Catkins - spring is coming?

After a glimmer of sunshine this morning, the day ended up cold and resolutely grey. Mum and I went to Polesden Lacey, an Edwardian stately home in Surrey, but everyone else had the same idea and the tours were fully booked. So we browsed the shop, had a coffee decided against walking around the gardens and came home. Found these lovely catkins in the flowerbeds round the carpark - it's too early for bulbs (though we could see the green stalks coming up) but these give some hope that spring is approaching.