The promise of spring came once again with the first daffodils on the river bank. Like a caption, the colourful boat Promise slid into view and moored opposite my house, like a swan in the sun. Gratitude appeared next, in the ancient channel beyond Osney Mill and Osney Abbey.

Since that first spring day the narrow boats and barges have been migrating late this year as the weather has been so awful. Like other wildlife, they have avoided the daytime noise of construction machinery within the thankfully protected very tall, ornate brick and glass facades of the old power station. Perhaps because of that, as the willows weep more leaves, I now enjoy being woken by flights of wildfowl over our roofs and birdsong from all our gardens when it really is so quiet again here on our island.

Mark Van Oss