowers like daffodils, crocus and primroses. Then comes the green buds on the trees and bushes that look as if they will never show leaves again. When the cold wind has abated the sunshine is pleasantly warm, you notice that people are shedding their heavy coats in favour of light jackets or, if they are brave enough, even going about in shirtsleeves! Also we start to smile at one another instead of marching along with our heads down, faces grimacing against the cold, hurrying to get into somewhere warm.

For someone coming from a country such as yours (The Gambia), it must be such a delight to feel the warmth of the sun once again. I was born and bred here but I welcome the signs of Spring. It always gives me a feeling of 'joie de vivre' as they say in France. A sense of a new beginning and wellbeing. I sometimes envy people in countries who have year round warmth and sunshine as I am very much a 'summer person' but then I think that without the changing seasons there wouldn't be this excitement over the beauty of the landscapes that evolves with each season. Where I live we are lucky to have some of the most spectacular scenery in England. Rolling hills and green valleys that are a joy to behold even in winter. I think people who live in inner cities probably hardly notice any of this although most have green areas or parks as we call them. London has some beautiful parks like Hyde Park and Kew Gardens. Yes, the British Isles can be wet, windy, bleak and cold but come in the Spring, Summer or even Autumn and you will be amazed at the show they can put on for you.

By Barbara Scott