Signs of Life

I'm glad Spring seems to be making an appearance. I feel we've all been waiting an exponentially long time for it to show up. But still, better late than never. Winter has been so punishing - probably because it's been the first winter I've spent in Pembrokeshire for three years. One season seems to have consumed about nine months, time seems to have slowed and turned to stalactites, not budging an inch.

But now there is a hint of something really lovely in the air. Today was bright and fresh and warm in the sun (but bloody Baltic everywhere else), the sky was blue and there were people, yes people, around. Real life human beings, also out doing things in the world. The deafening silence of Tenby seemed so far away - it's unusual to find much more than an 80 year old, pissing through the gap in the bar stool  in a pub here, let alone anyone wandering the outdoors.

My Manfriend and I went to Bosherston Lily Ponds today, partly to celebrate me finally being able to drive again and partly to get out of our surrounding area. The walk to Broadhaven was lively and serene at the same time. The calm, clear water of the lily ponds contrasting with children running along the narrow, root-ingrained, paths.

Just one day of sunlight has cheered me up endlessly. It's the kind of weather that makes you realise you were sad before, but you never even noticed. It makes you realise you've become so accustomed to the lingering unsettledness  in your life that you've started to regard it as normality.

Today made me think of the months to come, the warming up period before the Summer, the few cheeky sunbathing days in March and April and the words "bikini body" slowly seeping into women's conciousness across the country. The Spring/Summer collections will be nudging their way into high street shops.

Spring is the beginning of so many things: the daffodil, the lambs, the storing away of the ugg boots, low carb diets, long walks on the beach, bikini shopping ( it takes at least three months to decide on the bikini that I will wear for the entire Summer), pedicures, spring cleaning, bikini waxes, summer wetsuits and mid year makeovers.

I personally cannot wait for there to be daylight for more than eight hours a day, to not have to store a big fluffy jumper in the office for when I first get in, to wear sunglasses and ditch the bulky coats. It makes me feel positive and happy and grateful. It makes me remember that there are good times to come, with really good people.

In the last year I've lost contact with two really important people in my life, and no amount of sunshine will make that pain subside, but it will serve as a reminder of all the amazing people I still have around me, covering me in love and kindness and trust. I am a very lucky girl indeed.

Bring on the Summer sun!