Forget the first cuckoo

It's the first appearances of PS Waverley that denote the advent of summer in this part of the world - that unmistakable throbbing of the paddles, the sleek shape that is more beautiful than any other ship on the river, these are the sounds and sights of summer on the Firth of Clyde even when the sky is grey and the temperature on the cool side.

I caught sight of her from my window this morning, quite by chance, and felt a lift of the heart. We shall sail on her soon ...