You may not notice the gradual increase in light, but your birds will. Listen for them. At some point in February, when the atmospherics are just right, I will pass the lavender and smell it for the first time. Later the sun will cross the avenue just high enough to throw its light through the rainbow glass outside my study and a pattern will form on the herringbone brick in the kitchen.
One morning, somewhere towards the end of the month, my labrador will go and take up his position on the cobbles outside my study and he will sniff the air in a totally new, different way. If you own dogs you notice these things. If you live in the country the seasons tick like a giant grandfather clock visible from every window.
