“when I was a boy”, February around the Fens was called “February fill dyke”. I still recall my grandfather calling it that. His father kept an angling pub at Godmanchester on the banks of the Great Ouse, putting up anglers, guiding and letting boats. Yes, guiding around the mid 19th century (125 to 150 years ago) although no doubt he would have called it ghillying. The building is still there and is only a little changed from a print that I have of it as the ‘Woolpack’ as it was then but it has been a private dwelling for years now.
So if we are going through a spell of old fashioned winters again then perhaps February will be wet, March windy, coming in like a lion and out like a lamb with April, full of mild showery weather – Fat chance!!