Blackthorn

Grey, miled and windy but not the lashing rain forecast. The blackthorn is blooming brightly though, its flowers arriving before the leaves. Shillelaghs are traditionally made from blackthorn wood and of course the fruit, the sloes, are used in gin and poteen It's also a faery tree, inhabited by the Lunantisidhe, not very friendly types.They only leave the tree on the full Moon so that's the best time to gather wood or sloes - but still be careful!  Here's a very short film a year in its life.

Jerome, the cat, should have gone for his dental clean this morning but there has been no sign of him all day. Either he is being exceptionally canny or it's not looking good. He's not known for his exceptional canniness so I fear the latter. I can't think where he can be and have searched everywhere. He has a slot booked in for tomorrow morning but next week is bargain spaying week and the vet apparently has 100 cats arriving so didn't want another! She must be exaggerating surely.

And the packing has started!