Nearly a week of grey skies, cold winds and rain has not been conducive to daily cycle rides – we poked our noses out a few times and thought better of it – however, in spite of the poor weather, and whilst we were feeling miserable and cosseting ourselves inside, Mother Nature continued her work in the hedgerows.

Encouraged by some large gaps in the clouds this morning, Chris and I took to our bikes. In the intervening days since last we were on our local bridle path a transformation has taken place; the formerly plain, green heads on the plentiful cow parsley, lining the cliff path all the way down to the sea, have blossomed into frothy bundles of tiny white flowers; they are the perfect backdrop to the pretty pink campion flowers that, seemingly, have stretched upwards, with great will, before blooming, in order that they may look their best against a background of white and blue (and grey).

Incidentally, the skies have clouded over again… Bloomin’ English weather!