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Spring Things, Scary Sea Creatures & a Crocodile Called Philip

I don’t understand time. How can February be approximately 927 days long…

I don’t understand time. How can February be approximately 927 days long, and March be a third over already? How does that work?

I mean, I’m not complaining. I don’t want another long, cold month, no matter how pretty the running was. I’m very much looking forward to some more daylight and a bit of warm weather. Well, warmer. Let’s not get carried away. I’m still in Yorkshire.

So I’m quite happy for it to be March, although things are … odd. Everything still feels strange and confusing and worrying, as we watch the muddle of good news and bad – vaccinations going up, but new variations arriving. Plans for things to open up again, for life to take on some semblance of what we knew, but everything about that wreathed in questions. We wonder what’s going to happen as things start to open up. Wonder if there’ll be another lockdown. Wonder if we’ll be able to travel, if we might finally get to see the people we miss. Wonder how much we can hope for and trust in for the rest of the year.

english summer yorkshire lockdown spring

Eh. Accurate.

So, yes, things are still weird. But, looking away from the big picture, looking back to our small things of disproportionate importance, there’s so much to be delighted by, too. Here are a few little things that seem so big right now:

The sun’s coming up earlier and going down later. The light’s losing that constant almost-sunset shade that it carries in the coldest months, and when I get up it’s already bright enough to run. Which, yay, but also I don’t get to have a cuppa before I run now. So this is kind of mixed, I guess?

The snowdrops and crocuses are out already, and the daffodils won’t be far behind. There are also lots of other things sticking green shoots out everywhere, but I don’t know what they are, so we’ll just say the plants are doing things. Happy plants!

Lambs. Little lambs out when I’m running, proinking about the place adorably. Of course, I also feel bad for them because it’s still really cold, but they are cute.

We’re close enough to Easter that I feel I can legitimately buy hot cross buns. Hot cross buns, people. Glorious. (And yes, I know you can buy them pretty much all year round, but I like having limits on my hot cross bun time. It makes them feel more special.)

lockdown, spring, sunrise, yorkshire, small things

Okay, so, yes. Worth postponing the first cup of tea for.

These little, wonderful things are so entirely beautiful, and, more than that, they feel manageable. Because everything else still feels like this massive question mark, a maybe/maybe not fogging up the months to come. But these are here, now. I can see them, and I can be happy about them, and that, lovely people, feels like a lot right now. It feels important.

So tell me – what little things have been making you happy as you move into March? Is it spring where you are, or autumn? What’s been lightening your days? Let me know in the comments!

And then on to this month’s reading …


Witch Week, Dianna Wynne Jones. I love Dianna Wynne Jones’ books, but I fear I was still in a slump here. I never quite got into the rhythm of the story, and I feel I’d have to read it again to really give it a fair go. As always, well-written, with interesting (if not particularly likeable, in this case) characters. A large cup of milky tea and some midnight biscuits.

“When you grow up to be an author and write books, you’ll think you’re making the books up, but they’ll all really be true, somewhere.”
Diana Wynne Jones, Witch Week

The Swarm, Frank Schatzing. A very long but rather intriguing eco-horror, in which the ocean finally revolts against all the damage humans have done to it. There’s a lot of science-y detail, which I found fascinating, and a lot of character backstory, which I did not. The overall concept did keep me hooked, though, and the final reveal was interesting. I do feel it could’ve been half the length, though. A couple of hardtack biscuits and a thermos mug of bad tea.

“For us to perceive intelligence, it has to fit within our behavioural framework.”
― Frank Schätzing, The Swarm

The Kane Chronicles, Rick Riordan. So far I’ve read the first two of these, The Red Pyramid and The Throne of Fire, and, as always with Riordan’s books, they’re funny, fast-paced, full of action and magic and heart. They’re exactly what I needed to break me out of my reading slump, and I’m so happy I picked them up. These are based in Egyptian mythology, which makes for an immensely fun read. I also love the fact that the characters’ new base is in Brooklyn. This seems wonderfully risky when Olympus and Valhalla are bobbing about New York as well… Oh, and there’s an albino crocodile called Philip, and one of the magical elements is cheese. Cheese.

