Sorry to hear about all that has been happening to you, Becca. Like you and Giok, I am also seeing this Spring as the turning of the page into a whole new chapter, and looking forward to it very much.

The past several years had been marked by concerns over family and bereavement and its aftermath, and for a very long time my motto has been "These things will pass." Everything started to turn when I moved into a lovely little house last Autumn. Now my daughter, who's just turned 18 has been offered out-of-the-blue a great chance to train and work in London, and has very suddenly flown the nest. She hadn't been planning to do this for another year or so, so it came as rather a shock - but the good thing is that it didn't give me time to worry about it !

So, yes, Carpe Diem it is, Giok. I've just been acting in a play that initiated me into Morris Dancing - and I enjoyed it so much, I intend to join a mixed morris side (none of that namby pamby ladies' clog dancing for me - I want staves, hankies and bells !) Through that play, I've also met some lovely new friends and been introduced to a theatre group who perform open-air Shakespeare, and looking forward very much to that. I have a list as long as your arm of folk clubs to visit, and have started learning some new songs. I don't think I've felt so excited about life since I was 17. (It's been a long wait...)

Good luck to everyone in their Spring endeavours,
- jeanie