We are still in the City locked-up but it looks like we can return to the seaside in two weeks’ time just as the season turns into the Spring. The clocks have changed so the days are now longer and the storms have died down, mostly, so it is warmer. The garden will be shooting up ready for our return and there is a collection of salt hardy plants waiting to go to their new home. Our local friend has sent pictures to remind us of the beach walks that we have been missing:

Welcome to the followers from the Nineteenth Century groups of scholars and associates – my book set in London in 1880 will be ready for you in the late summer hopefully. In the meantime, you might be interested in this picture of our village nestled in the cliff side overlooking the bay where dolphins come for a fishy tea now and then. The hotel (now closed for redevelopment) is from the late 1800s and it was brought here from its original site a few miles away at the turn of the 20th century and rebuilt brick by brick in what was then a tiny fishing village. You have to admire the Victorians – they thought big, and they included an impressive stained glass window overlooking the grand staircase.

Easter is upon us and I’ve been saving my last few Tunnock’s bars to eat on the beach in celebration of our return. It has been a great challenge not to wolf them while we wait.

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Happy Easter to you all and come back next time for views of the spring garden by the sea . . .