The extraordinary, summery weather for a brief, idyllic week last month was enough to remind us all of the pleasures to come.
It also attracted the crowds, with visitors enjoying the gem called Purbeck, basking in warm, spring sunshine.
That, congested roads and fuel shortages only reaffirmed my belief that the constituency is best criss-crossed by motorbike, which is proving invaluable.
Fortunately, the threatened tanker driver’s strike never materialized, but the rhetoric from unions and politicians and panic-buying by motorists was enough to see the pumps run dry.
Alarmingly, fuel prices climbed even higher, forcing some drivers to make only essential journeys.
There is no doubt that the tax-take on fuel is too high and those living, and struggling to run businesses, in rural areas such as ours are being hit hard.
This point was made stridently at a recent meeting in the Commons with the Federation of Small Businesses.
I continue to call for restraint on fuel price rises, with some form of relief for hauliers, upon whom we depend so much.
The tourism trade, too, is also seriously affected, as I was reminded while attending the AGM of the Purbeck and Swanage Hospitality Association recently.
It’s the second time I have attended, and I remain mightily impressed by its chairman, Alan Power, along with his dedicated team, who work tirelessly for their members.
They are brimming with energy and good ideas.
We are blessed with many good hotels, guesthouses and restaurants and they deserve to succeed in what are still very tough times.
I continue to fight for our search and rescue helicopter, again raising the issue at Prime Minister’s Questions on 21 March.
I asked if he shared our concern that losing this invaluable asset would threaten lives and damage the integrity of the search and rescue service on the south coast.
He didn’t answer the question.
I will fight on.