Not March hares...

... but April lurchers. Or more accurately, a wolfhound and a whippet.

My old friend Patricia told me about 'Whippet Whirl', a monthly get-together of sight hounds and their human companions.  Generally this is all about an opportunity to race around in the huge loops and circles that greyhounds, whippets and lurchers love.  Patricia and I went there together, with her lurcher Hector.

I think spring was in the air today, because the dogs were far more interested in playing around together than in running.  These two really captivated me, as they jumped and nuzzled and boxed with each other. The graceful wolfhound was pretty patient with this rather hyperactive friend.

And for me, memories of both our lurchers, now long since gone: graceful Sasha, tall and greyhound-like, and stockier Betty, who was a Belgian shepherd/greyhound (or possibly whippet) cross.

Just for the record, because I feel bad if I don't acknowledge it, at least to myself... the news from Ukraine is as terrible as ever. Evidence of Russian war crimes in the areas near Kyiv newly-retaken by Ukrainian forces; the start of devastating bombing in Odesa. How much longer can this go on?