It's been nearly five months since we could spend any time in North Norfolk. With spring in the air, it's good to be back. It's all reassuringly familiar from the slow road from Cambridgeshire tracking as it does, the route of the Peddars Way, to the village of East Runton, snoozing behind the Easter hustle and bustle of the coast. Everything is subconsciously analysed and filed for reference. A new gate here. A new fence there. Rare breed sheep in the field with the donkeys

To call the wind 'fresh' would be an understatement on this early spring day. But the chance to head out through the marshes at Salthouse is precious whatever the weather. Boom is thinking 'swim'. Following the weeks of wet weather, the dykes and scrapes are full to the brim. I'm more focussed on the feathered inhabitants. Undeterred by the wind, a Lapwing performs its aerial ballet, whilst the shovelers, well, shovel. Boom gives me the hurry-up. He doesn't consider standing