With Easter falling towards the beginning of this month, the month began with a hefty amount of baking. I tried again to make a traditional Greek Easter loaf which involves plaiting strands of dough. It was a little more successful than a previous attempt, but not by much. The pretty boiled eggs placed within it looked great though. Then there was the annual baking of Hot Cross Buns. Just bread, sugar, and currants…slathered with butter.
A walk down the Lane delighted with some early bluebells and early signs of late summer with Lords and Ladies beginning to unfurl. Countless birds flew in and out of the trees, following our progress.
Strangely, now that I am really semi-retired, the things I was looking forward to, do not seem so important now and I am beginning to relish a growing sense of freedom. Freedom to write more stories, visit friends and enjoy outings and walks. I thought I would have a clean and tidy house once I retired but there is always something cropping up although we are decluttering slowly now that we have downsized. I still like having a job, a paid job, as I feel valued, and it keeps me in touch with everyday life. I enjoy the random contacts with people and ad hoc things that happen when you have to go out and about. Also, helping people with maths and English, particularly maths, is rewarding. I am also busy with the monthly radio pods and occasional talks.
I am also back to being more involved with the Norman Lockyer Observatory which I love. It seems almost inevitable that I begin my journey to becoming a director with the still needed improvements to communications high on the agenda. I am organising a group visit to Exeter library to view the Lady Lockyer bequest which Jez introduced to me on a tour of the Stack.
Swallows were sighted during the last week of the month, signalling that summer is on the way. A sea swim ended the month. I was hoping to have one on 1st April, but it was much too cold. Today, the last day of the month, the conditions were ideal – high humidity, tide just in, air temperature above 12 degrees. It was lush! The water was not as cold as I had imagined. A super end to the month!
Karen Hedges 