Is the porridge ready?

Our resident blackbird arrives each morning at breakfast time and sits on the window sill waiting for the scrapings of our porridge pan. If we happen to leave the kitchen door open he comes in and waits patiently on the kitchen table! He is also of the opinion that we need to clean our windows!

The poor old chap is looking pretty bedraggled having only recently finished feeding his 4 strapping offspring. They seem to be independent now, but his missus is already sitting on another clutch and his Herculean labours will soon start again. Best give him some extra porridge!

The extra photograph is a portrait of Alan, hoeing away in one of the community flower beds. The local council has long since ceased to maintain the village flower beds and so a group of volunteers, including Alan, do the job these days. To be fair, the council do provide the plants.

A big thank you to all of you who expressed your sympathy for yesterday's attack of the toothache. I'm pleased to report that the offending tooth was whipped out by midday and that I am now a happy bunny once again.