Monday 3 March

Turned on the TV at 10 am to catch updates on the Ukraine crisis. Instead I got continuous coverage of the trial of South African "blade-runner" Oscar Pistorius, who has been charged with the murder of his girlfriend. I want to hear the main points of that, and instead wall-to-wall coverage of the crisis in the Ukrain, thanks BBC. And Sky.

Beautiful afternoon, first day of spring - at least, that's the way it felt on a 4½ mile jaunt round the Castle Grounds. Recommend the new path from the Marybank Gate to Strawberry Hill. Was standing right on the tideline at Cuddy Point - and suddenly I felt the waves lapping under, at, over my boots... Slowly, but inexorably.