ONE month after Christmas Eve, and the bulbs are sprouting.

George and Moyra Daggers' daffs don't know the date, just that it is mild and sunny. And they add a very welcome splash of colour to our pages today.

This used to be the bleakest time of year. But as well as Mr and Mrs Daggers' hasty horticulture, we are receiving reports of magnolias budding like billy-oh and songbirds trilling terrifically.

So all we need now is one confused cuckoo and we can declare spring open, weeks ahead of schedule.

There's a cheering thought.

Updated: 11:34 Friday, January 24, 2003