Spring is Nature’s way of saying “Let’s Party!!!”

I am not a winter person.  My struggles with this begin every year, from the end of November to around the beginning of March.  First there is the dark.  I’m not a fan of the dark.  November brings the dark.  It is dark in the morning when you get up and it is dark in the evening when you get home.  Even during what is supposed to be daylight, it’s dark.

Then there is the cold.  I don’t cope well with the cold.  If I’m truthful, I’m horrible when I’m cold.  This year it has been even worse, what with the cost of fuel and energy becoming ridiculous.  I’ve been huddled in a blanket for months, whilst the heating has had to be endlessly rationed.  Whilst we have been turning down the thermostat, we have also been re-discovering the joys of hot water bottles and fluffy socks.  I’ve been permanently wrapped up in a shawl.  Yes, a shawl.  I’ve resembled something out of a Charlotte Bronte novel.

And of course, there is the weather.  Cold, wet and dark.  Or icy.  With snow.  Or worse gales.  We’ve spent a lot of time in recent years holding our fence up.  On occasion, it’s all weather conditions at once and then some clever person at the Met Office goes and gives it a name.  Last year we had Storm Eunice which brought with it wind speeds of up to 122 mph.  I feel for every single Eunice out there, who must have felt complete outrage at the idea that they were akin to a travelling storm.

I find the lack of sun and the lack of warmth arduous.  It feels never ending.  The days are long and the nights are even longer.

I’m sure that there are some great things about the winter (I do promise that in the future I will research this and, for the purposes of balance, publish every wonderful thing about winter) but I find it difficult to find them.  Obviously, there is Christmas.  I do love the sparkly lights.  However, the best day of winter is still 21^st December, when we have the shortest day and I know the nights are starting to draw out once again.

Spring slowly starts to come with the Snowdrops beginning to show.  Then the Crocus begin to arrive.  Bright spots of colour on what are endlessly dreary, cold, grey days.  Sometimes there is even a glimpse of the sun.  With the arrival of March, I always breathe a sigh of relief as I know the end is in sight.

To celebrate the arrival of Spring, I thought it would be good to write about the five best things that this season brings with it – and here they are:

1. Daylight

Suddenly, we have more hours in our day!  Now I do know that we don’t; it’s twenty-four and that is the limit, Spring or Winter.  It feels as if we do though because suddenly the light comes back.  It is no longer dark in the morning when you trudge out of the house and no longer dark when you trudge back in.  You can spend more time outside and a lot more time indoors without the electricity bill costing you a fortune because you can see without turning on the lights.

2. More Sunshine = warmth and Vitamin D

It is a fact that more sunshine or at least more natural light is good for you.  Plus, you get a boost of Vitamin D that makes you feel better.  It helps your bones, your muscles, makes you feel less fatigued, improves your immune system.  The sunshine (though be careful and don’t get burnt) makes your body produce it.  Even without it, I find that having that little bit of sun and warmth just makes me want to smile and makes even the most miserable of jobs to be done that little bit easier.

3. Trees and Flowers

Show me trees that are coming back into leaf and Snowdrops arriving and I am very easily pleased.  Spring brings new growth and new life and it is great to see after months of grey days and shrubs and grass that looks half dead.  You begin to feel that maybe there are new possibilities out there and that it is a new time to start again.

4. Time to go out

I barely go out in the winter.  If I do, I am wrapped up in about ten layers.  Needing somewhere to put your coat (and your hat, scarf, gloves, your three jumpers and your two pairs of socks) becomes something of a chore when you just want to nip out to a restaurant or the cinema.  This year of course I have also become far too attached to my shawl to go anywhere.  With more daylight, more warmth and weather that doesn’t threaten to freeze you or blow you away, going out to do things becomes more tempting.

5. Food

Now I realise that we are not in a great place in terms of food prices and the importation of food into the UK now.  I can also say that, no matter what government ministers say about the situation, I shall not be subbing any of my veg for a turnip or two.  Please do not call me out for being nasty to turnips. I have nothing against them, they just aren’t for me.  

Traditionally, Spring is a time when what we have available to us to eat should improve and we can either buy more fresh food (fingers crossed) or learn about the joys of growing your own.  Getting into the garden (or planting up your window box) is truly joyful thing that you can do.  I still find it fascinating to watch little seeds grow into amazing plants.  I find them even more amazing if they can produce something for us to eat and reduce our shopping bills.

So there you go.  I am sure that there are many more reasons to love the Spring but those are my best ones.  Of course, the real reason to love the Spring is because it gives you the knowledge that the Summer isn’t far behind it.

Want to listen to our podcast? Find our Spring Season here