The universe hefted and shifted and sighed, settled back again, whistling a wee disjointed tune of laughter and light in a sprung rhythm, things slightly different but not so anyone notices except for bumblebees and little black wolf spiders sunning themselves on rocks.

Despite the sunny weather, March has still been March, that long drudgery and indicative verb, one foot in front of the other in slow procession, the dragging pointed tail-end of winter. With a slight flick it passes and I shudder with the release of a weight I didn't know was there.

The night sky at this longitude and latitude is a showy display. We have Venus in the west, Mercury beneath the evening moon in the Plaeides, Saturn high above in Gemini, and Jupiter hanging low in the east beneath the lion. The Greek word "planet" means "to wander" which the planets do, strolling among the fixed stars, bright with reflection of the sun.

I can see there is a lot I cannot see.