Sunshine. Lambs. Daffodils and...frogs

Anyone who has read WE Bowman's comical book 'The Ascent of Rum Doodle' (and if you haven't, seek it out; you will be rewarded with one of the funniest books ever) will be familiar with the character of Burley who, despite being chosen as the team's 'strong man' spends the entire book suffering from various sorts of lassitude - London lassitude, glacier lassitude and, at one point, sleeping-bag lassitude. I mention this because I seem to have been suffering from keyboard lassitude in that I have been out on my runs but not blogging them. So here's a bit of a catch-up from the glorious Lake District.
During the sodden weeks of late February and early March I've duly plodded round the lanes and done some work in the gym (though not enough). Now that the weather has taken a turn for the better (it's been extraordinarily dry for a whole two weeks now) I've begun venturing out off road - and how fantastic it's been. The daffodils are out and there are lambs gambolling about. As an aside, Mrs HF and I have a tea towel bearing the fantastic quote from John Ruskin: 'One cannot be angry when one looks at a penguin'. I reckon you can just replace 'penguin' with 'lamb' and it'll be just as true. I did a mixed route this morning which took me out along the river Sprint then wound its way through various fields back home. It was cool and hazy with the heat of the sun just beginning to be apparent. The air smelled beautifully of moist grass and the air was full of the high-pitched bleating of lambs. It was gorgeous.
As well as the occasional run, I must have shovelled tonnes of compost at Holehird gardens, Windermere (do pop in if you're visiting), and have been out walking - here at Red Screes...

I've also been out 'bodying' for the Mountain Rescue Search Dogs and was present when one of my favourite dogs, a German Shepherd called 'Keppie' passed her final assessments and was awarded her green tag. She's now officially on the list as a search dog. So if you get lost in the Lakeland hills and a German Shepherd charges in and barks her head off at you, be relieved: Kep has found you and help is not far away! If you fancy a trip out, you can meet Keppie on Sunday April 1st between 11:00 and 15:00 at the car park opposite the Kirkstone Inn, when the Lake District Moubntain Rescue Search Dog Association is having an open day. I'll be there too - quite possibly lying out behind a rock somewhere.
OK, what about the frogs?
Here they are, hiding among the fronds of some of the young ferns that I'm growing on for Holehird...