There I was on Thursday thinking, "I can't wait for the Bank Holiday weekend - we're going for long walks, tidying up the garden for spring, having a bonfire, taking a bike ride... This is going to be the perfect challenge!" And then the forecast. Really, I shouldn't be surprised; I have lived in England for twenty years now and should remember that bank holiday = rain. But hope springs eternal and I was bummed!

Chris had set a challenge, though, so I stiffened my upper lip, polished my wellies and opened my eyes.

To be fair, Friday was pretty good - some sun and not too much wind - so we shuffled plans and walked that day. I tried a new route and wasn't disappointed; it takes a certain kind of person to get excited about the structure of a dried teasel head so I've added a picture header to prove they really are gorgeous (plus, the seeds are a favourite food for goldfinches - result!). Even easier on the beauty credentials were the sun sparkles on the river, the synchronised swan preening and the cup of tea after a ten mile walk!

Saturday was more of a challenge, with the lashing wind and rain, but we decided to make a surprise visit to my mother-in-law that brought beauty even more moving for being unexpected. I have seldom seen anything more beautiful than the excited smile on her face when she opened the door to see us; it still catches me between a smile and tears to think of her joy today and left me wondering about beauty and joy. I think they are most profound when they catch us unaware...

On to Sunday, and more wind and rain. My husband was away for the afternoon for a sporting event (rather him than me) so I went to have a cup of tea with my best friend and her family (my British family). Spending time in the chaos of a family celebration reminded me of my childhood with a big, bustling family (something I still miss with a constant, nagging ache) and was a lovely way to spend the afternoon. The cherry on top of the day was a double rainbow all across the fens as the rain stopped - all the chat stopped, too, as a room full of people shared the enjoyment of that beauty - followed by the most beautiful sunrise as I drove home.

How, I hear you asking, can Monday top that? Well, I could rhapsodise about watching the garden as my husband took advantage of a break between showers to jet-wash the patio (which, to be fair, was beautiful for both the sun on the wet garden and the fresh, new look of the clean stones that is, bizarrely, a defining moment of spring for me) but I won't. The most beautiful moment of Monday did come courtesy of my husband, though. We'd had a lazy morning in bed and I was enthralled as I approached the end of a fantastic book; he was itching to get up and moving (and hungry). And that beautiful man said, "Just stay in bed and read; I'll go make breakfast and you can come down when it's ready and keep reading while you eat." That's a man who loves me - and knows me so well.

So there I was, embarrassed by the riches of beauty I'd found in a rainy weekend, when Mother Nature decided I needed one more treat. The sun was shining this morning, so I decided to start my day with a walk. And there to greet me (and the sunrise) was the Dawn Chorus. My senses have been well and truly spoiled with beauty.