Catkins

Valentine’s Day dawned soft and sunny after the rain. There are masses of hazel trees in the lanes here so we are blessed with masses of catkins in the late winter.  Those I have brought into the house have now turned into leafy twigs - one of the joys of this time of year, pick them too early and you have sticks in a vase, but on time with enough sap you get an early glimpse of spring. 

Vik on peak Estate Management today, as we call household maintenance.  Two taciturn men turned up from the local forge to plan a handrail for the wonky steps. Not to sit in the stone blocks which are already there but rickety but instead on the other side.  They then went over to my mother’s to sort out her handrail - she was out!  (There’s a theme here) Vik let himself in to change the five dead lightbulbs. 

That evening a huge bunch of tulips came but not the restaurant meal we’d ordered (problem with DPD apparently) so we ate pasta and watched telly.  So romantic!