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164. 25th January 1949. A dull “black” morning after a frosty night with strong SE. wind & “jam” — upper clouds SW - very mild out of wind, with rain blowing in the wind. Appears clear out to west, but in Dublin heavy black clouds & no light all forenoon. Afternoon a little brighter! Walked via Orwell Bridge to Miltown Golf Links & home by Dartry Rd. Saw yellow crocuses out at Rathgar Pres. Church & Mr. Ellis’s garden (next door to us!); also a few flowers out on the early Prunus (has bronze leaves later on!) in Highfield Rd. & leafy shoots of Arum well up in lane from golf links to Classon's Bridge. 26th Jan. A dry dull day, with SE wind along coast & SW. above & inland. In afternoon rode to Dundrum & up the hill to Sandyford & home via "Lam Doyle's" & Rathfarnham. Much "development" going on everywhere, trees cut & everything "natural" being destroyed - what is now known as "town planning", but what in my young days was called "jerrybuilding" only in those days we did not know what jerrybuilding really meant. 27th Jan. A gorgeous spring morning & forenoon, entirely sunny, with fresh SW. wind. Afternoon mainly dull with wind SE. along coast & SW. above 165. & inland - hence "jam" & cloudy sky. In afternoon rode via The Green Hill to Killeen & up canal to Glendalkin & so home. Many flowers on Coltsfoot along canal & evidently out for some days, which seems early. In same place 1/2 mile above Killeen Daisy spotted ♂︎ & ♀︎ Stonechats very busy flirting & catching flies in rushy field S. of canal. Nearly all the old elms lining canal now cut down as far as Glendalkin & of course nothing planted to replace them. Very mild out of wind. 28th Jan. '49. Another dry day, but nearly windless; mainly cloudy, mild. In afternoon rode to Old Bawn & round by Marlfield to Jobstown & so home by Tallaght & Templeogue. Many fires on slopes of Three Rock & Two Rock Mts. Spring shoots on Honeysuckle & Rosa carina in lane at Marlfield. 29th. (Sat.) Jan. A dry dull day, clearing in late afternoon. 30th. Jan. After a frosty night, a windless, mild, day, with mist in forenoon & much cloud in afternoon, when I, Daisy, George, & Marcus Graham, walked from Rathfarnham bus to Firhouse & on to Old Bawn via Orlagh College. Saw lambs in field S. of Firhouse.