Well, Easter is nearly here.

I know, that's stating the obvious. You can't move in the shops for eggs and chocolate rabbits and hot cross buns. The children are home from school - and fill the streets with scooters and bikes and laughter. The town's noticeboards are full of invitations to Easter fêtes and bonnet-making and suchlike.

Easter means different things to different people. For some it is much more than a holiday - it has spiritual significance that goes far beyond the razzmatazz of parades and bonnets. Like Christmas, your celebrations seem to be drowned in all the glitz. I hope you find the peace you need for your reflections.

For me - it's a holiday. Time to doss about, play, sit in the garden, maybe drink a little wine. Friends and family will call. If the sun shines I might walk a little. If it's cold and wet, I've a woodburner and books. And so I'm taking a short blog-break - just a week or two. Battery-recharging time.

But when I come back - I might have News. After all, I've not been idle since I got home from Cuba. And that manuscript is beginning to fester ...