Our seemingly endless wet weather came to an end yesterday with some lovely sunshine. However, today the rain has returned and it kept me inside for the morning. I just had to head out and get some exercise, so despite more looming clouds, I went for a cycle through the drenched Northamptonshire countryside.

The ground is saturated after weeks of unrelenting rain and, after this mornings heavy soaking, many of the country lanes have streams running down them. The fields have a lot of standing water and at the bottom of the nearby low hills, water seems to be bubbling up through the ground.

The rain had stopped as I headed out but it started again as I turned for home from the furthest point of my ride. Just as I was about start wishing I hadn’t left the comfort of my home, a little bit of unexpected joy sprang up. Either side of the road were skylarks up in the sky singing away. If I closed my eyes and ignored the cold on my face and rain drops hitting my cycle helmet, it was almost possible to imagine it was spring.

Unfortunately, the rain started to drive down harder and any thought of warmer days was quickly put away, as I plodded on with the last few miles of my soaking wet cycle.

…but that little bit of joy on a dark, damp day, lifted my spirits for the week ahead.