After 8 weeks of telephone contact only I was able to see mum through her window this morning whilst talking to her by telephone. My brother and sister in law have visited her in this way for the past three Fridays and it gives everyone a boost to see each other even without the usual hugs and kisses.

Mum looks wonderful, thanks to the amazing care and dedication of the staff and administrators at her Care Home. They truly are heroes. In addition to seeing mum, our son and his two children joined me for the “through the window” meeting. This was not only a huge tonic for mum – an injection of pure happiness –

but it was also an emotional moment for me as I hadn’t seen either son or the children for eight weeks.

If restrictions are eased next week then perhaps the children will be able to visit The Gables soon. We await developments.

And there’s always the playful Nigel

Click below

In the first clip you can hear the alarm call of the Mistle Thrush. Click below

In the second clip you can glimpse the magpie as I come towards the field gate and then you can see the thrush on the fence and then it flies off the fence and sits on the far gate. Click below

Three days ago I heard the strangest bird cry in the front garden. I looked about and saw a magpie flying from one of the ash trees pursued by a smaller bird. A bird I didn’t recognise immediately. The magpie flew away and the other bird settled high in the branches of the tree

It happened again yesterday – the same alarm call and magpie chased by the smaller bird. This time I was forewarned(Dr Google) with the strange knowledge that Mistle Thrushes guard their nest and nesting partner from marauding magpies. I was too late to catch the encounter but it thrilled me. Just now, as I was peacefully practising Tai Chi in the courtyard, the terrible war cry started and I stopped mid set and grabbed my phone. Forgive the rambling footage below (and the intrusion of one of the little pied wagtails that live around The Gables). Click below

The goose seems to be sitting on her eggs tonight. But geese can be very fickle

I am missing the two “London grandchildren” and they are missing their visits to The Gables. The Heath extension gives them lots of space to play. I send them videos of the animals.

They’ve gone – 10 boys and 3 girls – to lush pastureland north of Huntingdon. It was sad to say goodbye to Helly but all the lambs went into the trailer easily and without any fuss

The ewes are surprisingly calm and quiet as if they were waiting for their offspring to fly the nest (to mix my metaphors!). Little Miss Pretty, Cummings snd Toffee are calling from time to time but they are generally calmer than I expected. The cows went a bit crazy as the trailer pulled away. Click below