I have returned a little more bronzed and definately more refreshed to cope with what the rest of February has to throw at us.

At least I have returned to the England cricket team making a better fist of it. Our batsmen have remembered how to bat. Congratulations to Alastair Cook on back to back hundreds, very impressive. The bowlers have been magnificent throughout the tour and the selectors have plenty to choose from. And they can throw a bat for the most part too, unlike the Pakistanis.

The mornings and evenings are getting lighter at last and no longer do I have to get up in the dark. Hurrah. In the meantime perhaps I might get a visitor to brighten up the other end of the day….

It is hard to believe that Autumn will be over in two short weeks and we will be officially in Winter. The delight of having dispensed with jumpers this week and being back in just a T shirt down the stables cannot be under-estimated. I just hope that the next few months will also be mild, I am not one for the cold!

I have an upcoming fancy dress party at the end of the month and am wondering what to wear. One of my special admirers has bought me a see-through lace dress reminiscent of the Cher video, and a long dark wig. As it is my friend’s works do he was very vocal on saying no to that option, but fancied a private viewing none the less. I wonder what I will dress up as…..

I realise that it has been unseasonably warm just of late but it is really apparent when it gets to the evening.  It is so depressing when the nights are drawing in and it is only a few short days away until the clocks go back to.

I have recently moved home and my new house is in a delightful, secluded leafy, (currently), lane.  It is really pleasant to sit in my conservatory and enjoy the quiet pleasure of looking at the different coloured leaves, but it won’t be long until they are all gone. The tan has almost gone and I need a holiday to top it up.

The horses are now in their winter jim jams at night, but blessedly the mud has not made an appearance yet.  I much prefer to be curled up in my home, all snuggly and warm, preferably with some company…… I have a new wood burning stove in my living room so I expect some cosy and hyponotic evenings in front of the fire.

Sky sports subscription to be updated as England hopefully continue their march  on the Sub-continent tomorrow.  The defeat against the Windies does not count as almost none of our good players were in it. Good luck to our cricketers!

A welcome return to Broad and Bresnan, it must be a hard (but happy), job to be an England selector at the moment. I wonder how many days the next test at the Oval will last.

In the meantime I am off for a mini break, (hopefully with benefits), to Bristol and Bath this Wednesday and Thursday.  It will be nice to catch up for old friends and maybe make some new ones……

Makes a change to be able to sunbathe, (naked – no tan marks!), until late in the evening in Britain, let alone April.

I have enjoyed many country walks in the blue bell strewn Kentish countryside. How lucky we are to have such diverse landscapes to explore.

Must try and stay away from Easter eggs. Supermarkets may say they are half prices, but they are half the size.

Have a great Bank holiday. You know where to come if you get bored….