The Relief of Spring

In the past, winter has always been my season - (well perhaps autumn and winter). But recently winter climbing opportunities have become so squeezed and fleeting that they feel like isolated moments rather than anything with momentum or weight. This winter I managed six routes with one of them a real standout - Centurion on the Ben. Almost as many days were spent walking in, in horizontal rain and North Wales didn't have a single proper winter day. I also had to cancel my Norwegian trip through lack of cash. So when the days began to lengthen and the garden began to wake up I felt the natural relief of Spring much more strongly than I have for years.

One of the joys of gardening is that you never quite know what is going to pop up each year from all your hard work, so this year has been a real joy to see some sections of the garden really taking off. Couple that with a little bit of climbing fitness sneaking out and that this month I've managed to nurse my knee through three weeks of marathon training after a similar time off means that I'm in that glorious Spring state of mind where the summer feels like an exciting world of possibilities. We'll see how long that lasts!