BRIGHT STARLING

They're funny and engaging as well as having gorgeous plumage and being able to perform murmurations too. What's not to like?

Our new neighbour's renovations continue apace. We're trying to guess each stage by the noises coming through the walls from 8.30am until about 11pm. Today two pallets of laminate flooring were delivered, so that was easy to guess. As long as we're not on the stairs or landings we can't hear much of it and the more they get on with it the sooner they'll finish. So far we've only exchanged a brief greeting by the front gate but I hope we'll meet them properly once the family moves in. I wonder whether they're aware of how thin the party walls actually are. Our last neighbour managed to knock a hole in our kitchen wall while rebuilding his kitchen, but he might have been stoned at the time.