We have gone from loads of snow to the harbingers of spring in the last month. The bank under the old sycamore tree is looking splendid. David fed and watered the lawn in the autumn and we have a fantastic show of bulbs which, after the drabness left by the melted snow is a great uplifter. They seem to prefer to be under the trees. Perhaps the bulbs dry out in the summer. The squirrels spread them round the garden and they come out in other unlikely places as well. They had been thin on the ground but must have been semi dormant as recently they have tried to climb the bird feeder, to no avail and it is quite comical to see them sliding down the slippery post looking a but bemused.

We are midway through sorting out the garden. We don't like to remove anything that the birds might like and David has made a birdfeeder which has been up since Christmas we have been rewarded by 2 pairs of nuthatches and at one time 8 varying tits - coal, great, long tailed, blue all on the feeder at once with sparrows underneath and being seen off by the blackbird and robins. They love the nuts and have seed and fruit as well. One of our tennants - Kevin and Sam are very knowledgeable and have seen a huge assortment of different birds around this winter. They keep us posted on what we are seeing and what they have seen around the grounds which makes it all more interesting. Green woodpeckers nesting in one of the sycamore - one to watch.

The archeologicals have been working away all winter fidning many building under the site and it would be very interesting to have a dig and ascertain just what age buildings are where. Apparently English Heritage are not keen as they want to leave it for future generations why seems very odd as it can always be covered up and it would be fascinating to find out exactly what Gatcombe once was.

We have had several bookings already for the summer which seemed quite a long way off but now seems to be rushing towards us and as usual the garden is getting frantic. We are also doing fencing as I have been mad enough to buy a horse. Rather unintentionally but he is just what I like so 'rescued' him from a dealer up North who had rather too many eating their heads off just after the snow and hadn't been able to sell any for a couple of months. David and I had a couple of nights away, decided to look at a horse in Yorkshire for a local child/project for me. The first was near Hornsea. Never been there before and it was a beautiful winter day beside the sea. Just too much project it was a bit frightened of its owner and anxious about back and head. I'm sure someone will have the time for her. We stayed in a couple of good pubs. One near Holmes Chapel, The Dog (sadly changed from the Gay Dog (for obvious reasons) which is a much more fun name, where Georgie was allowed in the blue carpet areas and soon made herself at home by the fire. Also at the Dun Cow at Colton near Stafford which is being run by a very nice young couple not as yet in the good pub guide we thought it should be as we were very well looked after and the beer and food were good too! Then on to Manchester where I went to see a coloured sportshorse and bought a thoroughbred. He passed the vet with flying colours and a week later a friend and I got up at 4.30am and went and fetched him. Never in a trailer before he was anxious but hopeful (as were we). We were very delighted to have stationary traffic always in the opposite direction and made it back in less than 9 hours. He as yet hasn't a permanent name his only marking a heart shaped star on his face so still thinking.