Overnight a strong southerly wind. This morning the windscreen caked in sand blown up from the Sahara. The PON duo wait while I find a hosepipe to wash down the car. Sophie, who has been impatiently shifting her weight from one leg to the other, finally let's out her village wakening '' Get a move on ! There's a croissant at the cafe " yelp.
Time to get the garden in order. Bob and Sophie alternate between watching and helping. Watching is less stressful. During the day they flatten a mallow bush and shred a peony. The mallow was excusable. Bob saw a squirrel run into it. He gave chase. His sister followed him. The mallow suffered. The squirrel looked on from the top of an oak tree.
Blue Tits have monopolised the bird feeder over the winter. Now they're joined by Bull Finches,Gold Finches and Red Starts. The Blue Tits have learnt to differentiate between a PON and a cat. The newcomers haven't. They scatter when the duo approach. Sophie, who is suffering from a frightful hair day ( it's the wind ) , finds this most satisfying.
