Spring?

Signs of spring

Well, it's spring, and for once the sun was shining, and I didn't have anything too big to carry, so at last I was able to get on my bike again and nip into Maryport for some stuff. Lovely it was, to be cycling in the fresh air again, with a blue sky and the smell of blossom and grass on the wind. (... and diesel fumes, but we'll not get into that . . .) Coming back up the hill was harder, as I'm out of condition, but I resolved to be brave and keep pedalling, as the more you do, the easier it gets. Eventually. It was fine until I stopped and tried to stand up.

Somehow I seem to have pulled a muscle in my back, while cycling up the brae. 'Snot fair! I was feeling all good and energetic and keen to get fit again, and now I'm creeping about like a bent thing, unable to stand up straight.

With the help of good old paracetamol I was able to get to the Piping Hot practice, but felt somewhat woozy because of the medication. It's amazing how one can carry on playing music one knows really well, even when one is somewhat away with the fairies.

Coming home, approaching the turn-off to our driveway, I had to slow down as I spotted two cats charging across the main road, a small one in pursuit of a slightly larger one. "Hang on," says I. "That small one looks familiar." Even in the darkness, Aineko is quite recognisable. Apparently she was seeing off some feline interloper who had dared to enter her territory. Well, fine, but please Aineko, don't run across the main road without the green cross code!