MIXED MESSAGES...

...Or, I think I know what you mean.

Q: What two things will guarantee dark skies and rain storms?
A:  Me hanging out my washing and/or deciding to write a post related to sunshine and warm days.

So I am abandoning my intended post about warmness and brightness and general sun-ness and will instead share something from this (early) morning's walk with M'Faithful Hound.

It was not raining and The Dog was in fairly fine fettle - having just finished a course of steroids to deal with her IMPA  -  see The Dog (Don't Break It).  (Which reminds me, I really must update Witch's story). (Enough with the brackets).

NOT THE MOST SUCCESSFUL WALK EVER...

I have lived in Ruralish-shire for longer than I've lived anywhere else.

Unless you count the 6 months I spent as a Redcoat at Butlin's Bognor Regis (oh the heights to which I've climbed...) I have actually only ever lived in two places.  Here in Ruralish-shire, and also the town where I was born and grew up - Romford. 
This, my friends, is variously described as being in Greater London, Essex or, more baffling (to me at least), the East End of London.  I give you this information to highlight the fact that I am basically a Townie.

You might think that 24 years spent in the countryside would bring out the Wood Sprite in me, but no.  I'm still bothered being in a field I can see no end to - and absolutely terrified of livestock.  (And I include bugs, insects and some plants in that category).

All this may go some way to explain the following...