Well it seems that we have seen the last of winter. The weather in York was decidedly mild throughout February and the snowdrops and crocuses are out. These for me are always a portent of spring and indeed the yellow of the first daffodils are already brightening up the old moat around the city walls.
Elaine and I spent the first few days of the week in London. We had been given a London Theatre voucher for Christmas and since our daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter were in Austria we took the opportunity of using their flat in Wimbledon as a base. As they say in the classics "whilst the children are away the parents will play". Monday morning was spent at Kew Gardens and we relished the opportunity to walk the gardens and enjoy the sunshine and the first of the season's flowers.
On Monday night we went to see THE SEA which starred Eileen Atkins (recently in the BBC's adaption Cranford with Judy Dench) and David Haig (Inspector Grimm in The Thin Blue Line). Sadly these two great thespians failed to lift what was a rather bizarre play.
We also had the opportunity to finally go on the London Eye which we enjoyed but concluded that the York Wheel at the National Railway Museum was better value for money.
We came back via Rochester and Chatham. The former reminded us of Simonstown in the Western Cape of South Africa. This is not altogether surprising as Simonstown was for many years the Royal Naval base in Southern Africa (it even boasts a pub called Nelson's Eye).
After leaving Kent we traveled to Bedford to pick up some homemade marmalade. For those who have yet to visit us this is not as strange as it seems. For the first few years after purchasing Feversham Lodge we bought our marmalade from the Coxwold Tea Rooms in Coxwold. However about seven months ago, and unbeknown to us, Mervyn and Margaret sold the place. The new owners seemed unsure as to where they were now based and could only tell us they had moved down south.
However, Elaine is not for nothing the daughter of an officer who served in Military Intelligence during the war and after some detective work she found they were now based in Bedford. A phone call later and we had placed our order and we are pleased to inform one and all that we are again serving Mervyn's Masterful Marmalade at breakfast.

Now for our update of forthcoming York events.

1st/14th March: York Literature Festival. www.readwriteyork.co.uk
7/16th March: York Festival of Science and Technology. www.sciencecityyork.org.uk
8/9th March: Fair Trade Festival with York Samba Band. Parliament Square.
9th March: Open cab access to the locos' at the National Railway Museum.
15th March: How did they do it? Building York Minster. Includes a visit to the rarely seen Masons Loft and Chapter House roof. Free but advance booking essential. Tel 01904 557224
15th March - 20th April. Easter Chocolate Trail (includes ghost cellar tours) Treasurer's House. 01904 624247
22nd to 24th March; York Model Railway Show: Knavemire Stand, York Racecourse. www.yorkshow.freeserve.co.uk
20th and 27th March Live Music Black Swan Inn, Peasholme Green
York Theatre Royal. St Leonard's Place www.yorktheateroyal.co.uk
Grand Opera House. Cumberland Street. www.grandoperahouseyork.org.uk

Until next month, ciao.