Hay-fever and health.

It’s been hot so I’ve got the back door open. But it’s dry and breezy and now my nose and eyes are streaming. I think I’ve let a lot of pollen in.

I’ve also just had the shingles vaccination this afternoon. I’ve had shingles in the past, and it’s not a nice illness to get. I was warned the injection might cause pain in my arm, and it has! It’s a real deep aching sharp pain! It may also cause flu like symptoms. Consequently I’m feeling very tired, achy, and not much like walking the short distance to shut the door!

Wish me luck. I am in no danger, just being a wuss!

We need rain….

Rain clouds

What I suspected is true. Parts of the United Kingdom have had their driest March   in 60 years. I even went out and watered my plant pots today as my daffodils are starting to wilt.

My Cherry and Pear trees still have tightly furled buds and are not showing any sign of opening, their blossoms held in stasis until the rain swells the plant cells to make them pop open.

March is usually wet and windy for at least part of the month. But not this year, the clouds lifted and blue skies sparkled. I guess the farmers are starting to panic now. It was so warm today I left my coat off and wore a tee shirt.

No rain for a month

At Etruria festival yesterday, bring your own cloud!

See cloud man fly

As he floats by..

Oh my word! It’s been so dry,

There’s been no rain, I wonder why?

The clouds do roll across the sky

But squeeze them, they stay dry.

Most of May it wasn’t wet

Or if it was then I forget…

From sun-up to sunset!

High pressure domed

Across us roamed

Mild dry air

No rain to spare.

Just high uv

Sunburn you see

So let it rain

And rain again!

Buds required

Come on rain, its been the driest February for years. The trees and bushes need a good sprinkling of rain. I can see tiny buds on our willow tree but they aren’t opening. The branches and twigs are bare. We may get some snow this week. But I didn’t know that ten centimetres of snow is equivalent to one centimetre of rain? That’s because fallen snow is mainly made up of air (think of how snow flakes are crystals that branch and leave gaps and air pockets). Let it rain, for a while, water the trees, please!