14 May 2026

 Summer seems determined to remain elusive, a slippery, shifty bugger this year. 

It was cold enough to light a fire last night, with the last of the dry wood, and this was a view of the light but persistent day-long rain through the kitchen window this afternoon -

It was a day for reading and half-watching the football

while optimistically mooting plans for a summer road trip next month.

I learned today that it's called Les Saints de Glace in Belgium, this period that typically occurs around mid-May - a 'final, sudden return to cold weather and night frosts'. 

Who were these icy saints? Saint Mamert (11 May), Saint Pancrace (12 May, 'Baptisé avec son oncle Denys, il a été décapité en 304 à l'âge de 14 ans' - the poor mite!) and Saint Servais (13 May). 

I will say that this new knowledge has quite changed my attitude.