A Taste of Summer

After leaving the brutal heat and white-hot, late summer, skies of Western Australia behind we flew back into the tail end of a rather cold, wet, miserable and prolonged winter in the UK. During our brief absence, we had missed two(!) snowstorms in Bristol, dropped by the weather system known as "the beast from the east" (no, not Putin, but, the cold winter winds from Siberia and environs) and there were still a few leftover dirty snowdrifts about, piled up in shaded corners. A couple of weeks went by with no change in the weather until, all of a sudden this week we have not spring, but, an early taste of summer. Today, it is the hottest April day in about seventy years. It felt and looked amazing, a clear, brilliant blue sky with a soft, warm wind that wafted a hot air balloon right by our windows.

By lunchtime, masses of office workers and students were lounging on newly green lawns by the river, enjoying the warmth underneath budding leaves and blossoms.  Everybody seemed to have a smile on their face.

Of course, it won't last, but, we're trying to make the most of it. We went for a walk into Leigh Woods, a renowned bluebell spotting locale. They were all there, but, they'll still need a week or so to fully bloom. We had to make do with other spring displays.