If I had to choose a favourite month, I think May would definitely be up there with the best of them. I am so pleased it has crept up on us already. So what is it about May that makes it so lovely? Just for clarification, we are talking the month – not Theresa!

Well one of the reasons has got to be that in the garden we have an abundance of flowers, although of course March and April are beautiful for the first signs of spring – crocuses, daffodils, tulips, blossom and of course all the fresh new growth on trees and shrubs, but May really comes into it’s own. The garden looks really lush at the moment, for want of a better word, no doubt due to all the rain we have had lately. This month alone we have had sun, rain, fog, hail and snow (apparently.) At the moment our wisteria is in full bloom and smelling gorgeous, we have pansies, Busy Lizzies and other annuals in pots, the Californian lilac has had a new lease of life, as has my dwarf lilac that my Mum bought me for my birthday a couple of years ago, we have yellow and red roses and a small pink rose bud – just. The rhododendrons are just starting to flower and generally the garden really is starting to look lovely, a myriad of colours. I don’t know about you but being outside in the fresh air, looking around at nature, flowers and a beautiful blue sky just instils a feeling of optimism and happiness.

In theory when it comes to May the weather has warmed up too, it is usually perfect for sitting in the garden, enjoying the early sunshine. I say in theory because so far this month has gone against the grain a little hasn’t it. Honestly even yesterday I was wearing a jumper – a jumper!! Can you believe it? We had the heating on and I was still cold. (Actually I think it may have been to do with Hashimotos, which is an auto-immune disease I recently found out I have.) I hope by the summer my body will start regulating it’s temperature properly or I am going to look a right idiot sitting there in a coat when everyone else is in vest tops and bikinis! For what it’s worth I probably wouldn’t actually wear a bikini anyway, but you know, small tops (ahem short sleeved tops at least) really are your friend in the summer.

So back to beautiful May. There are two bank holidays in May – not one but two! That’s a pretty good reason for a celebration. Wouldn’t it be lovely if we had a bank holiday every month. Bank holidays are just a nice time for getting out in the garden – if it’s nice weather, visiting the garden centre, shopping, maybe spending time with friends or family or even taking advantage of a day off work – if you have one – and spending a bit of ‘me’ time which is so important, it’s just a lovely chilled out day isn’t it!

Even the word May is nice isn’t it? Or is that just me? Humour me for a minute please, is has three letters and just looks nice when it is written, it’s a pretty word – if a word can be pretty. It’s the fifth month too, now I think I’m in the minority here but I definitely prefer odd numbers to even ones. Give me 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 anytime over 2, 4, 6 or 8! I suppose if you think about it you could say it is a polite word too, what sounds nicer – “Please can I leave the table,” or, “Please may I leave the table?” That might bring back memories for some of you. Sorry perhaps that’s a bit over the top but hopefully you will join me in the appreciation.

Thinking back to this time last year, I was feeling a little apprehensive as I was approaching a milestone birthday. That honestly was a perfect example of the fact that the worry is often worse than the actual event because it came and went and I survived and it was all ok! You can read my posts about it here if you would like to

https://countryrambles.com/2018/05/07/how-to-deal-with-a-milestone-birthday/

Oh yes so May is the month of my birthday. I am not the type of person who likes to make a big fuss on my birthday, I absolutely do not like being the centre of attention so I would never want a big party, I am not greedy or wanting either so it’s not like I want people to shower me with gifts, it’s just nice to feel a little bit special and to try and enjoy a relaxing time with maybe a nice meal. Oh and hopefully family or friends will drop by to say hello – and that is special!

What is your favourite month?