BLUE SKIES

Daytime temperatures may still be in single figures, but it is skies like this which bring a welcome sense of relief to early February.
First, we hear of the threat of snow, and for those of us in the south, at least, little more than a few flurries so far, yet still we are faced with days dominated by heavy grey cloud.
So today’s break in that cloud and the appearance of bright blue, summerlike skies with a few billowing puffs of white, was very much appreciated.
Maybe, as I get older, I begin to appreciate the signs of  warmer days to come much more.  In fact, I am not sure that I shouldn’t be seeking  to permanently live in more temperate climes.  With daughters already living in France and Italy, I have plenty of encouragement, and if I am honest we have already looked at various places we might choose to live. In this country too, we are regularly enticed with the possibilities of west Dorset — not that the climate is likely to be much different from the adjoining county where we already are.
I have in the past sat on a beach in the south west of France on Christmas Day, but I have also endured snow in Italy at Christmas, and bitterly cold winds in France in early January, so realistically none of those potential moves would appear to completely solve my dilemma of seeking more clement regions to escape winter blues.
Tomorrow, the forecast again speaks of light cloud and temperatures on the south coast no more than 5 degrees, and again a possibility of snow. It’s no warmer in Perpignan, and little different in Milan where it is  also likely to see rain.

So I content myself by revelling in my blue skies today, and eagerly look forward to the next.  Snowdrops, daffodils and crocus all in bloom give me plenty of anticipation.