“Fairness does not mean everyone gets the same. Fairness means everyone gets what they need.”
― Rick Riordan, The Red Pyramid


spring england tulips frost yorkshire

This is not from this year, but this is a photo of tulips in April at one of our old places. So, you know. Not out of the woods yet …

Now over to you, lovely people. What have you been reading this month? What books break you out of reading slumps? And what small things are you celebrating right now? Let me know below!

  1. Just wanted to say that, watching clips from the Harry & Meghan interview, and seeing their “Archie’s Chick Inn” chicken rescue, I had flashbacks to Gilbert and the rescued chickens, with offering, in the dragons’ main cavern…. Gave me a desperately-needed laugh as I count down the remaining week to my first vaccine and eventual freedom. Oh, how little it takes to give us joy these days!

    1. Kim Watt says:

      I’m so glad to hear you’re almost to your second vaccine! That’s wonderful news <3 And yes on the small things. They're so important - including dragon-based chicken rescue!

      1. Oh, I wish it was the 2nd vaccine, but, no, only the first shot, seeing as Indiana’s vaccine registry database was apparently designed by a one-armed chimpanzee with an anti-human agenda. Still, it’s a start, and perhaps shortly after Easter, I’ll be able to live “normally” again…whatever our worldwide new normal will be. Just reading, BTW, the latest entry in the Pitkirtly mystery series, which is an intriguing murder investigation while the principal characters are in lockdown in Scotland–a unique view of the traditional cozy mystery form!

        Keep writing and stay safe!

        1. Kim Watt says:

          Oh, disappointing! But the first one coming up soon is a good start. I hope the second one is as timely as it should be, and that post-Easter you’ll have a lot more freedom <3

          I like the idea of a lockdown cozy! I have to admit that I've entirely escaped from any mention of lockdowns in my reading and writing, but it's definitely a fun idea to play with. Maybe with a little distance... 😉 Stay safe over there x

  2. Mary Minjares says:

    First things first, good morning from near-ish Seattle. I must be upfront with you as we begin this conversation; there will be no cats involved. I can, however, almost guarantee there will be Chihuahua activity that you will be unaware of. I am currently balancing my iPad on my blanket-covered lap – under which is Rita, my 12 year old Chihuahua. Her behavior may not reach dragon level but her attitude most certainly is Smaug-like. On top of the blanket is ChaCha who is just reaching her first birthday and is entirely responsible for Rita’s attitude.
    I just “discovered” you and have not yet read any of your books. I’m looking forward to it! Before I can do ANY reading, I have to finish up some messiness that has cropped up during the final stages of publishing MY very first book. It’s a children’s picture storybook! I am also in the beginning stages of a second one, which has an unexpected dragon/dinosaur appearance. It was GOING to be a dinosaur but I’m leaning now toward dragon. Dragons have so much more range in their personality, don’t you agree?
    Have a wonderful evening, say hello to all the creatures, great and small, in Yorkshire. (See what I did there? 😉).
    I look forward to getting to know you better!
    Mary

    1. Kim Watt says:

      Hi Mary – thanks so much for stopping by! Along with Rita and ChaCha, of course. All furred, feathered, scaled etc friends are welcome here 🙂 And how exciting that your book is almost out! When is your publication date? Kids books are entirely wonderful – I loved checking out all the new picturebooks when I had my little bookshop in Australia. They’re so often just incredibly beautiful and clever. I hope no more messiness crops up and the rest of the process goes smoothly!

      1. Mary Minjares says:

        I have started reading your gift – The Tales of Beaufort Scales – and I am already enchanted!
        My book, TOO MANY CHIHUAHUAS, will hopefully be released before the end of April.
        Thank you for your interest, and thank you for the gift of Beaufort Scales!

        1. Kim M Watt says:

          I’m so happy to hear you’re enjoying the short stories! That’s wonderful 🙂 All the best of luck for your launch next month – I hope you have a suitable celebration planned!

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