s I walked out " this May morning pidgeons were cooing in the hawthorn bushes, covered in ivy. A chorus of birds sang joyfully. A faint mist rose slowly skyward. Bluebells, lilac, May blossom nodded in a soft breeze. The oak has burst into leaf, a sure sign of a good Summer.

"The oak before the Ash, we'll only have a splash

The ash before the oak, we'll surely have a soak"

Is'nt it good to be alive, so Carpe Diem to all.

We are having beautiful weather here too. April was unseasonably warm and May looks promising, cloudless skies but a wee cool breeze. In the garden the rhododendron are in bloom, also lilac, forget-me-nots. The lupins and clematis are starting to bud as well. I have my window boxes and hanging baskets planted up but still in the greenhouse until this breeze dies down. I think we can say there will be no more frosts!! I'm wasting an awful lot of time on this Exiles Forum. My husband of 46 yrs will be divorcing me as I'm getting nothing done in the house. When he comes home for lunch, I'm still sitting here and no lunch ready. Even my wee dogs are being neglected although I took them for a walk at 12 noon. I'm going now but have sent in a couple of poems. Goodbye and good luck.