Isn’t it about time we had a few days of decent weather in a row instead of just one or two every fortnight when we’re kidded into thinking summer’s arrived and out come the shorts and tshirts and eating in the garden until five minutes later it turns cold and wet and miserable again?

We did manage an inaugeral game of Crud but the ground is still like soft putty. Still, I do remember the grass courts at Howard were only ever used once May had begun., so maybe I’m being impatient.

Croquet, of course, can be played in virtually any weather, but it is so much more agreable while awaiting your turn to be standing around basking in glowing rays rather than cowering against the icy blast of an Easterly wind.