In like a lion, out like a lamb

March can be a fickle month: it proverbially "comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb". March winds often feature strongly, as do late winter cold spells, and these are often accompanied by heavy falls of snow.

But just once in a while the gods smile on our little island and bring a spell of settled, fine and very warm weather, so that pavement cafes are thronged with T-shirted sunseekers, in scenes more reminiscent of summer.