The Lune between Whittington and Kirkby Lonsdale

Many, many years ago, I had a client who had a theory about people's buying patterns, for which he had developed an algorithm utilising four meteorological factors. We developed a system for him such that he could enter the outcome of this secret calculation and thus predict people's buying patterns.

I can't honestly say whether it worked, although the examples he used were compelling enough. Three things I do know about him, though: he was a climate change denier; his arrogant approach to business meant that even though supermarkets were intrigued, none would agree to his terms; and, as far as I can recall, he's the only bad debt we ever had.

There was one aspect of his work that did stay with me, though, and that was his somewhat opaque theory regarding the effect that the spring and autumn equinoxes have on human beings. Over the years, I've noticed a couple of things that might be related. Firstly, if I ever attempt a post-Christmas or New Year diet, it's hard going and rarely effective before the end of March. And secondly, I really get back into my running after the equinox.

Of course, applying Occam's Razor, a simpler explanation might well be that it's simply down to the improving weather; I'm sure it's a natural instinct to eat more when it's cold, and who wouldn't want to get out for a run on a day like today?

It's been a long time since I've done this run, which goes from Kirkby Lonsdale, up through Low Biggins, and down Hosticle Lane to Whittington, and then through some fields across to the Lune, at which point you turn north and run back up along by the river. You can see from my photo just how beautiful it was looking, this evening.