Cherry Blossom

Our annual cuppa with Mark this morning. Mark lives in New York and has recently retired from the UN. When he was in his teens he travelled to Ireland, fell inn love with the place and built a house! He comes every year for a recharge. His sister is the friend of a friend of my brother.

After a chilly start, the weather warmed up, the skies were blue and I've spent most of the day in the garden. The last bits of the old tree have been removed, runner beans put outside, a path cleared and carrots sown. The ornamental cherry is in full bloom and looking very fine. No sign of the ducklings though.

It's Birdwatch Ireland survey time again. This involves getting up before sparrowfart, travelling for an hour, wandering across mountains and over lakes. The forecast for tomorrow at 5am (urghhh) is not looking brilliant. It may be postponed.

A final thought- have you read about the young men who were refused to allow to stay in Saudi Arabia because they were too handsome? The religious police (?) thought women would: lose their minds, tear their clothing off and throw themselves at their feet. My initial reaction was to laugh mightily, but the connotations are highly sinister, dangerously barking. How one earth does a society arrive at that thought?