It is beautiful outside today - the sun is shining, the air is warm and it seems as if everywhere I look the blossom is exploding in riotous colour - magnolia, cherry, camellia - the trees are bursting with new life and I can almost hear them singing 'hallelujah' to the Lord who brought light out of darkness, life out of death.

Should have been teaching the regular weekly classes today - seems an age since we were together - this cough/cold/whatever it is has taken its toll and yet another week goes by with me feeling rather poorly.