Wednesday 22nd April 2026

Spring is here!

I heard the snipe drumming on Monday evening and the cuckoo calling this morning. The wind is in the east, and I got the bed sheets washed, dried and back on the bed by the afternoon.

I've vaguely started spring cleaning, with a view to some serious decluttering. I'm also getting some work done on the kitchen in the next few weeks. A new sink and worktops, as well as some repairs. I will redecorate later in the year - I'm even tentatively considering painting the kitchen units in a bold colour. Stick around for that episode…

Dinner tonight was macaroni and cheese - hot, cheesy with a crispy top - exactly what I fancied.

Two meetings this week, one last night and one tonight. This one had the potential to be a wee bit contentious, but all was well in the end.

I’m glad it’s over though. Just all the minutes and admin to deal with now, but that can wait till tomorrow.

I’ve got two books on the go at the moment, aside from my bible reading and devotionals.

During the day, I'm dipping into William Hazlitt's essays - selection by Ronald Blythe when he worked at Penguin.

I’m very much appreciating Hazlitt - he's so engaging and thought provoking. I’ve started jotting down references as I go along, so I can look them up later. His essay on attending a boxing match was so good - I really felt I was there.

My nighttime read is Villette, by Charlotte Brontë. I bought this last year - started it and was really enjoying it, then I went through a phase of being too tired to read in bed, so it fell by the wayside.

Back to it now, and still liking it very much - possibly better than Jane Eyre. I'll report back on that.

That's it, then. I'm about to head off to my nice fresh bedlinen, with a cup of nocaff, and a few more chapters.

I put the blackout screen on the window, so hopefully I won't be wide awake at 4.30 am, now its spring…