Spring washes in .....

Winter goodbye. Hello spring!

Unfortunately, it comes not with sun and new born lambs in the fields rather St Swithens seems to have arrived early as we sit sheltering from seeming constant rain.

Beyond this? The town starts to awake, traffic enforcement re-establishes after the annual hibernation of the single yellow lines that restrict parking to once more provide the backdrop to summers game of musical cars as too many day trippers show their (lack of) understanding of opportunity cost as they spend the first hour of their day by the sea expending the parking meter value of fuel and adding carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane to global warming , directly if ICE powered, via the national grid if an EV, as they circle round the town chasing their place within the limited supply of free parking the town offers up to visitors.

But all is not gloom and as if on key to the script Saturday sees the rain stop, clouds’ part, sun appear, and temperature rise to deliver huge relief to the traders who have set their stall for the annual food fair. Raincoats disappear, replaced by shorts and sunglasses, and the crowds grow. The stalls enjoy roaring trade, as do the hotels, bars and restaurants – the day ends a victory for all. Trippers head home happy and laden with their artisan pies, gin and trinkets, traders count their treasure, and the gulls retire to the roof tops to digest their stolen titbits and scavenged fish.

Next day, the rain revisits but the die is cast. Shops have again extend their opening hours, the sea front rides uncloaked and all has come to life as day tripping families once more brave the vagaries of the weather and outnumber dog walkers on the beach, fill the parks and que to buy their ritual fish & chips which by each days end will provide once more an adequate supply of fried fish for the seagulls to catch and feast on.

Spring has arrived, sunny days will again appear with increasing frequency and all now hope that the sun reclaims its rule of the sky from the rain as each passing day advances the calendar towards the longer, warmer and we hope drier, days of summer