Last week I began this mail saying it had been grey all week and we were doing penance for sunshine the week before. I was joking but this really has been an unusually grey spell, as Dr Mark Bailey whom I cite in this column explains.

As I write this the satellite shows me it is sunny across most of Northern Ireland and has been all morning. What a joy to have the sun's return.

A pastor has said he has had support from around the world for breaching a Northern Ireland abortion protest-free zone, of the sort that JD Vance criticised. And I wonder here if the absence of nationalists from the White House on St Patrick's Day could be an opening for unionists.

Here is Kate Hoey on the Sandy Row boxing club facing having no home.  And this letter writer wonders if health should become a reserved matter (ie dealt with by Westminster). I have wondered the same myself given the political cowardice on reform and efficiency.

The excellent Dr Esmond Birnie writes here that there has been diversion of trade, while Jackie McGregor's latest column has interesting observations about the downsides of fame.

The inquest finding against the SAS at Clonoe continues to bring a backlash. The Veterans' Commissioner writes here about the demonisation of the security forces while the ex policeman and MLA Ross Hussey issues an angry defence of the RUC here, and says Hilary Benn is the latest secretary of state to fail to defend past policing.

But there are happier Troubles memories in this interview Barbara Dickson who recalls performing here then.

Enjoy your reading, and the sunshine!

Ben