Silence is golden (finding Ivy & Duckling update)

The one thing about dogs that I do like is that they cannot talk in the mornings.

I have never been a "chatty" person first thing and need time to come round.......so this morning's row was inevitable as Chris did his best Brian Blessed impersonation before it was time for me to get up to take him and my sister to the railway station.

I heard him banging around, at 6am and in that awful fugue state of being half asleep/half awake I staggered to the bathroom with my nerves jangling.....

Now, as I was sat there in all my glory, the bathroom door opened and Chris started to ask me questions about some receipt he had found in my over night bag!!!

It's dawn!!

I am half asleep!!!

I am sat on the loo!!!

I have had no coffee!!!!!

and he is asking me about a bloody £2 quid receipt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I could have turned into a serial killer!!

After a decade together, he still cannot understand that could rip a small child's arms off if engaged in mindless conversation as soon as I wake............the dogs understand this perfectly well........after their morning walk, they have always picked up on my non verbal communication and retire quietly next to me without fuss, and without noise .

Anyhow I feel more balanced now ( post bagel, coffee, quiet duckling feed and dog walk) Chris disappeared off with my sister to London ( they are having a girly day in the capital and are treating themselves to a matinee of Phantom Of The Opera) There is a tube strike in London today which is a bummer for them, but I know they should have a lovely if not a tiring day.

Me?..........I will be harvesting onions, runner beans, shallots, potatoes and artichokes

...................silently!

Last Night I found Ivy the guinea fowl (left). She was sitting on a huge mound of eggs on top of the Church wall and she blended in perfectly with the undergrowth and nettles which surrounded her. With difficulty I shooed her off the nest and with a heavy heart smashed the eggs for the hens to eat. It is just too late in the year for Ivy to be trying to raise 20 guinea fowl keets....

The seven ducklings are now a couple of days old now and the familiar screaming and tap dancing has started in the shed, much to the delight and excitement of William who will now be camped outside listening to the hysteria with partially hidden glee!

The little deformed black duckling thankfully died overnight