… because I’m susceptible to tree pollen. And the willow tree in my back garden has burst out in pretty but pollen-full catkins.

I was sniffy and snuffly all the way to work this morning - I thought it was a cold at first, but Marion suggested hayfever, so I did some quick research and found out that March is the season for ash, elm and willow trees.

Despite being on seaside docks here in work, the symptoms didn’t abate… Until I realised that since I dried my cardigan on the line yesterday, it was probably reeking in pollen. I’ve since consigned it to the distant coat rack, and I’m not so bad.

I’ll have to dig out the anti-histamines tonight…

… because he deigned to come home and snuggle with me.

Actually, that’s a misrepresentation of the truth. What actually happened is that while driving home this morning, I spotted him sitting in the driveway of a house further up our road. So, I parked in our drive, and walked back to him. He came straight away when I called him, so I picked him up and carried him home.

So he didn’t actually come home by choice. Although once he was in the house, he seemed happy enough; he spent some time in my lap, and then some more time sleeping on the bed next to Colin. He spent about 2 hrs in before I let him go out and raid the food bowl in the garage.

I hope he comes home of his own accord next time…

… because the sun is shining, my washing is drying on the line, I’m feeling chirpy and cheerful and enjoying my day (and getting plenty of housework done).

It’s just a shame that the clocks go forward tonight and deprive me of an hour of sleep.

… not because I’m suffering from any kind of sugar rush (although it’s a possibility) but because the icing sugar from the biscuit I ate has got sprinkled down my black top and makes me look like I’ve been in a fight with a flour mill.

Also today, I am mostly … actually making a blog post

… as you can see. This has become a rare occurence. I think I’ve just been too busy/too boring* to bother. Life’s been full rather than interesting, and my imagination is sluggish. I’m not appreciating the joys of spring at all.

And also today, I am mostly … translating from Italian

… for one of my colleagues who needed to know what an email about Microsoft Outlook options, as written by an Italian developer, was all about. I didn’t do too badly, although there was one sentence I couldn’t make any sense of, and there were a couple of words that I’ve forgotten the meanings of (and should probably look up). It was something different, anyway.

[* delete as applicable]

… because, as always, as long as we beat the English, we don’t care.

And we did - Wales beat England comfortably in our last game of the 6 Nations (at home, too), thereby avoiding the wooden spoon, and salvaging some of our honour.

And Ireland beat Italy, and France beat Scotland, leaving France as champions although it came down to points difference. I dunno, they don’t look that convincing though as potential World Champions…

Roll on September.

Also today, I am mostly … not going out for St Patrick’s Day

… partly because the rugby only finished at 7:30, but also because I’m broke. And because I don’t like the crowds. Maybe next year I’ll don the shamrocks again.

… because I was only happy with the results of one of last weekend’s three games.

Ireland beat Scotland (although not by much), which was good.

Italy beat Wales, which although I’m happy to give all credit to the Italians for, I’m still narked about. For the last play of the game, we had a choice between kicking an easy penalty to equalise at 23-all, or kicking to touch to then attempt a try to win the game. The (English!) ref assured the Welsh players that there was enough time. We kicked to touch. The ref blew the bloody whistle!
So that leaves Wales without a single win in this year’s Six Nations, with England to face in the last game next Saturday…

And England beat France, which really really got my goat. I didn’t even see the match because we were visiting Colin’s stepdad in hospital - which is of course more important than rugby. (I might even have forgone a Welsh match for that!)

It’s not been a good rugby year for Wales, and with the World Cup to come this autumn…. bah.