Today is the first day of spring and also St David’s Day - always nostalgic for me, having been brought up in Wales. It’s also my brother, David’s birthday. He underwent major heart surgery in January which was a bit of a shock but he is now recovering well.

It may still be February but the first signs of spring are already starting to appear in our garden - tiny snowdrops, brightly coloured crocuses and cheerful yellow daffodils - my favourite flowers (it’s a Welsh thing). The birds sound more optimistic and temperatures are slowly rising. The days are gradually getting longer as we anticipate the end of what seems to have been quite a long winter.