Another fashion ‘moment’ saw me up bright and early briskly walking towards High Street Kensington via the park on the most glorious day of Spring so far.

On Westbourne Grove I walked past a man in a telephone booth – gesticulating animatedly and shouting as he leant against the side. Five minutes later and I was heading through the gate to Kensington Gardens: It almost took my breath away.  The clearest blue sky with a soft haze settling in the distance, the trees heavily laden with young green blooms, and the air – pure and fresh with a hint of May.

People strolled or bounced past.  Various pooches ran about – one jumping up to catch the birds instead of the ball that had been thrown for him.  I walked across the grass towards the Palace.  Looking down at my feet I noticed freshly cut grass clinging to my sneakers along with the dew.

Exuberance was everywhere and I took my pace down to a stroll savouring every moment.

As I leant on the railings facing the palace a park keeper approached.  “What are those beautiful purple flowers – the ones that look like Bluebells only bigger?” I asked, pointing to them.  “I’m not sure.. Lovely aren’t they?  Next year we want them right up to the trees here – it’s nice to have a bit more colour.  There’s a great machine that cuts the turf just enough to allow the funnel behind to drop in a bulb, then closes the turf back over the top.  We’ll get hold of one of those to do the job”.

We discussed the beautiful day further.  “Is that a South African accent?” he asked me.  “No, Irish” I replied. “My colleague, Mark, asked me about Ireland a couple of weeks ago and what part he should visit there.  I told him it was pretty and that Cork and Kerry were very nice.  He came in the next day and said ‘Mate, I booked it!  He’s just back today and loved it!  You never know if someone’s going to like the same place you did…”

“Kate and Wills back yet?” I asked. He leaned closer and said conspiratorially “Yeah, yeah they’re back. I shouldn’t really tell you but you know they’re about if ……”

I felt the warmth of the sun on my back, the promise and hope that this time of year brings and set off again with a spring in my step.