April 15

Wow! spring is arriving, the leaves are emerging, and I am about to start serious boating again.

I’ve spent the last month concentrating on ringing: sounds goofy to those who haven’t experienced the challenges of change ringing bells, but I have enjoyed both the challenges of ringing itself, and the friendship of those who I have got to know along the way. The process I’ve gone thorough involves learning ‘methods’ (the name for a specific pattern of changing the order of ringing the bells). I’m still beginning, but I am making progress. I rang the Bob Doubles method, with an ‘inside bell’, mostly without too much prompting, on Monday, and Tuesday, rang a ‘quarter peal’ which is 1060 changes in a row, without stopping, to the same ‘Bob Doubles’ method, ringing the treble or smallest bell. In bell ringing, that is a little like running a quarter marathon: 48 minutes of ringing without pause or break. It was successful (I didn’t crash and burn!), and thanks to my friends and supporters, especially Sally, Geoff, Carole and Peter, as well as Brian and Margaret.

It is spring, and the lambs are frisky in the field next to my current mooring.

spring is really here!