Just as the weather birds had predicted, snow soon arrived from the frozen north, but owing to the fact that Algy's home was surrounded on three sides by the Atlantic Ocean, far less had accumulated there than in many other parts of Scotland. In fact, although it felt bitterly cold in the penetrating wind, there was only a light sprinkling of sparkling snow on the ground.
So, pulling his assistant's warm scarf close around him, Algy once more ventured out for a breath of (very) fresh air, and discovered that – at least for a minute or two – it was really quite pleasant to be outside. Resting for a moment by an old tree stump, where the low winter sun had created a pretty patchwork of deep shadows and light, Algy was thrilled to see that, despite the ice and frost, many brave spring bulbs were already pushing up through the grass.
But it was too cold to linger for long so, whispering a soft "Well done!" to the emerging shoots, Algy took one last breath of frigid air and hastened back under cover, smiling to himself as he reflected that despite the wintry conditions, spring was really not very far away…
