This morning I removed four unhatched eggs from the nest.  Sometimes the shell is too thick for the fledgling to break and then nature has to take its course and the bird suffocates and dies before ever seeing the daylight.  I have been advised to keep the ducklings and mother in the duck house until they are better able to defend themselves against any “monstrous crow”.  So they will be staying indoors unless I am outside with them and on guard duty.

  And in honour of my mother’s visit later today I have trimmed the herb garden, watered the flower pots and cut the front lawn ( narrowly missing beheading the wonderful row of daffodils that Jeremy planted in the autumn).  My hands smell deliciously of rosemary and the sun is shining and the unhatched eggs will help creat new growth by going onto the compost heap.