It’s not summer yet, here on the Great River Ouse – not quite, and doubtless there will be gloomy days ahead before it finally asserts itself. Yesterday, though, was a perfect forerunner of the real thing – and Trish and I celebrated by going kayaking to Cardington Lock, a mile or so downstream. We interspersed sessions of high-velocity paddling with more contemplative moments, stopping for coffee under the canopy of our favourite horse chestnut, its foliage dotted with its characteristic...