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A home-based day, making final preparations for the return of Chris and Alex! After a very wet and dismal week, we actually had a dry day with some warm sunny intervals, so in between the tidying and cooking we did some more intensive recording of our garden wildlife - and broke the 500 species barrier!! Our target of 1000 species looks very attainable now, as the insect season has only just started...This was one of the most attractive species present in the garden today.

In the late afternoon Ben accompanied me to Sainsbury's to stock up the shelves before Chris and Alex returned - he did all the lifting and carrying for me, which I hugely appreciated. And then, before we knew it, they arrived home just before 10.00pm, tanned and healthy, looking taller than ever and full of tales of far-off lands. After lots of hugs, laughter and a good meal it felt like they'd never been gone - but it's definitely good to have them safely home :)