‘What are you looking for Mum?’

‘Nits!’

‘What are nits?’

‘White egg shells!’

‘Why have I got egg shells in my head?’

 ‘Keep still Alfie!’

‘Mum, what are egg shells doing in my head?’

‘Tiny insects called lice once lived in them!’

‘Ugh!’

‘Keep still!’

‘Where are the lice now?’

‘In your head! Now keep still!’

‘But I don’t want lice in my head!’

‘Then be quiet and keep still. How many times do I have to tell you?’

‘Why are they living in my head?’

‘Because it’s a clean head!’

‘I want a dirty head from now on!’

‘Alfie, keep still!’

‘Does that mean I don’t have to go to school?’

‘You can still go to school, they don’t fly or hop, they have to climb onto other people.’

‘Mum!’

‘What!’

‘I don’t think you will find shells or lice on my head!’

‘What makes you think that?’

‘Because they climbed on your head, I can see them from here!’

I guess we’re all trying to make the most of this stretched out summer. The hens at our home for waifs and strays certainly enjoy a bit of sun but they prefer it even more, when we’re around. So trying to do a spot of gardening today was hopeless. In the end, I sat with a cup of sweet tea and watched the hens instead.

      However, I did manage to pick an enormous amount of grapes which I hope to convert to jam and juice. In separate jars, of course! And also baskets full of runner beans which have gone slightly over. With these, I shall make jars of chutney for my kind and unassuming husband.

      I was pleased to see the cuttings I had taken of herbs and flowers, flourish in the greenhouse, ready for next spring. There is also lettuce ready to pick and the remainder of the sweet tomatoes.  

      Tomorrow, if the weather permits, I have the task of planting more lettuce, spring cabbage, garlic and asparagus. This is also the time to plant your wild flower seeds ready for next year and your bulbs, of course!

       But for now, the hens are tucked up in their bed. The sky has gone dark and rain has begun to fall. As I reached to close the window, I heard a heavy plop in the pond and can only guess that a frog or a toad has taken up residence for the night. Though we did have a polecat plop into it some time ago! A scary thought!

       Supper time!

‘Why are you in a mood?’

‘You’re standing in my space!’

‘What space?’

‘My rock!’

‘Why can’t we share?’

‘Because it’s time for us to go our separate ways!’

‘But I don’t want to be separate.’

‘Mother says it’s time. We might be twins, but we have to move on.’

‘But we’re family.’

Exactly!’

‘But I thought families were supposed to stick together.’

‘And so they should.’

‘So can I live on this rock with you?’

‘No!’

‘Why not?’

‘Because it’s my space!’

‘Don’t you love me anymore?’

‘That’s a stupid question.’

‘If you love me then you’d let me live on this rock with you.’

‘No!

‘But I don’t want to live on my own.’

‘And I do!’

‘Can I live next rock?’

‘If you must!’

‘Can I visit you every day?’

‘Of course!’

‘Ok, I’ll give it a try.’

‘How’s it going on your new rock?’

‘It’s ok!’

‘I see you have visitors already.’

‘They’re girls!’

‘Can I come over?’

‘No!’

‘Why not?’

‘This is my space!’

‘We’re supposed to be family.’

‘Exactly!’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

‘You should give me some space!’

My kind and unassuming husband and I are on the road again and have reached St David’s on the North Pembrokeshire Coast. Some of our dearest friends have joined us in their own almost vintage campervans and we all made camp in a field overlooking the sea. It’s breathtaking!

    Today was made extra special with a jet boat trip around Ramsey Island where the new seal pups have been born. My love for all animals, great and small is no secret but somehow, when I look into the eyes of the seal it stirs up emotions, even I don’t understand. Today was no exception.

    As the boat edged silently (but at a safe distance) towards the storm bays (seal nursey)tucked between the sheer cliffs, we could easily see the new born pups and their mothers. Then off we went to bachelor beach where the unattched males, unlucky enough to not have a harem of their own. This was quite amazing, seeing so many male seals on one beach.... all supporting each other!! But then something even greater happened.

     It was when out friends had left and my kind an unassuming husband I went for a stroll around the cliff path. It was the golden hour, when the sun was low and the air still warm. Although parts of the cliffs had eroded, the path was safe enough to wonder on. I peered over (much to the horror of my kind and unassuming husband) and saw, about 150 feet down, the face of a seal staring all that distance, back at me. Her big brown eyes, never once left mine. She was protecting her baby which lay sleeping on the beach.

      We walked around the cliff path and saw another wee pup stretching and yawning on the beach while her mother watched over her. It was such a humbling experience.

       But it’s late now and I have many more stories to tell, but for now we have to wonder on.

        Goodnight my friends. Meet you here, same time, same place, tomorrow!

‘What are you looking at?’ said one swan to the other.

‘Nothing!’

‘You must be looking at something. You’ve been staring down there for ages!’

‘What’s it to you?’

Silence!

‘But it’s dark down here.’

‘I like the dark,’

‘But you have to come up sometime.’

Silence!

‘I will when they’ve gone.’

‘They?’

‘Humans!’

‘Oh!’

‘The one with a camera!’

‘Well they won’t see us under the water.’

‘That’s good.’

‘Do you think they’ve gone?’

Bit of plopping about.

‘Yep, they’ve gone!’

‘Good, they must have got fed up when we disappeared!’