Almost 30 years ago I was living in Canada in Northern Alberta. As you can guess, winters were long and hard, but very enjoyable. However, after far too much snow and ice and regular temps of anything between minus 10c to minus 40c, and suffering from cabin fever, spring was very eagerly anticipated. The first sign that winter really was on the way out was the arrival of the geese…thousands and thousands of them, honking their way high above as they made their migration from the south. It was a sight and sound that really did fill the heart with joy and was a spectacle to behold. I was reminded of that this morning as we took our (frosty) early morning walk when an ever increasing noise came to my ears. To my absolute delight I saw a skein of cranes migrating north-eastwards to their nesting grounds in Northern Europe. Their distinctive honking cries, which sound like badly-oiled cart-wheels are a constant as they communicate with each other.

The frosty mornings soon give way to beautiful clear and cloudless days with the sun gradually having a touch of warmth in it. Roll on spring.

A bientot!