Poor old February. About the only kind thing to say about the month is the wonderment she brings at the beginning and the end of the day (that’s why I think of February as feminine). In between she’s back to being dreary, boring and miserable (maybe not). So, on balance, that’s why every year we’re all glad to see the back of her (gosh, aren’t pronouns a minefield). However, Loyal Readers, let’s not be too ungracious and show a couple of her plus points:
February only gets a little more interesting every fourth year when it (perhaps safer to revert to it) manages an extra day, Leap Year Day. According to folklore, that’s the day women are allowed to propose marriage to their partner, though in Scotland only if they are visibly wearing a red petticoat. Woe betide any man refusing her…if he dared he’d be issued with a fine, anything from a silk gown to 12 pairs of gloves to enough fabric to make a skirt. Cheap at the price you’d think, because, according to the Greeks, if they tied the knot in a leap year it would surely end in tears. The pessimistic Scots think anyone born on Leap Day will live a life of untold suffering, while their farmers believe that Leap Year is never a good year for sheep. Astrologers - a more optimistic bunch - reckon if you’re unlucky enough to be born on Leap Day and have one birthday every four years the compensation is you’ll have unusual talents, a unique personality and perhaps even special powers. So there you are: trying to get merriment out of February is like getting blood out of a turnip.
Better to tell you what’s been going on here. We’ve discovered Instagram. Posting little nuggets most days is quite fun…our usernames are ‘longhousegarden’ and ‘westdeanwalker’ if you’re interested. Here are some of our highlights of the month - photos only here - for the full stories you’ll jolly well have to follow us:
