Sunshine at last

March 5, 2026

Sunshine and better weather always gives me a chance to take some exercise on my bicycle. No, there won’t be any photographs of me on my velocipede. After last time I don’t want anyone to do him or herself damage by laughing too hard.

However, to continue as I cycle round the lanes, I am aware of flowers coming to life again and just so many of them seem to be yellow in colour. Perhaps they are the only ones to catch the sunshine – nevertheless they are delightful. So brandishing my Sony RX100 – about the only camera I can carry in my hand when riding along – I found myself stopping/falling off each time there was a clump of brightly coloured yellow(ish) flowers.

Now primroses were easy to spot. At this time of year they seem to be everywhere – just like daffodils, but there seems to be little point in leaving out the obvious when they are so prolific and so beautiful.

Gorse also seems to line some of the country roads along which I pass. It looks very striking – a very definite yellow, but it is such an unfriendly plant. It never allows me to prop my bike up anywhere in the vicinity and even those leaves are just so thorny. I remember some people collecting bits off the gorse bushes in order to dye boiled eggs. (why not just buy brown eggs!?). One of the old village customs I remember.

This week I saw my first dandelion. It’s not that I search longingly for them, but the fact that they are beginning to appear must mean that winter is on the way out, and they, no doubt will be on the way in to our lawn.

Welcome to the crocuses and or course the primulas- there ‘s another educational bit – I thought crocuses were either white or purple, but I managed to find these.

There were several others – but you’re already impressed that I can find so many yellow things. No point in blinding anyone with science – you probably want to get away and do useful work instead of toiling through my ramblings. Don’t over-do it, just relax this weekend.