Last week was definitely a week of firsts! We saw the first swallows and martins on Tuesday – Mel actually saw them arrive this year as she was barrowing compost up to the veg plot. Then on Friday we heard the first cuckoo calling and in the evening we spotted the first bats out of hibernation here. All very exciting, and combined with the sunny weather we’ve had this last week, it seems, after all the false starts, Spring is here! The trees are starting to show the first faint haze of colour as buds start to open.
Today is sunny and glorious – there are cabbage white and peacock butterflies enjoying the light warm breezes, the (big, fat!) bumble bees and honey bees are out investigating the flower beds and the air is alive with the sounds of birds – buzzards’ cries high above, the chatter of sparrows and the distinctive sounds of the swallows’ call, the soft voices of the pigeons, the alarm call of pheasants….
The silent retreat we have here this week with Burgs (www.theartofmeditation.org) has just broken silence and people are enjoying talking and sharing experiences out on the lawn in the sunshine.
Steve has spent the week weeding and catching up a bit outside and Gail has at last been able to plant the potatoes. The courgette, squash and pumpkin seedlings are starting to show and last week Mel planted rainbow and swiss chard and spinach, as well as starting 
to prepare the bed for the carrots. It feels like we can steam ahead a bit now!
Steve and Dave have also finished shaping the new area by the fountain ready for re-planting – more of that to come in a little while!
We shall say goodbye to our meditators tomorrow morning and then get on with readying the house for Richard and Marigold Farmer’s group (www.soulmoves.co.uk) arriving on Friday. Hopefully this lovely weather will continue so they can do some of their work outside over next weekend.
Anyway, that’s all from us right now. We hope you’re having a little Spring sunshine where you are and enjoying the feeling of everything enlivening around us.
More soon!
Mel & Steve,
Poulstone Court Retreat Centre
