When it's spring again

Every year at about this time we visit Clyne Gardens. They're only a very short walk away but most of the year, while walking Harvey, we've kept to Clyne woods. He's been able to run freely there, whereas the gardens tend to be full of elderly ladies and gents who don't always look kindly on being knocked down by hairy slobbery big dogs.

But during May Clyne Gardens is 'in bloom'. It's renowned for its collection of rhododendrons and azaleas that blossom about now, so this afternoon we set off for our annual pilgrimage, but, sadly, without Harvey. He's no longer able to manage more than a gentle meander round the field; a march up the hill followed by another hill would have finished him off completely so we left him to sleep at home and dream of chasing rabbits.

It wasn't the same without him. At every step it was, 'Harvey would love this', or 'Harvey always did that', or 'do you remember when Harvey ...?' etc.

A lot of the bushes had already passed their best but, with a brass band playing in the park beyond the trees, Husband and I did enjoy a quick quickstep below the rhodies when no-one was looking.